Why the Iran war brought the U.S. and UAE even closer together

In February 2026, U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a wider regional crisis, putting Gulf states under pressure. But instead of weakening the UAE’s relationship with Washington, the conflict brought the two countries closer together. This episode of CNBC Explains looks at how defense, investment, AI and financial ties are reshaping the UAE-U.S. partnership — and what that means for American influence in the Gulf.