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The UAE's early September announcement that it had set up a federal gambling regulator is a further sign of how the competition between regional economies is pushing them to diversify into areas that would previously have been regarded as too sensitive or even taboo.

Several UAE royals visited the 20th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (Adihex) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in early September, including President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. 

Personnel from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among the 8,000 troops from 19 African, European and Middle East countries involved in the Bright Star 23 exercise, which is being led by the United States and Egypt, and is centred around the Mohammed Neguib Military Base, west of Alexandria.

A joint exercise between the Chinese and UAE air forces appears to have gone ahead in August, although neither side has since offered any clear details of an event that could trouble western allies on several fronts, while emphasising Abu Dhabi’s determination to become a 'middle power' in a multi-polar international environment.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) visited Ethiopia in August for talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The two leaders oversaw the signing of more than a dozen memoranda of understanding and other deals. 

Ras Al-Khaimah Ruler Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi held talks with the governor of Oman's Musandam region, Ibrahim Said Al-Busaidi. The talks covered ties between the two regions and followed a visit by Sheikh Saud to Muscat in June. 

It is not yet the dawn of a new world order, but the formal invitation for Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to join the Brics group is a further sign of China’s growing influence and of wider shifting global alignments. A turbocharged Brics could boost the trend towards 'dedollarising' international trade, as Gulf states and other 'middle powers' seek to find a balance between the world's established and emerging powers. 

Dubai economic recovery gives emirate upgrade: The number of visitors to Dubai surpassed pre-Covid levels in H1 2023, marking the vital tourism sector’s full recovery and prompting a change in GSN’s economic risk grade for the emirate, with the previous downward economic indicator removed. Data from the Department of Economy and Tourism in early August showed a record 8.55m international overnight visitors in H1 23, compared to 8.36m in H1 19.

Further questions have been raised about the UAE's military interests in Africa, with Abu Dhabi denying a report it has been supplying weapons to one of the sides in Sudan’s civil war, while acknowledging deliveries to neighbouring Chad.

Slowing growth: The UAE economy grew by 3.8% in Q1 2023, compared to Q1 22, according to Federal Centre for Competitiveness and Statistics data issued in early August. GDP was AED418.3bn ($113.9bn) in the January-March period, when non-oil GDP expanded by 4.5%.

Arguably the biggest impact of an expanded Brics membership could be its potential boost to the trend towards the 'dedollarisation' of international trade. 

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) said it was pushing ahead with the region’s first geothermal power project, following the conclusion of testing at two wells in Abu Dhabi. 

Sheikh Zayed Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Bin Shakhboot Al-Nahyan was sworn in as the UAE's ambassador to Qatar. He is a great-grandson of former ruler Shakbout Bin Sultan, and is married to a daughter of Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, a son of the late President Sheikh Khalifa.

At least three Al-Saud princes called on UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) to offer their condolences on the recent death of his brother Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

Pictures of armoured vehicles manufactured by Calidus on parade in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) underline the Abu Dhabi-based military hardware company's growing reach.