Good morning from The National on March 20, 2026.
Here are the latest developments in the Emirates on day 21 of the Iran war:
- President Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE's strength and resilience would help the nation to reach a peaceful and prosperous future in an Eid Al Fitr message. The UAE President also discussed the Iran war in a phone call with US President Donald Trump.
- Authorities in the UAE dismantled what they said was a terrorist network linked to Iran and Hezbollah.
- Worshippers performed traditional Eid Al Fitr prayers at mosques across the country this morning, with safety measures in place due to the Iran conflict.
- Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE's ambassador to the US, said that the country remains "open for business" and will "navigate this period successfully".
- The US on Thursday fast-tracked the sale of an extensive weapons package worth more than $8 billion to the UAE.
You can follow our live blog for all the latest on the Iran war as we get it.
Schools prepared for extended remote learning
More than one million school pupils and university students across the UAE are braced for their longest period of distance learning since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UAE government confirmed that distance learning will be extended for two weeks – starting from the new academic term on Monday – with the decision to be continuously assessed on a weekly basis.
The directive has been made to ensure the safety of the education sector as the country continues to come under daily attack from Iran.
School leaders pledged that they are fully prepared to operate remotely for as long as is required and minimise disruption to education as exam season approaches.
Read Katy Gillett's full report here
UAE denounces 'false reports' of investors being prevented from withdrawing funds
The UAE dismissed reports that it has introduced laws preventing foreign investors from withdrawing their capital and leaving Dubai.
Claims that it has implemented measures to freeze bank accounts and impose restrictions on money transfers and capital movement are false, Dubai Media Office said on X on Thursday.
“The UAE’s economy is strong and Dubai will continue to remain a global economic hub,” it added.
The Ministry of Economy and Tourism also denied information circulating on some social platforms that the UAE is preventing foreign investors from transferring or managing their funds, state news agency Wam reported.
Read more here
Fact of the day
Oil and gas prices surged on Thursday after major energy sites in the Middle East were attacked. Brent, the benchmark for two thirds of the world's oil, reached a high of $119 a barrel, before prices declined later in the day. Read more from Aarti Nagraj here
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