Flydubai suspends Israel flights after emergency landing
Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people, most of them Israeli nationals, when a violent confrontation reportedly broke out in the...
Geostrategy
OpenAI halts GPT-6.1 Astra release over safety concerns
The decision comes before OpenAI’s annual developer conference, where the company is expected to face scrutiny over AI safety.
Business
Geostrategy
Trump says war will end ‘very soon’, reiterates Iran Tehran will not have nuclear weapon
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan discuss regional developments in...
- Oil prices rose on Wednesday after Trump denied he would be willing to ease sanctions on Iran, following a drop in the previous session driven by a recovery in Middle Eastern crude
- Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issues an open letter to US voters ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, urging that the Trump administration must be changed
Analysis
Putting people at the center of justice
Al Shamsi said technology could support analysis, accelerate access to information and improve efficiency, but stressed that “AI cannot replace...
- Justice services, he also emphasised, should accommodate differing needs and circumstances, including language, age, disability and the circumstances of victims.
- He also outlined the UAE’s approach to combating organised fraud through stronger national coordination and cross-border judicial cooperation.
DEWA completes $2.70 billion refinancing for Noor Energy 1
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has completed a $2.70 billion refinancing of Noor Energy 1, the...
- DEWA says refinancing was completed ahead of target, generating savings while strengthening Noor Energy 1’s financial structure over its lifecycle.
- The 950-megawatt project combines concentrated solar power, parabolic trough and photovoltaic technologies with 15 hours of thermal storage capacity.
Business
Sharjah Islamic Bank raises $500 million through five-year Sukuk
Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) has issued $500 million of five-year Sukuk, attracting orders worth $1.3 billion, or 2.6 times the...
- The five-year Sukuk attracted orders worth $1.3 billion, equivalent to 2.6 times the issue size, amid strong investor demand.
- SIB priced the issuance at 5.85% final yield, representing a 105-basis-point spread over five-year U.S. Treasuries.
Geostrategy
UN says Gaza faces worst economic crisis, needs $71.5 billion for recovery
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 92% of its economic establishments damaged or destroyed and more than...
- Gaza's GDP per capita stood at just $212 in 2025, equivalent to about $0.58 per person per day in GDP terms and only 17% of its 2022 level.
- Unemployment reached 78%, while more than 90% of the working-age population was without employment.
Business
Saudi Arabia, UAE climb WEF Tourism Index despite Middle East conflict disruption
Saudi Arabia jumps 17 places since 2019 on workforce reform and Vision 2030 investment, while the UAE tops the world...
- Saudi women now hold 47% of tourism jobs, up from just 5% in 2018, WEF's index shows.
- Middle East aviation traffic fell 46.6% year-on-year in April 2026 after the regional conflict escalated sharply.
Geostrategy
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan plan emergency military talks over Houthi attacks
UAE suspends Iranian airline flights, joining regional countries restricting carriers as US sanctions intensify pressure on Tehran’s aviation sector and...
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told US media that Tehran remains willing to pursue an agreement with Washington through negotiations.
- British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also met Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Business
UAE central bank bars Bank Melli Iran branches from Iran transactions
The violations included non-compliance with requirements and obligations under UAE legislation relating to combating money laundering, the financing of terrorism...
- The prohibition covers trade finance and fund transfers involving all Bank Melli Iran branches operating in the UAE.
- The CBUAE said it would continue to strengthen its supervisory framework and take measures to safeguard the soundness and integrity of the UAE financial system.
Business
SoftBank raises $11.1 billion through bonds for OpenAI
SoftBank Group has issued dollar- and euro-denominated bonds worth a combined $11.1 billion as it seeks funding to support its...
- An offering document showed on Thursday that SoftBank issued $1 billion of 3.5-year senior dollar notes, $4.5 billion of 5.5-year notes and $4.5 billion of 7.5-year notes.
- SoftBank also issued two €500 million tranches with maturities of four and six years, yielding 7.125% and 8%, respectively.
Geostrategy
Pezeshkian says Iran won’t surrender, but remains open to negotiations
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Pezeshkian delivered a defiant response a day after US President...
- Oil prices edged lower after Iran signalled that it remained open to diplomacy.
- New US aviation sanctions have disrupted Iranian air travel, with airlines and neighbouring countries cutting services to Iranian carriers.
Flydubai suspends Israel flights after emergency landing
Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people, most of them Israeli nationals, when a violent confrontation reportedly broke out in the...
Geostrategy
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Women in Tech Global and UN Women launch “Beyond Ceilings” campaign on women’s empowerment
The "Beyond Ceilings" campaign urges people to confront and challenge the glass ceiling, and reminds the audience of the vast possibilities that await women once they overcome...
Masar signs $82m land deal
Business
DEWA completes $2.70 billion refinancing for Noor Energy 1
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has completed a $2.70 billion refinancing of Noor Energy 1, the...
Sharjah Islamic Bank raises $500 million through five-year Sukuk
Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) has issued $500 million of five-year Sukuk, attracting orders worth $1.3 billion, or 2.6 times the...
Business
UN says Gaza faces worst economic crisis, needs $71.5 billion for recovery
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 92% of its economic establishments damaged or destroyed and more than...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan plan emergency military talks over Houthi attacks
UAE suspends Iranian airline flights, joining regional countries restricting carriers as US sanctions intensify pressure on Tehran’s aviation sector and...
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told US media that Tehran remains willing to pursue an agreement with Washington through negotiations.
- British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also met Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Business
UAE central bank bars Bank Melli Iran branches from Iran transactions
The violations included non-compliance with requirements and obligations under UAE legislation relating to combating money laundering, the financing of terrorism...
- The prohibition covers trade finance and fund transfers involving all Bank Melli Iran branches operating in the UAE.
- The CBUAE said it would continue to strengthen its supervisory framework and take measures to safeguard the soundness and integrity of the UAE financial system.
Business
SoftBank raises $11.1 billion through bonds for OpenAI
SoftBank Group has issued dollar- and euro-denominated bonds worth a combined $11.1 billion as it seeks funding to support its...
- An offering document showed on Thursday that SoftBank issued $1 billion of 3.5-year senior dollar notes, $4.5 billion of 5.5-year notes and $4.5 billion of 7.5-year notes.
- SoftBank also issued two €500 million tranches with maturities of four and six years, yielding 7.125% and 8%, respectively.