The Fragility of Gulf Economies Amidst Conflict

We're in Dubai looking back on two weeks of uncertainty and concerns the world’s busiest oil shipping channel, The Strait of Hormuz, might shut.

The UAE is a major global trading hub and home to the biggest port in the Middle East. We’ll be hearing how some countries are looking for alternatives to the Strait, such as pipelines or developing refineries.

And what could this mean for the future relationship between Gulf states like this one, and Iran?

Produced and presented by Sameer Hashmi Additional production: Lexy O'Connor

(Image: A small boat loaded with merchandise sails past a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Khasab in Oman's northern Musandam peninsula on 25 June 2025.Credit: Getty Images)