UAE and Russia strengthen ties amidst global polarization.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, attended Russia's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), a high-profile event shunned by the West since the Ukraine war. The UAE's attendance is a "calculated risk" to build relationships and support the international community's collective effort to break the current polarization. The UAE's policy of discreet neutrality and dialogue in an increasingly polarized world has led to close ties with Israel, expanding business ties with China, and mending strained relations with Turkey. However, the UAE's policy towards Russia has invited warnings from the US that individuals and institutions that allow Russia to evade sanctions risk losing access to G7 markets.