Category: Latest Updates

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s tourism sector is poised for a stronger final quarter of 2026 as international airlines restore services and additional capacity, providing a critical boost to hotel demand ahead of the winter travel season. The improvement in air connectivity is expected to lift hotel occupancy after a difficult first half marked by disruption to regional aviation and weaker international arrivals. Emirates has restored about 85 per cent of its pre-conflict capacity and continues to add flights, strengthening

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia increased its holdings of US Treasury securities by about $2.2 billion in June, lifting the portfolio to $142.5 billion and extending the Kingdom’s position among the largest overseas investors in US government debt. The June increase followed holdings of about $140.3 billion in May and left Saudi Arabia ranked 17th among foreign holders of Treasuries. The portfolio remained heavily weighted towards longer-dated securities, with $108.6 billion invested in long-term bonds and notes, equivalent to about

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai US emergency crude holdings have fallen below 300 million barrels for the first time in more than four decades as Washington continues drawing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to cushion energy markets from Middle East supply disruptions. Stocks in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve dropped by about 5.3 million barrels during the week ended August 14 to 293.4 million barrels. That was the lowest level since December 1982 and marked another sharp reduction in the emergency

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia will host more than 2,200 participants from 100 countries in Riyadh for the 21st IDRA World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse, placing water security, desalination technology and reuse at the centre of an international policy and investment gathering. The congress, scheduled for November 1-5, will be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time and hosted by the Saudi Water Authority under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. More

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The United States and Iran had not confirmed an extension of their 60-day peace framework on Monday, despite reports that the two sides had agreed to prolong the arrangement as its August 17 deadline arrived. Current reporting instead indicated that the negotiating period had expired without a broader settlement. The conflicting accounts injected fresh uncertainty into efforts to contain the conflict and restore normal commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports of an extension have

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai XRG has entered Venezuela’s energy sector after securing an interest in the offshore Loran gas licence, extending Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s international investment arm deeper into Latin America’s natural gas and liquefied natural gas market. The Abu Dhabi-based company will participate alongside BP and UCC Oil and Gas Holding in the second phase of Loran, a large offshore gas resource within Venezuela’s Plataforma Deltana area. BP will operate the project, while the three partners are

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai ADQ has proposed buying all remaining shares in AD Ports Group for cash, potentially giving Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investment structure full ownership of one of the emirate’s most important ports, shipping and logistics businesses. The Abu Dhabi investment company, whose assets and investments were brought under the umbrella of sovereign investment platform L’IMAD earlier this year, holds about 75.42% of AD Ports Group. It plans a voluntary conditional cash tender offer for the approximately 24.58% it does

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai IntrospeXion is expanding psychological support for workers in demanding UAE operating environments, deepening its engagement with offshore and onshore teams as companies place greater emphasis on mental wellbeing, resilience and human performance. The specialist workplace mental health consultancy has been working with Blu Subsea Diving Services, a Dubai-headquartered subsea services company, providing support to employees exposed to the pressures associated with offshore, marine and other safety-critical operations. Blu Subsea confirmed that IntrospeXion founder and mental health and

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE is accelerating its push into global markets through a rapidly expanding network of trade agreements designed to strengthen non-oil exports, attract investment and give domestic businesses easier access to major economies. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement programme has grown to 38 agreements since its launch in September 2021, extending the country's commercial reach across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Eighteen agreements are now in force, while others are moving through signing, ratification and implementation

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Iran has resumed crude loading at Kharg Island’s western terminal after a 25-day interruption, signalling a cautious restart at its main oil-export hub while Tehran expands alternative maritime and land-linked routes to reduce its exposure to the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Satellite imagery showed a very large crude carrier, or VLCC, berthed at the western terminal on August 12, the first vessel there since July 18. The tanker, about 333 metres long, had remained in the

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Riyadh has hosted an international education symposium aimed at giving young people a stronger role in defining what quality, excellence and fairness should mean in future education systems. The UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education organised the event in cooperation with Yemen’s Ministry of Education as part of International Youth Day 2026. The programme brought together young people, education policymakers, researchers, experts and representatives of educational, youth and international institutions, with discussions centred

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has pledged to defend its sovereignty and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz after another Adnoc vessel was attacked while crossing the strategic waterway, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s determination to keep its energy trade moving despite escalating maritime threats. Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said repeated attacks on Adnoc tankers would not force the country to change its approach. He said the UAE would continue pursuing a policy combining deterrence,

