Trending Middle East

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, UAE authorities work to contain an oil spill from a supertanker in the Arabian Gulf after reports of a strong fuel smell. Beaches in Umm Al Quwain have been closed temporarily as clean-up operations continue. Yemen’s internationally recognised government warns citizens against attending Houthi-organised gatherings, accusing the group of recruiting children and young people as fighters. Oman and the UK pledge to strengthen trade and investment ties during Sultan Haitham’s historic state visit, with agreements involving more than £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in investment. Meanwhile, the UAE announces plans to invest a further €15 billion ($16.8 billion) in Greece during an official visit by Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. And a UAE-led international crackdown on digital fraud results in more than 960 arrests and uncovers $39 billion in illicit funds and assets. The three-month operation, involving law enforcement agencies from 30 countries, has also thwarted more than 123 million online fraud attempts. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

Today on Trending Middle East, the UK is sending Typhoon fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to help defend its cities and vital infrastructure against Houthi attacks. The aircraft will be used to intercept aerial threats and will not carry out strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. Meanwhile, food and fuel prices have more than doubled in Yemen’s besieged city of Taiz, the UN has warned, as fighting between the Houthis and government forces intensifies. The UAE and France signed a series of defence agreements, including co-operation on advanced Rafale fighter jets, during President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Abu Dhabi. Iran says Iraq has agreed to expel Iranian Kurdish opposition groups from its northern Kurdistan region. The claim comes following security talks between the two countries, but Iraq's government has not confirmed it. And weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Foundayo will be packaged in the UAE under a new agreement between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Bio and US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed meets Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss regional security and stability amid continuing Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar speaks exclusively to The National about how he thwarted a mid-air cockpit attack by his co-pilot, who struck him with an axe and sent the aircraft into a steep dive, before passengers and crew intervened and all 172 people on board were saved. Egypt’s National Defence Council pledges all necessary and possible support to Saudi Arabia as President Abdel Fattah El Sisi considers a possible defensive military mission. The parliament's vote on authorising assistance has been delayed. French President Emmanuel Macron begins a four-country Gulf visit, which will include the UAE, for talks on the Strait of Hormuz, energy security and regional stability. Dubai’s economy contracts by 2.3 per cent in the first half of 2026 as the Iran war disrupts travel and trade. Financial services and healthcare record growth despite declines in transport, retail and other sectors. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today's episode of Trending Middle East, about 800,000 people in Yemen’s city of Taiz are largely cut off from food, fuel and medical supplies as fighting between the government troops and the Houthi rebels intensifies. As the Iran conflict drags on, the global diesel shortage is expected to continue well into 2027, the International Energy Agency has warned. In Lebanon, private suppliers now provide half of the country’s electricity, leaving households facing soaring bills. A special report by The National reveals how politically connected businesses are profiting from the country's power crisis. The Palestinian committee set up to administer Gaza has signed an agreement with Germany’s development agency, GIZ, to support reconstruction. However, Israel continues to block the committee’s entry into the strip. And the UAE has announced a $1 million prize for a global competition to develop agentic artificial intelligence solutions that improve everyday life. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launch further attacks against Saudi Arabia as authorities extend the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport until October 17. The attacks have disrupted flights across the region, with Etihad Airways cancelling services between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 19. The UK imposes sanctions on two Iranian citizens accused of involvement in plots to carry out attacks in the country, while Tehran denies involvement. Meanwhile, Pakistan detains allies of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan after imposing emergency rule and suspending the provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The International Monetary Fund sharply downgrades its Gulf economic forecasts because of the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, projecting a 3.9 per cent contraction in the UAE economy this year. In the UAE, the Cabinet approves a Dh292.5 billion ($$79.64 billion) federal budget for 2027 to 2029, an increase of 28.3 per cent compared with the previous three-year period. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen vows to “punish” the Houthi rebels after attacks on airports in the kingdom killed three people and injured 36. The UAE has condemned the strikes and emphasised its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Syria denies reports that Riyadh asked Damascus to send troops to support the kingdom against the Houthis. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump says the US will not launch attacks on Iran before the November midterm elections. He adds that Washington is engaged in “productive discussions” with Tehran. In the UAE, Elon Musk’s Boring Company signs an agreement to explore underground transport and utility tunnels in Abu Dhabi. And the Emirates is to decriminalise attempted suicide under amendments to the country’s Crimes and Penalties Law. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today's episode of Trending Middle East, the Houthis have claimed missile and drone attacks on airports and military sites in Saudi Arabia and Yemen this morning. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted ballistic missiles near Riyadh and Khamis Mushait, but authorities have not confirmed the claims about the airports. Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara has met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh during an official visit to the kingdom, whether the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the region. UAE businesses are raising their prices at the fastest rate in more than 15 years, pointing to higher inflation across the country. Qatar and Turkey are among seven countries bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. And UAE food producer Al Ain Farms is taking its camel milk brand global, with plans to turn it into a superfood in China and Europe. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, Yemen’s internationally recognised government announces the start of military operations to retake territory held by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as fighting intensifies around Taiz. Egypt says it remains committed to a diplomatic and political solution to its dispute with Ethiopia over its Nile dam, despite a new escalation in tensions between the countries. Meanwhile, the Pentagon says all US bombers stationed at RAF Fairford in England have returned to America. In the UAE, the first commercial satellite built entirely in the country has been launched into orbit, marking the start of a planned constellation of 10 AI-powered satellites. The UAE has also secured another Asian Games medal, as Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi claimed individual silver in the equestrian competition. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

