Established in 1971 following the British withdrawal, the United Arab Emirates comprises seven monarchies united under a federation dominated by Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid the foundations for a stable state based on oil revenues and a redistributive social contract. Dubai’s spectacular rise has transformed the country into a global hub for trade, finance, and tourism, complementing the hydrocarbon economy. The regime remains authoritarian, with no pluralistic political life, but enjoys strong economic legitimacy. The UAE has pursued an active and interventionist foreign policy since the 2010s, while accelerating its diversification into technology, renewable energy, and space. It normalized relations with Israel in 2020 and is increasingly asserting its regional policy vis-à-vis Riyadh.

In retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory in late February 2026, Iran launched a campaign of missile and drone strikes against several economic and energy facilities across the Gulf, with the United Arab Emirates the hardest-hit country. Abu Dhabi has called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for regional exports. The country does, however, have a strategic alternative in the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, which allows part of its oil exports to reach the Indian Ocean without passing through Hormuz.