GCC secretary general says start of Schengen visa waiver process ‘very close’
Speaking to the Arab Views podcast hosted by Faisal J. Abbas, Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi said visa-free travel would apply to...
Geostrategy
Etihad to launch year-round Red Sea-Abu Dhabi service
Etihad Airways will launch a year-round service between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea International Airport in October, expanding...
Business
Geostrategy
Kushner to meet Netanyahu after Hamas talks as Hormuz shipping slows
The meeting comes two weeks after Hamas endorsed the latest stage of Trump's Gaza plan, which Netanyahu has refused to...
- Kushner urged Hamas to take concrete, verifiable steps, while the group reiterated commitment to the US-backed Gaza plan.
- Five commodity vessels crossed Hormuz Saturday, with none registered Sunday, compared with 31 crossings during the previous weekend.
Business
Sharjah real estate deals jump 62 percent in July
Dubai, UAE -- Real estate transactions in Sharjah rose 61.8 percent in July from the previous month to AED7 billion...
- Sharjah real estate transactions climbed 61.8 percent month-on-month to $1.91 billion as transaction volumes increased 25.3 percent in July.
- Largest land sale reached AED850 million while mortgages totaled AED1 billion, highlighting sustained investment across 129 areas statewide.
Geostrategy
Dubai population rises 7.5 percent to 4.58 million in 2025
Dubai's population grew 7.5 percent to more than 4.58 million by the end of 2025, fuelled by economic expansion and...
- Dubai's daytime population reaches 6.392 million as commuters, tourists and temporary visitors significantly increase demand for public infrastructure daily.
- Real-time census replaces traditional population counts using government records, artificial intelligence and continuously updated administrative data for planning.
Geostrategy
US strikes Iran again as Trump says he is considering restarting major operations
Trump also said the United States would begin using frozen Iranian funds under US control to pay for damage to...
- International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemned the latest reported attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
- The U.S. Senate voted 49-47 against advancing a Democratic-led resolution seeking to halt the Iran war unless Congress authorised continued military action.
Geostrategy
Houthis strike Saudi oil tankers as Iran stops passage of three ships in Hormuz
The latest attack comes after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would strike Iran's civilian infrastructure, including bridges and...
- The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia on Monday, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to warn it would respond firmly.
- The move has raised concerns over potential disruption to global energy supplies beyond the Gulf.
Geostrategy
US launches ninth wave of strikes on Iran after death of another soldier
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had struck several U.S. military targets in Kuwait, including what they described as an early-warning...
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned Hormuz would remain unsafe for oil and petrochemical shipments as long as what they called U.S. aggression continued.
- Britain's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) separately reported that a ship was on fire near Oman's coastline in the Strait of Hormuz.
Economy
UAE non-oil trade reaches record $527 billion in H1, says Al Zeyoudi
The milestone reflected the success of the UAE's strategy to build a diversified, competitive and open economy while strengthening its...
- He said the performance demonstrated continued international confidence in the UAE economy despite global headwinds and regional geopolitical tensions.
- Al Zeyoudi attributed the growth to the country's expanding trade relationships, supported by its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme.
Geostrategy
Al Rajhi Bank becomes AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 regional partner
Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia's Al Rajhi Bank has been named an exclusive regional partner of the AFC Asian Cup...
- Partnership will connect customers to tournament experiences, promotions and football-focused engagement initiatives across Saudi Arabia.
- Agreement aligns with Saudi efforts to expand sports investment and attract major international events under Vision 2030.
Geostrategy
1.1 billion children worldwide face three climate threats
Dubai, UAE -- Nearly half of the world's children – or around 1.1 billion children – are exposed to at...
- Children's Climate Risk Report 2026 that the most common climate threats are drought, extreme heat exceeding 35°C, and heatwaves.
- It added that almost every child in the world is exposed to at least one climate hazard.
Business
Dubai to award $15bn of Al Maktoum Airport projects by end-2026
Dubai, UAE -- Dubai plans to award strategic contracts worth more than AED55 billion ($15 billion) for the expansion of...
- Contracts worth AED13 billion are under execution, with more than 10 million work hours completed over 15 months.
- Dubai plans to award projects exceeding AED55 billion, including terminals, concourses, transport systems and infrastructure works.
GCC secretary general says start of Schengen visa waiver process ‘very close’
Speaking to the Arab Views podcast hosted by Faisal J. Abbas, Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi said visa-free travel would apply to...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
UAE ranks first in Arab world, 11th globally in Global Knowledge Index
Qatar was at the 38th place, Saudi Arabia at 40, Kuwait (48), Oman (52), and Bahrain (55) in the Global...
Oman sees hospitality industry revenue fall 3.5%
The National Centre for Statistics and Information says domestic guest have supported the Oman's hotels.
Cyclone Shaheen kills four in Oman; UAE, Saudi on alert
Tropical Cyclone Shaheen bore down on Oman on Sunday, killing at least three people, and authorities urged residents to evacuate...
12 die in Saudi Arabia from Covid as infection lingers
Twelve people have died in Saudi Arabia from COVID-19, taking the total count of people having succumbed to the disease...
Saudi officials seize a big load of drugs at border with Jordan
A consignment of two million illegal pills was seized by the Saudi authorities along the kingdom’s border with Jordan. The...
Dubai population rises 7.5 percent to 4.58 million in 2025
Dubai's population grew 7.5 percent to more than 4.58 million by the end of 2025, fuelled by economic expansion and...
Geostrategy
US strikes Iran again as Trump says he is considering restarting major operations
Trump also said the United States would begin using frozen Iranian funds under US control to pay for damage to...
Geostrategy
Houthis strike Saudi oil tankers as Iran stops passage of three ships in Hormuz
The latest attack comes after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would strike Iran's civilian infrastructure, including bridges and...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Economy
UAE non-oil trade reaches record $527 billion in H1, says Al Zeyoudi
The milestone reflected the success of the UAE's strategy to build a diversified, competitive and open economy while strengthening its...
- He said the performance demonstrated continued international confidence in the UAE economy despite global headwinds and regional geopolitical tensions.
- Al Zeyoudi attributed the growth to the country's expanding trade relationships, supported by its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme.
Geostrategy
Al Rajhi Bank becomes AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 regional partner
Dubai, UAE -- Saudi Arabia's Al Rajhi Bank has been named an exclusive regional partner of the AFC Asian Cup...
- Partnership will connect customers to tournament experiences, promotions and football-focused engagement initiatives across Saudi Arabia.
- Agreement aligns with Saudi efforts to expand sports investment and attract major international events under Vision 2030.
Geostrategy
1.1 billion children worldwide face three climate threats
Dubai, UAE -- Nearly half of the world's children – or around 1.1 billion children – are exposed to at...
- Children's Climate Risk Report 2026 that the most common climate threats are drought, extreme heat exceeding 35°C, and heatwaves.
- It added that almost every child in the world is exposed to at least one climate hazard.