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai stocks ended lower on Friday as disappointing corporate earnings and escalating tension around the Strait of Hormuz weighed on investor sentiment, while Abu Dhabi’s benchmark managed a marginal gain. The Dubai Financial Market’s main index fell 0.4%, extending losses for a second consecutive session. Air Arabia and contractor ALEC Holdings were among the biggest drags after their quarterly results disappointed investors. Emaar Properties also weakened, adding pressure to the benchmark. Abu Dhabi’s index edged 0.02%

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Specialist salvage vessels, aircraft and pollution-control equipment are being deployed off Oman as crews race to contain a widening Russian crude oil spill that has reached the country’s mainland coast and threatens one of the Arabian Sea’s most sensitive marine ecosystems. The operation centres on the Caroline Bezengi, a 247-metre oil tanker that ran aground near Qabiliyah Island after suffering damage linked to an unexplained explosion in June. The vessel was carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange has opened official live market data to conversational artificial intelligence platforms, allowing investors and institutions to interrogate exchange information through tools including ChatGPT and Claude using ordinary language. The initiative makes ADX the first exchange in the Middle East and North Africa to provide such access through a governed Model Context Protocol, or MCP, server. The system connects compatible AI assistants and applications directly with authorised exchange datasets rather than relying on information

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Google has removed false information from its search results that declared OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman dead, after vandalism of public information sources fed incorrect data into one of the search engine’s prominent information panels. The error appeared on August 12, when searches for Altman displayed a death date of August 12, 2026. Screenshots of the result spread rapidly across X and Reddit before Google corrected the entry several hours later. Altman is alive, and there

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Kuwait has foiled an alleged ISIS-linked plot to attack a vital facility using a specially built drone and explosives, arresting a citizen before the planned operation could be carried out. The Interior Ministry said the State Security Service uncovered the plan after intensive monitoring and surveillance. Investigators found that the suspect had received training in manufacturing explosives and drones and had constructed a drone intended for use against a vital installation. Authorities have not disclosed the

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Bangladesh Railway has received the first rake of 19 customised Linke Hofmann Busch broad-gauge passenger coaches manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, advancing a 200-coach procurement programme aimed at modernising its passenger fleet. The rake rolled out on August 12 with three air-conditioned sleeper coaches, three air-conditioned chair cars, 11 non-air-conditioned chair cars and two power cars. The coaches have been designed around Bangladesh Railway’s operating requirements rather than simply replicating equipment used on

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai OpenAI has launched Inference Residency in the UAE, allowing eligible organisations to run artificial intelligence model inference on graphics processing units located within the country while using its enterprise and developer services. The move strengthens local control over sensitive AI workloads as government bodies and regulated industries expand their use of generative AI. The service is available to eligible customers using OpenAI's API, ChatGPT Enterprise and ChatGPT Edu. It extends the company's existing UAE Data Residency

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Space42 and Leonardo DRS have agreed to combine secure satellite communications with advanced military mission systems, opening a new avenue for sovereign defence capabilities and resilient command networks across the UAE. The memorandum of understanding creates a framework for integrating Leonardo DRS's command, control and intelligence technologies with Space42's satellite infrastructure and AI-enabled communications. The companies plan to explore jointly designed capabilities supporting forces operating beyond the reach of conventional terrestrial networks. Leonardo DRS will contribute expertise in

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely constrained as faltering diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran deepen uncertainty over one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Only eight vessels were tracked transiting the strait on Tuesday, compared with a 10-day average of about 12. Seven entered through Iranian waters and only one, a coal carrier, exited. The figures followed an even quieter Monday, when six vessels passed through the waterway against a 10-day

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai US President Donald Trump has confirmed that security officials secretly moved him off Air Force One in Turkey last month after receiving information about a possible Iranian threat, defending an extraordinary operation that concealed his whereabouts while another presidential aircraft continued towards Britain. Trump said he followed instructions from the US Secret Service and military during the July 8 operation after attending a NATO summit in Ankara. He indicated that he did not seek detailed information

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai dubizzle Cars has partnered with Al-Futtaim Auto Centers to offer prepaid vehicle maintenance packages to buyers in the UAE, extending the online marketplace’s reach deeper into aftersales services and the wider car-ownership cycle. The agreement gives customers purchasing eligible vehicles through dubizzle Cars access to Al-Futtaim Auto Centers’ servicing network. The offering covers scheduled maintenance by certified technicians, quality parts, mobile servicing and vehicle pick-up and delivery services. The packages are available on selected vehicles listed on the

