SPOTLIGHT

Construction sector faces brunt of disruptions caused by Gulf conflict

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

The ongoing conflict in the Gulf and severe disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to weigh heavily on the region’s construction sector, with contractors facing mounting cost pressures, delivery delays and heightened financial risk.

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SHELTER IN PLACE ALERT ISSUED

US embassy in Riyadh hit by two drones, minor damage

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

The United States embassy in Saudi capital Riyadh was targeted by two drones, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry has announced. The ministry said that the incident sparked a small fire and resulted in minor damage to the building, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

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OTHER FLIGHTS STAY CANCELLED

Limited number of rescue flights take off from Dubai, Abu Dhabi

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

Limited airport operations resumed in Abu Dhabi and Dubai last evening following UAE authorities allowing exceptional flights to take stranded travellers back home.

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DEPART NOW SAYS ADVISORY

US asks citizens to leave all Gulf states, other Middle East countries

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

The US State Department has urged Americans to leave immediately from many countries in the Middle East, including all the Gulf states.

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ANALYSIS

Oil, gold surge as Middle East tensions rattle global markets

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

Escalating tensions in the Middle East have sent shockwaves through global markets, pushing oil and gold sharply higher and raising questions on near-term outlook for regional equities, said a financial expert. Brent crude surged by 13% to $82 a barrel driven by fears of disruption in Strait of Hormuz.

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Top This Week

Three US F-15 fighter jets crash after 'friendly fire'

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

Three US F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down over Kuwait due to an apparent friendly fire incident, the US Central Command (Centum) said in a X message.

RCRC starts work on two new Riyadh Metro stations

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has started work on two new Riyadh Metro stations within King Saud University, marking a key milestone on the Red Line extension project. The extension runs from King Saud University to the Diriyah Gate Development Project covering five new stations.

Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery shut after drone incident

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

A drone strike has forced the temporary closure of the Ras Tanura Refinery, one of the world’s largest oil processing facilities in Saudi Arabia, dealing a fresh blow to global energy markets already on edge over escalating regional tensions.

Abu Dhabi, Dubai ask hotels to extend stay of stranded guests

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

In a swift intervention to support travellers caught in the fallout of regional airspace disruptions, authorities in the UAE have moved to ensure that stranded visitors are not left without accommodation — or with unexpected bills.

Alba acquires Europe's largest primary aluminium smelter

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter at a single site, has entered into an agreement with a fund managed by American Industrial Partners (AIP), to acquire 100% of Aluminium Dunkerque, the European Union’s largest primary aluminium smelter.

Dubai airport concourse suffers minor damage, four staff hurt

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

Dubai Airports yesterday confirmed that a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained.

UAE intercepts 165 ballistic missiles, 541 drones; Bahrain 61 missiles, 34 drones

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

UAE's Ministry of Defence announced last night that the UAE air force and air defence forces have so far dealt with 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 541 Iranian drones since the start of the Iranian attack.

Trump indicates four-week timeline for Iran conflict

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

US President Donald Trump has indicated that the war with Iran could continue for up to four weeks, warning that further American casualties are likely as fighting intensifies across the region.

UK prepares plan to evacuate stranded people via Saudi Arabia: report

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

Britain is preparing for a mass evacuation of tourists and expats stranded in the Gulf due to the present conflict in the area via Saudi Arabia, a Daily Mail report said.

Bahrain's EWA receives bids for Bahrain’s Hidd Independent Water Project

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

Bahrain's Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) has announced that it has received bids from leading utility developers - Saudi group Acwa (formerly Acwa Power) and Spanish major GS Inima Environment - for its landmark Hidd Independent Water Production (IWP) Project.

DPE International Electricity Expo returns to Rimini tomorrow

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

A new edition of DPE – International Electricity Expo returns to Rimini Expo Centre, 4–6 March, alongside KEY – The Energy Transition Expo, uniting the electrical ecosystem and supply chain to advance distributed generation and renewable energy solutions.

Palazzo Versace Dubai extends support to stranded travellers

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

Palazzo Versace Dubai is helping travellers affected by flight disruptions by offering a complimentary stay with breakfast, depending on availability and confirmation of travel status, to support guests experiencing unexpected delays in the city.

Iran says Strait of Hormuz is 'closed', warns ships will be set ablaze

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that the Strait of Hormuz was “closed” and that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway would be set “ablaze.”

Construction sector faces brunt of disruptions caused by Gulf conflict

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

The ongoing conflict in the Gulf and severe disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are beginning to weigh heavily on the region’s construction sector, with contractors facing mounting cost pressures, delivery delays and heightened financial risk.

RAK Properties launches sale of three-tower development

Fri, 27 Feb 2026

RAK Properties, a leading UAE real estate developer, has announced the sales for Lunara on The Strand, a prime development featuring 583 homes across a collection of three connected towers within the Marjan Beach District in Ras Al Khaimah. The project is set for completion in Q1 2029.

PureHealth seals master lease agreement with Yellow Door Energy

Fri, 27 Feb 2026

PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, and Yellow Door Energy, the leading sustainable energy partner for businesses in the Middle East and South Africa, have signed a master lease agreement to bring clean electricity to its network of hospitals and clinics in the UAE.

MKF opens registration for scholarship programme for Bahraini students

Tue, 24 Feb 2026

AlMabarrah AlKhalifia Foundation (MKF) has opened the registration for its 'Rayaat' scholarship programme for the 2026–2027 academic year. This year’s program is offering undergraduate scholarships in partnership with University of Bahrain and Bahrain Polytechnic.

City Centre Bahrain announces temporary closure

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

City Centre Bahrain has announced it will temporarily close as a precautionary measure, with the safety and well-being of visitors, partners, and colleagues cited as the absolute priority, said a report by our sister publication GDN.

Nasdaq Dubai announces temporary closure amid Mideast conflict

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent banking, financial services and markets regulator of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has announced the temporary closure of Nasdaq Dubai, effective March 2 to 3, 2026.

AWS units in Bahrain, UAE face connectivity issues says report

Mon, 02 Mar 2026

Amazon cloud unit's data centres in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates were facing connectivity issues on Monday, a Reuters report said quoting the company.

Abu Dhabi begins testing driverless trucks in logistics zone

Fri, 27 Feb 2026

Abu Dhabi’s transport regulator has initiated a pilot programme for autonomous freight trucks - in tieup with global company Autotech - a move aimed at preparing regulatory frameworks for the commercial rollout of driverless logistics services. It was implemented within Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad).

Qatar announces fire in industrial area after missile interception

Sun, 01 Mar 2026

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday that Civil Defence responded to a minor fire in the industrial area caused by debris falling after a missile was intercepted.

US embassy in Riyadh hit by two drones, minor damage

Tue, 03 Mar 2026

The United States embassy in Saudi capital Riyadh was targeted by two drones, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry has announced. The ministry said that the incident sparked a small fire and resulted in minor damage to the building, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

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