Gulf States in September 2026: the most important developments in politics
In September 2026 Gulf politics turned on the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz and Israel's ties with the UAE. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly made a secret six-hour visit to Abu Dhabi on September 27 to meet UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed, with the talks reported to focus on Iran. Neither government announced it at first, and Israeli media and an Israeli official reported it. Iran said the visit would have "highly dangerous consequences". Israel's Shin Bet sought legal action over its disclosure.
The Strait of Hormuz was the second theme. Iran said on September 7 it would control a new shipping corridor and that a deal with Oman was days away, and on September 12 the two agreed on new entry and exit routes. A meeting in Oman between Iran and Gulf states, planned for mid-September, was postponed. Iran said on September 19 and 23 that it had sent conditions to the United States through Qatar, and on September 25 it sent a seven-day plan to restore navigation. The Wall Street Journal reported that Donald Trump rejected it. Qatar said on September 29 it was passing messages between the two countries.
The UAE and Iran also moved to ease relations. At the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and the UAE Crown Prince met on September 12, and Pezeshkian said the two sides wanted to turn the page. Qatar and the UAE said the Gulf could not rely on the US alone for its security, and Qatar pushed for a Gulf-Iran security framework.
Saudi Arabia drew regional backing after Houthi attacks. The Saudi government, the UN and several Arab states condemned strikes on September 8. Saudi Arabia's crown prince was received by Egypt's president on September 15, and on September 29 the UAE vice president met him in Riyadh amid a rift over Yemen. Algeria cut diplomatic ties with the UAE on September 10, citing hostile actions.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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