The Gulf is having a difficult summer. Houthi missiles have killed seafarers in the Red Sea again. The Strait of Hormuz has been closed by the Iran-US confrontation, and US sanctions on Iran are being tightened. The United Arab Emirates sits in the middle of it all as a security partner, a trading partner, a mediator, and one of the United Kingdom’s most important Arab investment partners.
On Wednesday 9 September, Emirates Wire is convening a public discussion in London to work through what happens next.
The question
What does the widening Gulf conflict mean for the UAE’s economy, its diplomacy, its relationships with London, Washington and Riyadh, and its investors? And what should the UK be doing about it?
The panel
Sir Oliver Dowden MP, chair of the UK-UAE All-Party Parliamentary Group.
Dr Burcu Ozcelik, Lead of the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey Security Programme at RUSI.
James Swanston, Middle East and North Africa economist in EEMEA Economic Research at Barclays.
David Waddell, senior business producer and reporter at BBC News, will chair the discussion.
Practical details
When: Wednesday 9 September 2026. Drinks from 6.00 pm, opening remarks at 6.45 pm, discussion from 7.00 pm, networking to 9.00 pm.
Where: National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1A 2HE.
Format: on the record.
Cost: free. Registration is required.
Register: https://events.emirateswire.co.uk/
If you cannot come but know somebody who should, please forward this.
My very best,
Steve Moore
Editor, Emirates Wire