🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
219 storiesMagnitude 1.6 earthquake recorded off Dibba Al Fujairah, UAE's NCM says
The UAE's National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) recorded a magnitude 1.6 earthquake off the coast of Dibba Al Fujairah at 21:58 local time on 16 October 2026. Gulf News described it as a minor tremor.
Dubai opens pedestrian bridge linking Etihad Rail's Al Yalayis station to Metro
A pedestrian bridge linking Etihad Rail's Al Yalayis station in Dubai with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station on the Dubai Metro Red Line has opened. Outlets put its length at 400 or 375 metres and the walk at about five minutes.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia leaves role after days in office, reports say
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is leaving the role after less than a week, Gulf outlets reported, citing US media and a White House official. Donald Trump said he had encouraged her to reconsider the job after criticism of her f…
Dubai Police arrest eight over Dh10,000 driving licence scheme
Dubai Police have arrested eight suspects accused of running a scheme that obtained driving licences from a neighbouring country for customers who did not travel there, take lessons or pass tests. The gang charged Dh10,000 per licence, and …
Sharjah Police announce 33 arrests and AED65 billion in company assets secured
Sharjah Police said an international cybercrime operation led to 33 arrests involving people of 12 nationalities and secured company assets valued at AED65 billion. The suspects were linked to networks accused of cyberattacks, money launder…
UAE launches $1 million programme to help establish 100 content businesses
The 1 Billion Followers Summit and the UAE's National Media Authority launched the 100 Dreams initiative with entrepreneur Simon Squibb on October 15. The programme will give 100 selected creators $10,000 each, alongside licensing support a…
Messi set for final Argentina appearance in Buenos Aires friendly against Benin
Lionel Messi is preparing to make his final appearance for Argentina in a friendly against Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. The National reported all 85,018 tickets sold out within two hours, and outlets say the squad wil…
Riyadh airport flights broadly back to normal after days of disruption from Houthi attacks
Flights at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport were suspended for more than an hour on Wednesday morning after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and delays and cancellations continued into Thursday and Friday, The National reported. Dr…
Trump says Russia will supply diesel to US and global markets after Putin call
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Russia had agreed to supply diesel to the US and global markets after a phone call with Vladimir Putin: more than 300,000 tonnes immediately, 500,000 tonnes in November, then 1 million tonnes, w…
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Jordan's King break ground on Aqaba rail project
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, arrived in Aqaba, Jordan, on 5 October on a working visit, and was received by King Abdullah II at King Hussein International Airport. The two attended the groundbrea…
Abu Dhabi's AI Everything opens with 400 exhibitors alongside Global Food Week
AI Everything 2026 opened on 6 October at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi and runs to 7 October, with WAM reporting 400 exhibitors and 180 speakers, and Economy Middle East reporting more than 400 companies, 200-plus investors managing about $10…
Abu Dhabi launches AiNative programme to train 20,000 government employees in AI
Abu Dhabi's Department of Government Enablement launched AiNative, an AI training programme, at the Ai Everything conference in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. The programme aims to train 20,000 government employees by the end of 2026 and is part o…
UAE-built Altair-1 satellite reaches orbit as first of 10-satellite constellation
Altair-1, described by the outlets as the first commercial satellite built in the UAE, launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter-18 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It deployed, acquired a signal and is now in co…
UAE attorney-general says flydubai co-pilot attempted terrorist act on FZ1073
The UAE's attorney-general said investigations into the flydubai flight FZ1073 incident showed the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act, attacking the captain inside the flight deck with a crash axe and trying to take control of …
UAE prosecutors say flydubai co-pilot planned suicide attack on Tel Aviv airport
UAE prosecutors said the Omani co-pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073 planned to seize the aircraft and attack Ben Gurion Airport's passenger terminal. The investigation concerns the September 30 Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight; Forbes Middle East rep…
flydubai CEO thanks crew and passengers after FZ1073 diverts to Saudi Arabia
flydubai chief executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said all 172 passengers and crew on flight FZ1073 were safe after a safety incident in the flight deck forced the Dubai–Tel Aviv flight to divert to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia on September 30. The captai…
Etihad Rail adds six Abu Dhabi–Dubai trains for weekend after strong demand
Etihad Rail added six extra trains between Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the weekend of 3–4 October after what it called “exceptional early demand”. Each day has three extra services, departing at 12:14, 13:43 and 16:43, adding more than 1,000 se…
UAE and Thailand conclude CEPA negotiations as non-oil trade rises 75%
The United Arab Emirates and Thailand have concluded negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), announced in Bangkok on 8 October 2026 at a meeting between UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi…
UAE and Saudi Arabia sign MoU on rail links and electricity interconnection
UAE Minister of Investment Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi and Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz signed a memorandum of understanding in Riyadh on 8 October 2026 to develop rail connectivity between the two countri…
UAE ranks first globally in citizen satisfaction with government digital services
The UAE ranked first globally in citizen satisfaction with government digital services, with 89% of respondents rating them highly, according to Boston Consulting Group’s 2026 Digital Government Citizen Survey Report. The survey, covering 4…