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Mahala. ai is expanding access to senior data and artificial intelligence specialists for organisations across the UAE and wider Gulf, targeting a skills shortage that has become a major constraint on companies trying to turn AI investment into measurable business results. The Netherlands-headquartered company is offering enterprises and government organisations remote access to experienced data engineers, data scientists, AI and machine-learning engineers, and MLOps specialists. Its model is designed particularly for organisations that need specialised technical

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Flowdesk has secured a full broker-dealer licence from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, allowing its local entity to provide regulated digital-asset services to qualified and institutional investors from the emirate. The authorisation for Flowdesk Omega FZE completes a regulatory process that moved from in-principle approval in June to full licensing in August. It gives the digital-asset trading and technology company an operating base under Dubai’s specialised virtual-asset framework as it expands services for professional market participants

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Qatar’s inward foreign direct investment rose 3.3% in the first quarter of 2026 to QAR172.2 billion, while the country’s investments abroad climbed 3.5% to QAR221.7 billion, strengthening signs of expanding cross-border capital activity. The figures, covering January to March, show foreign investment positions increasing on both sides of Qatar’s balance sheet as Doha pursues a strategy of attracting international capital while expanding its own exposure to overseas markets. The inward FDI figure was up from QAR165.4

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Qatari Diar has launched the first phase of its $29.7 billion Alam Al Roum development on Egypt’s North Coast, advancing one of the largest integrated real estate and tourism investments planned along the Mediterranean. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the launch at the project site alongside senior government officials and Qatari Diar executives. The development is being implemented in partnership with Egypt’s New Urban Communities Authority and is designed as a year-round coastal city rather than

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudia ranked as the world’s most punctual global airline for a third consecutive month in July, maintaining its operational lead despite the pressures of the peak summer travel season. The carrier recorded an on-time arrival rate of 87.24% across 16,406 flights during the month. The performance extended a run that began in May and continued through June, giving the Jeddah-based flag carrier three successive monthly first-place finishes in the global airline category. The achievement also underlined

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation while calling for intensified diplomatic efforts to ease tensions across the Middle East. The two leaders held a telephone conversation on Friday, reviewing cooperation under the UAE-Russia strategic partnership and reaffirming their commitment to expanding ties in areas of mutual interest. Their discussions also covered regional and international developments, with particular attention to security and stability in

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Former Union minister and actor Smriti Irani has triggered a wider conversation about motherhood, caregiving and parental separation after describing raising children as a deeply fulfilling process that ultimately requires parents to prepare them for independence. A video of Irani speaking at the Mom Power Conference 2026 in Mumbai has drawn strong engagement on social media, with the clip crossing 124,000 views on X as her remarks resonated with parents confronting the emotional transition from daily caregiving

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Police have launched Horizon X, a new initiative aimed at turning future opportunities into practical projects that can strengthen institutional readiness and advance the force’s approach to next-generation policing. The initiative is designed to provide a structured pathway for identifying emerging opportunities, developing innovative responses and moving promising concepts towards implementation. Its introduction extends Dubai Police’s wider effort to make foresight, technology and experimentation part of everyday institutional planning rather than treating innovation as a standalone

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sharjah’s property market recorded AED7 billion in transactions during July, marking a 61.8% increase from AED4.4 billion in June as sales, mortgages and ownership registrations accelerated across the emirate. The number of transactions rose 25.3% month on month to 9,376, while the total area covered by sales transactions reached about 27.2 million square feet. The figures extend the strong performance seen during the first half of 2026, when Sharjah recorded AED29.5 billion in property transactions. Ownership certificate

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gold prices strengthened on Friday, putting the precious metal on course for its biggest weekly gain since January as easing energy costs reduced inflation concerns and investors awaited US employment data that could reshape expectations for Federal Reserve policy. Spot gold rose 0.6% to about $4,262 an ounce during Asian trading, after touching its highest level in seven weeks. Prices have gained more than 5% this week, extending a recovery that has taken the metal decisively

Dubai businessman Satish Sanpal has denied claims that UAE authorities ordered a temporary freeze on assets linked to him, his wife and several companies during a money laundering investigation. Sanpal, who appeared with his wife Tabinda Sanpal in the Netflix reality series Desi Bling, said no competent enforcement or regulatory authority had publicly announced action against him. UAE authorities had also issued no public comment confirming the reported directive by the time he made his statement. “It is disappointing to see information