Today on Trending Middle East, Indian flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a hero for helping avert a potential disaster during a security incident on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. In Iraq, the government has approved a controversial bill that could further establish the Popular Mobilisation Forces as a permanent national security institution. It comes as US forces formally have formally ended their military mission in the country. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says there are “strong indications” that Iran was involved in an incident near RAF Fairford over the weekend, but that investigations are ongoing. Syrian security forces say they have arrested three members of a Hezbollah-linked cell and dismantled rocket launchers in the south of the country. And UAE telecom e& has launched a new mobile network that it says will help accelerate the country’s transition towards 6G technology. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, five people arrested on suspicion of a terrorism plot near the UK's Fairford airbase are released on bail, after experts find no traces of explosives. Authorities say the suspects remain under investigation, while Iran denies any involvement. Israel condemns the Netherlands' ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, while the US repeats that it opposes any Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank. The UAE uses its UN General Assembly address to call for de-escalation and diplomacy, urging countries to “build rather than destroy”. President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, attend the launch of Etihad Rail’s new station in Dubai. The President travelled on the Etihad train from Abu Dhabi before the service’s official launch. And Egypt football coach Hossam Hassan walks back several comments that sparked criticism after the Pharaohs’ goalless draw with Angola, amid Mohamed Salah’s departure from the national team camp. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, Iran hardens its position on the Strait of Hormuz, insisting Washington must meet its conditions before formal negotiations can resume. Diplomacy at the UN General Assembly has yet to produce a breakthrough, while about 80 countries have backed a call for the urgent reopening of the waterway. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey arrange an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to discuss support for the kingdom, as Saudi forces intercept six ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi rebels. US President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House for a state visit, with technology, trade, Taiwan and the Iran war among the key issues. The UAE suspends all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country until further notice. And Hacks star Hannah Einbinder and Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon are detained during a pro-Palestine protest outside the UN as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the General Assembly. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans

Today on Trending Middle East, both Iran and the US have confirmed they held talks through mediators during the UN General Assembly. This marks the first known negotiation between both sides since an interim agreement broke down in July. Also on the sidelines of the event, Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara told The National he may run in a future election if he is needed, but that he was focused on governing during the transitional period for now. The Houthis are battling Yemeni pro-government forces for control of the strategic Kahboub mountain range in the country’s south-west. In the UAE, President Sheikh Mohamed and the Rulers and Crown Princes of the Emirates gathered in Dubai to offer condolences to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, following the death of his brother, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid. Sheikh Ahmed was laid to rest on Tuesday. The dirham symbol has officially been added to Unicode, the leading organisation that standardises emojis and digital characters. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, US President Donald Trump will meet Gulf and other Arab officials in New York during UN General Assembly Week, with Iran, its proxies and the future of the US-Iran conflict expected to be key issues. Dr Anwar Gargash, adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, also calls for a “new mindset” in relations with Iran, saying diplomacy is the way forward. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met CIA director John Ratcliffe, while sources say Cairo is passing messages between the parties and holding separate talks with them. Ed Sheeran addresses the conflict in Gaza after controversy surrounding his North American tour and Macklemore’s removal from the line-up. And Dubai has completed a major expansion of Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street aimed at cutting the average journey time from 20 minutes to five minutes. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans