The National News
UAE English-language newspaper granting Iran exclusive wartime interviews.
Last refreshed: 30 March 2026
Can a state-linked UAE paper stay neutral as Iran grants it wartime exclusives?
Latest on The National News
- What is The National News?
- The National News is an English-language daily newspaper based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, founded in 2008 and owned by International Media Investments (IMI), a state-linked Abu Dhabi media group. It covers the Middle East and international affairs for a Gulf and global readership.Source: The National
- What did Iran's foreign minister tell The National about the war?
- Abbas Araghchi told The National that Iran does not believe in a Ceasefire and wants the war ended on all fronts. Conditions include the US halting attacks, pledging never to repeat them, withdrawing all bases from the region, and paying reparations. Araghchi denied any contact with Washington.Source: The National
- Who owns The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi?
- The National is owned by International Media Investments (IMI), a media holding group established by Abu Dhabi decree. IMI is state-linked, though the paper operates with editorial independence on international coverage.Source: The National
- What is the difference between The National and Al Jazeera?
- The National is an Abu Dhabi-based English-language newspaper owned by a UAE state-linked group, focused on the Gulf and international affairs. Al Jazeera is a Qatar-based broadcaster with Arabic and English services and a broader Arab-world editorial focus. Both are Gulf state-linked but represent different governments and editorial positions.Source: The National
- Did The National report on al-Aqsa being closed at Eid 2026?
- Yes. The National was the primary cited source for the account that Israeli authorities barred Muslim worshippers from al-Aqsa during Eid al-Fitr in 2026, describing it as the first such closure since 1967. Israeli police used tear gas and stun grenades against hundreds of worshippers.Source: The National
Background
The National News is an Abu Dhabi-based English-language daily founded in 2008, owned by International Media Investments (IMI), a state-linked media group established by Abu Dhabi decree. It serves an international readership across the Gulf and beyond, editorially positioned as the English-language paper of record for the Arabian Peninsula.
The outlet became a primary source in the Iran-US conflict when Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, gave The National an exclusive interview setting out Tehran's conditions for ending the war: a US halt to strikes, full regional military withdrawal, and reparations. Araghchi denied any back-channel contact with Washington. The paper also provided the primary account of Israeli authorities barring worshippers from al-Aqsa at Eid, citing the first such closure since 1967.
The National's access to senior Iranian officials reflects the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s diplomatic dual-track: Abu Dhabi maintains ties with Tehran while remaining inside the Gulf security architecture aligned with Washington. That ambiguity makes The National strategically valuable: it secures interviews Western outlets cannot, yet publishes in English for a transatlantic audience.
