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United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The latest news, analysis and opinion on United Arab Emirates (UAE). In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Abu Dhabi

Head of State

President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Head of Government

Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

A man walks past a large banner depicting US President Donald Trump with a target on his head, during funeral ceremonies for Iran’s slain leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Grand Mosalla on July 5. Photo: TNS

US, Israel war on Iran

US retaliates against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard over killing of American troops

The US has targeted bridges and electrical facilities in Iran; Tehran has retaliated by hitting power and desalination plants in Kuwait.

20 Jul 2026 - 6:07AM

US, Israel war on Iran

‘We will not stop’: the UAE’s trillion-dollar trade detour

18 Jul 2026 - 11:00AM

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific delays Middle East flights as US and Iran trade attacks

17 Jul 2026 - 9:13PM

Fintech

China-UAE retail QR payment link to boost the yuan’s global push

Beijing linking its retail payment networks with Dubai is another step toward yuan internationalisation and reducing US dollar reliance.

17 Jul 2026 - 3:00PM

Bank of China (BOC) will act as the exclusive clearing bank for Jaywan, the UAE’s national debit card. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong airport profit falls 16.8% to HK$2b as expenses, salvage operation bite

But passenger throughput, aircraft movements, cargo and airmail volumes all saw growth despite ongoing geopolitical trade tensions.

15 Jul 2026 - 5:09PM

Malaysia

Malaysia’s US$500 million warship set for delivery, minus the missiles

The navy’s first littoral combat ship is arriving later this year without the anti-ship missiles meant to give it offensive teeth.

15 Jul 2026 - 2:56PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump scraps Hormuz toll plan but presses ahead with Iran blockade

In latest flip-flop, US president says Gulf investment deals will replace shipping fee, while restoring blockade targeting Iranian trade.

15 Jul 2026 - 10:01AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Norwegian chemical tanker hit by projectile off Oman amid US-Iran tensions

Stolt Magnesium ‘suffered from an explosion of an unidentified external device’ that started a fire in the engine room, the company said.

14 Jul 2026 - 8:51PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump’s 20% Hormuz toll jolts markets as Asia adapts to oil shock

Alternative trade routes and an AI tech boom are helping the region cushion the blow of a threatened maritime tariff.

14 Jul 2026 - 6:00PM

Middle East

Yemen’s Houthis fire missiles at Saudi Arabia in biggest flare-up in years

Iran-backed rebels target Saudi Arabia hours after accusing the kingdom of launching strikes against the international airport in Sanaa.

14 Jul 2026 - 2:19PM

Air strikes hitting Sanaa airport in Yemen on Monday. Photo: Al-Masirah TV via AFP

US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran exchange fire again as UAE tankers attacked in Hormuz

Iran’s Guards target US facilities in the region after Trump says US will be ‘guardian’ of the Strait of Hormuz, for a toll.

14 Jul 2026 - 8:36PMvideocam

Boys play in the shallow waters of the Strait of Hormuz, as a plume of smoke rises from an explosion in the background, off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Monday. Photo: ISNA via AP

US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran trade more attacks as battle over Hormuz intensifies

Weekend exchanges in the Middle East threaten to collapse a fragile interim deal aimed at ending the war.

13 Jul 2026 - 8:52PM

Pakistan

Search for crew goes on as plane wreckage found off Pakistan’s coast

Five crew members are missing after a cargo plane disappeared while nearing the port of Karachi.

9 Jul 2026 - 1:28AM

US, Israel war on Iran

US strikes Iran, revokes oil waiver after attacks on ships in Hormuz

Iran targets Bahrain and Kuwait after the US military said it hit over 80 targets in the Islamic Republic.

8 Jul 2026 - 4:26PMvideocam

Smoke rises at an unknown location in a new wave of strikes against Iran on Tuesday. Photo: US Central Command via Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Minefields, stalled talks keep Strait of Hormuz in strategic limbo

Iran’s grip on maritime traffic through the strait remains both ‘real’ and ‘strong’ even amid the cessation in hostilities, analysts say.

5 Jul 2026 - 1:30PMvideocam

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

India

In some Indian temples, robotic elephants draw crowds and controversy

The animatrons, crafted from fibreglass, iron and rubber, are intended to take the place of live elephants in Hindu temples.

4 Jul 2026 - 2:01PM

Singapore

Is super-ageing Singapore headed for population decline?

With babies in short supply and its birth rate tanking, the city state is weighing a future of robots and immigrants.

4 Jul 2026 - 8:00AMvideocam

Scams and swindles

Fake Dubai prince scam: how AI deepfakes love-bomb victims to steal hearts and money

Fraudsters use real-time face-swapping tech and the likeness of royal ‘Fazza’ to ensnare vulnerable targets.

3 Jul 2026 - 1:36PM

A manipulated image from a Change.org petition called the 'STOP FAZZA SCAM'. Photo: Change.org

US, Israel war on Iran

Gulf states in a bind over Iran’s grip on Hormuz, US troop removal talks

Analysts say GCC members face an uncertain ‘new normal’, prompting them to expand outreach to Tehran for long-term peace.

2 Jul 2026 - 9:47PMvideocam

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific to resume Middle East passenger flights from September

Daily passenger flights to Dubai in UAE and four-times-weekly services to Riyadh will resume on September 1.

2 Jul 2026 - 6:41PM

China Railway

UAE debuts first passenger train network built by Chinese contractors

The whole 11-city network, including the global financial hub Dubai, is due to be completed in March, according to state media.

2 Jul 2026 - 5:30PM

A Chinese-built passenger train during trial operations in Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates, on June 8, 2026. Photo:
Xinhua

China-Middle East relations

Wang Yi reaffirms support for Mideast talks in meeting with top Saudi diplomat

Chinese foreign minister calls for dialogue and tells counterpart that Beijing is ready to work with Riyadh to ease tensions in the region.

1 Jul 2026 - 5:22PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) meets his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

India

How a potential UAE deal could reshape India’s arms export ambitions

A UAE order for BrahMos missiles would ‘validate Indian weapons in a highly competitive market’, analysts say.

1 Jul 2026 - 5:10PM

Binance

UK investors sue Binance and founder Zhao Changpeng for US$200 million

Nearly 1,700 UK users have alleged that the world’s largest crypto exchange offered risky products without regulatory approval.

1 Jul 2026 - 6:32AM

US, Israel war on Iran

US and Iran pause strikes as Hormuz tests interim deal, Doha talks loom

Efforts to reopen the Strait without Iran’s oversight have sparked days of crossfire.

29 Jun 2026 - 8:49PM

Cargo ships wait off the coast of the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal along the Gulf of Oman. Commercial shipping through the nearby Strait of Hormuz has faced severe disruptions. Photo: AFP

China's military weapons

How is China shaping up in the global competition to sell air defence weapons?

After Paris arms fair, analysts expect Chinese systems to do well in the Global South but question their entry into Europe.

28 Jun 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

Eurosam’s SAMP/T NG on display at the Eurosatory defence fair in Paris. Photo: Seong Hyeon Choi

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says US hit Iran again, may be ‘forced to militarily complete the job’

If that happened, the Islamic Republic would ‘no longer exist’, Trump warned, after reports that a tanker had been struck in Hormuz.

28 Jun 2026 - 7:51AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US strikes Iran after Trump says cargo ship attack violated ceasefire

US Central Command says missile, drone and radar sites were hit after Tehran was accused of targeting vessel in Strait of Hormuz.

27 Jun 2026 - 7:25AMvideocam

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