The United Arab Emirates

Political, economic, and security trends in the United Arab Emirates

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Photo: FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images

Photo: FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images

What the Iran War Is Costing Joint Gulf-U.S. Ambitions for AI

For decades, Gulf states invested trillions into the U.S. economy, tied their security to Washington, and bet that alignment was the price of protection. The Iran war raised a clear question: Was alignment the cause of the threat, rather than the cure for it?

Commentary by Joseph A. Farsakh — July 15, 2026

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Will the U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal Proceed?

President Trump's last-minute link between the U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement and Israel normalization injects new uncertainty into an already contentious deal.

Commentary by Michael Ratney — July 23, 2026

What the Iran War Is Costing Joint Gulf-U.S. Ambitions for AI

For decades, Gulf states invested trillions into the U.S. economy, tied their security to Washington, and bet that alignment was the price of protection. The Iran war raised a clear question: Was alignment the cause of the threat, rather than the cure for it?

Commentary by Joseph A. Farsakh — July 15, 2026

Saudi Vision 2030 at Ten

Ten years after its launch, Vision 2030 remains Saudi Arabia's roadmap for resilience. The Iran war reinforced—not weakened—the case for economic diversification, with AI, digital infrastructure, and strategic adaptation now central to the kingdom's long-term ambitions.

Brief by Michael Ratney and Adel Hamaizia — July 6, 2026

Subsidies, Stockpiles, and Shortages

This installment of Charting the Middle East spotlights regional government responses to the Iran war’s widening impacts.

Newsletter by Josiane Atallah — June 18, 2026

How Arab Gulf States View the Emerging Iran Deal

A prospective deal between the United States and Iran could shape the contours of an emerging order in the Middle East. Gulf states are paying attention.

Commentary by Mona Yacoubian and Will Todman — May 26, 2026

Visualizing Iran’s Escalation Strategy

Iran is abandoning calibrated retaliation for rapid escalation—expanding the war across the region and raising stakes globally. The Middle East Program breaks down Tehran’s strategy with two new charts mapping horizontal and vertical escalation.

Commentary by Mona Yacoubian — March 27, 2026