307m TRAVELLED IN Q1

International tourism up 2% in Q1, Middle East arrivals drop 14%

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

International tourist arrivals grew 2% during the first quarter of 2026, despite disruption caused by the crisis in the Middle East in March.

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MOVE TO HELP RESIDENTS

Abu Dhabi freezes rents for residential, commercial properties

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

Abu Dhabi has imposed a temporary freeze on rents across the emirate, barring landlords from increasing lease rates for residential, commercial and industrial properties until further notice, in a move expected to provide relief to tenants amid heightened regional uncertainty.

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OIL SHOCK HITS ONE BILLION IN POOR STATES

'When Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world's poorest cannot breathe'

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

Nearly one billion people living in the world's most vulnerable economies could face higher living costs, inflation and slower growth as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz drive up global oil prices, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned.

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BPIFRANCE TO TAKE 6% STAKE

Alba to acquire France's Aluminium Dunkerque in $2.2bn deal

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has agreed to acquire Aluminium Dunkerque – the largest aluminium smelter in the European Union – in a deal worth $2.2 billion, a report in the Gulf Daily News said.

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COMMENT

Bahrain's resilience and resolution

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

His Majesty King Hamad’s statement during yesterday’s Cabinet session: ‘You were the nation’s strength in times of war, and you remain its enduring strength in times of peace’ was not merely praise for citizens’ stance during an exceptional period.

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Top This Week

Bahrain EDB embarks on investor roadshows in Spain, Switzerland

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

A delegation from the Bahrain Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), led by Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB, has kicked off its five-day visit to Europe.

Sabic launches public auction of industrial assets in Spain

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) has launched an ambitious public auction of industrial assets from its facilities in La Aljorra, Spain, specifically from the LX2 polycarbonate plant and the HPP plant following their permanent closure. The auction comprises 141 lots divided into two specialised events.

Saudi Arabia to launch new project to cool Riyadh's streets, buildings

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) is gearing up to launch a major urban cooling project in the Saudi capital that aims to reduce temperatures on roads, walls and other urban surfaces by up to 15°C, said a report. Top Greek consulting firm Planet has been signed up as the lead consultant for the project.

UAE's landmark civil law reform takes effect, adulthood age lowered to 18

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

A landmark reform of the UAE's civil law takes effect today (June 1), lowering the age of legal adulthood from 21 to 18 and introducing sweeping changes that will affect how residents, businesses and investors manage contracts, property, finances and legal disputes.

Trump sent back changes to likely deal text, says report

Sun, 31 May 2026

US President Donald Trump has sent back changes to the proposed deal with Iran after a meeting with advisers on Friday, CNN quoted officials as saying, extending the back-and-forth negotiations into another week.

UAE’s new civil transactions law to reshape contracts from June 1

Sun, 31 May 2026

A major update to the UAE’s civil law will come into force on June 1, bringing changes that are expected to affect how residents, families, businesses and young adults deal with contracts, property, money and legal responsibility.

UAE advises nationals, residents against travel to Uganda, DR Congo, South Sudan

Sun, 31 May 2026

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has advised UAE nationals and residents against travel to Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan unless absolutely necessary in light of the evolving public health situation related to ebola virus disease (EVD).

UAE reduces diesel price for June

Sun, 31 May 2026

The UAE Fuel Price Committee has approved fuel prices for June 2026, with diesel prices recording a decline compared to the previous month, in a move that supports the stability of key sectors, particularly logistics and supply chains.

EcoModular inks strategic deal to boost modular building projects across GCC

Sat, 30 May 2026

Leading Irish group EcoModular has entered into an agreement with Saudi-based project management consultancy IDS and Latvia's Modul Consult to establish tripartite framework for volumetric modular development across Europe, KSA and the wider GCC region.

AD Ports acquires top Brazilian port terminal operator for $835m

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

AD Ports Group has announced that it has acquired Brazil’s leading independent agri-bulk port terminal operator Corredor Logística e Infraestrutura (CLI) at an enterprise value of AED3.1 billion ($835 million). This CLI deal gives AD Ports Group an entry point into Latin America.

'When Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world's poorest cannot breathe'

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

Nearly one billion people living in the world's most vulnerable economies could face higher living costs, inflation and slower growth as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz drive up global oil prices, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned.

EXP Arabia celebrates completion of new Red Sea adventure district

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

EXP Arabia, a joint venture between global engineering, architecture, design and consulting firm EXP and leading Saudi conglomerate Al Suwaiket Group, has joined Red Sea Global in celebrating the completion of Adrena, a new adventure and entertainment district within The Red Sea destination.

AD Ports acquires top Brazilian port terminal operator for $835m

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

AD Ports Group has announced that it has acquired Brazil’s leading independent agri-bulk port terminal operator Corredor Logística e Infraestrutura (CLI) at an enterprise value of AED3.1 billion ($835 million). This CLI deal gives AD Ports Group an entry point into Latin America.

Bahrain's resilience and resolution

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

His Majesty King Hamad’s statement during yesterday’s Cabinet session: ‘You were the nation’s strength in times of war, and you remain its enduring strength in times of peace’ was not merely praise for citizens’ stance during an exceptional period.

First Avenue consortium secures $533m Makkah development project

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

A consortium comprising First Avenue for Real Estate Development Company, Dar Al Majed Real Estate Company (Al Majdiah) and Rekaz Real Estate Company has secured a key contract for the development of the East Hindawiyah District Project in Makkah.

UAE approves oral Wegovy for weight management

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has approved Wegovy (semaglutide), an oral once-daily treatment indicated for long-term weight management in adults living with obesity or overweight associated with weight-related medical conditions.

ADMA, Bahrain Polytechnic sign MoU to collaborate on maritime transport, technologies

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy (ADMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bahrain Polytechnic to strengthen cooperation in the areas of education, training, and applied research.

60-day carnival: Dubai Summer Surprises to return from July 2 to Aug 30

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

The countdown to Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2026 has officially begun, with Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) encouraging residents and visitors alike to take part in the various events of the city’s favourite summer festival, which returns from July 2 to August 30.

Allied World expands global operations to Dubai with new regional office

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, a global provider of insurance and reinsurance solutions, has opened a new regional office in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This local presence will allow Allied World to offer its insurance expertise directly to clients across the Middle East.

US group Positron AI opens first overseas office in Dubai

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

Positron AI, a US-based developer of next-generation specialised AI inference infrastructure, has established its ​first ​presence outside the country in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)), the leading global financial centre in the Middle East and Africa region.

Dubai Taxi Company in deal to boost mobility services in Ajman

Mon, 01 Jun 2026

Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) has signed an agreement with AJ Industries, an expert in sustainable and innovative automotive solutions in Ajman, in bid to scale its operational expertise, digital platforms and e-hailing capabilities to support the mobility ecosystem in the emirate.

Meta launches subscription plans for Insta, WhatsApp and Facebook

Thu, 28 May 2026

Meta, the social networking giant, has announced that it’s now rolling out its consumer subscription plans globally for its flagship apps Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

121 vessels redirected in Hormuz since start of US blockade

Tue, 02 Jun 2026

The United States Central Command (Centcom) has announced that 121 commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have been redirected since the start of the US blockade of Iranian ports.

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