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Summary
Domestic
A new round of international peace talks concerning Ukraine was held in Abu Dhabi. Foreign media reports indicated some progress was made, but no major breakthrough was achieved. The talks were moved to Abu Dhabi from a previous location.
Separately, the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was seen in a video meeting with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in Abu Dhabi. This meeting occurred amid recent rumors about the UAE president's health and as the U.S. is reportedly building up its military forces in the Middle East region.
International
Diplomatic activity centered on two major tracks: U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and Ukraine peace negotiations. Officials from Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Muscat, Oman, focused on Tehran's nuclear program. The talks, mediated by Omani officials, were described by both sides as a 'good start' and are expected to continue. Iran's Foreign Minister traveled to Muscat and later to Doha, Qatar, for meetings. Concurrently, delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States met in Abu Dhabi for talks aimed at ending the war. These closed-door meetings were described as substantive and productive, reportedly making some progress including an agreement on a prisoner swap.
Regional diplomacy was active. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan both made separate visits to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussing regional issues including Gaza. Saudi Arabia and seven other Muslim countries issued a joint condemnation of Israel's recent actions in the West Bank. The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, also spoke with Donald Trump about de-escalating tensions, with a focus on diplomacy with Iran.
Domestic and International Topics
45 topics | 550 sources
RURussian authorities have taken multiple actions against the Telegram messaging app. A Moscow court fined Telegram 7 million rubles, and the state communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, confirmed it has begun slowing down the app's service in Russia. Separately, state media reported that a criminal case has been opened against Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, for allegedly promoting terrorism. Officials from the Kremlin and the State Duma commented on the situation. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed regret that Telegram does not comply with Russian law. A deputy in the State Duma said Telegram must meet certain conditions to continue operating, which include responding to official requests to remove content. The head of the FSB security service criticized Durov, and the agency claimed Ukraine can access information Russian soldiers post on Telegram. The State Duma passed a bill giving the FSB the power to order telecom operators to cut communications. Officials stated that Telegram has ignored over 150,000 requests to delete banned content. Some reports suggested Telegram could face a full block in Russia, but other officials called those rumors false.
person:durovperson:peskovperson:putinorg:telegramorg:fsborg:roskomnadzortopic:blockingtopic:restrictions
Feb 25 — Feb 28
BH/KW/OM+2The World Governments Summit has started in Dubai. The UAE President and the Ruler of Dubai attended the opening, and a high-level panel discussed digital trust and cybersecurity. Separately, Al Zahra Hospital in Dubai introduced a new advanced CT scanner. The UAE's weather service also issued a red alert for thick fog in some areas, with temperatures in Dubai expected to reach 29°C.
place:dubai
Feb 10 — Feb 13
Dubai has been the site of several sports and cultural events. In tennis, Amanda Anisimova defeated defending champion Mirra Andreeva in the Dubai quarterfinals, while Alex Eala advanced after her opponent retired injured. Separately, a local health company launched AI-enabled smart clinics as part of the city's digital healthcare plans. Other recent activities in the city included free weekend live music and hula hoop shows at Bluewaters, and the announcement of fireworks and drone shows for Ramadan in 2026. A local reality TV star also spoke publicly about experiencing bullying and attacks on her parenting.
place:dubai
Feb 24 — Feb 28
SAEgypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan both made separate visits to Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The talks focused on regional issues, including efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Erdogan's visit is seen as part of a warming of ties between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, countries that have been rivals in the past. The discussions also touched on Iran and broader regional diplomacy.
person:erdoganperson:mbsperson:el-sisitopic:ceasefireplace:saudi arabiaplace:gaza
Feb 4 — Feb 23
Prince William of Britain is visiting Saudi Arabia, a trip described as diplomatically complex. Separately, Nigerian political figures Atiku Abubakar and Aisha Buhari, the wife of Nigeria's former president, met in Saudi Arabia while performing the Umrah pilgrimage.
person:merzperson:atikuperson:buhariplace:saudi arabiaplace:gulf
Feb 8 — Feb 21
USDP World, a major Dubai-based logistics company, has replaced its chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem following the release of emails showing he communicated with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Separately, Saudi Arabia has arrested over 100 government officials on corruption charges. These are separate governance and accountability developments in Gulf companies and governments.
person:epsteinperson:trumporg:dp world
Feb 13 — Feb 17
BN/KH/ID+8Filipino tennis player Alex Eala had a strong run at the WTA Abu Dhabi Open, reaching the singles quarterfinals after a comeback win and advancing to the doubles semifinals. Belarusian player Aliaksandra Sasnovich also competed in the tournament with mixed results. The Abu Dhabi Open featured international tennis competition with players from various countries.
person:ealaperson:sasnovichperson:tjenplace:abu dhabi
Feb 6 — Feb 14
Several news stories in the United Arab Emirates are focused on local services and developments. One article lists budget-friendly Valentine's Day events and dinner deals for under 200 dirhams, while another announces a new online lottery game from UAE Lottery with tickets starting at 2 dirhams and frequent draws. Separately, other reports are highlighting health technologies available to residents, including an 'organ on a chip' and an AI-powered retina scanner.
topic:excellence awardplace:uae
Feb 13
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke with Donald Trump. They discussed ways to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, with a focus on diplomacy with Iran. According to Qatar's royal court, the conversation centered on reducing regional conflicts and pursuing diplomatic solutions.
person:trumptopic:de-escalation
Feb 11
Saudi Arabia and seven other Muslim countries have issued a joint condemnation of Israel's recent actions in the West Bank. The countries are objecting to Israel's announcement that it is designating more land in the occupied territory as 'state land' and taking steps to deepen its control there. Foreign ministers from the eight nations have warned against these measures, which they describe as illegal. The coordinated statement represents a significant diplomatic rebuke from several regional governments.
place:west bank
Feb 23