The Pharaohs had already been guaranteed entry into the Round of 32 ahead of kick-off in Seattle after favourable overnight results.

Mahmoud Saber opened the scoring for Egypt in the fifth minute before Ramin Rezaeian levelled on 14 minutes. The match seemed headed for a draw before Shojae Khalilzadeh scored the winner in added time.

However, the goal was disallowed upon VAR review for off-side. Iran now face an ​anxious ​wait to ​see if ⁠they will progress as one of the third-placed teams.

The draw means Egypt finish second ⁠with five points, behind Belgium who thrashed New Zealand 5-1 in Group G.

Egypt thus qualified for the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in history.

More to follow...

Inspectors are expected to return soon to Iran after an initial deal was signed last week to end the regional war. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that Tehran will not obtain a nuclear weapon as a result of the war Washington launched alongside Israel in February.

The return of inspectors would start a process to verify Iranian claims that its nuclear programme is peaceful. Before the conflict, the IAEA estimated that Iran had 440kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent. Uranium enriched to 90 per cent is needed to make a bomb.

"I believe Iran will eventually let the IAEA inspectors back in and I think it would help immensely. I also don't think it's going to be easy," said Laura Rockwood, former senior legal adviser on IAEA safeguards and now senior fellow at the Vienna Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.

Speaking this week in Japan, IAEA director general Rafael Grossi said it was "not enough" for Iran to say it does not want to develop a nuclear weapon.

"We have to have a very strong verification system in place ... as soon as is practicable," he said. In March, he said that about half of the 60 per cent enriched uranium was probably still in tunnels near Isfahan.

Diversion tactics

Iran is likely to delay or dispute inspectors' access to bombed nuclear sites in Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz – either as a negotiating tactic or to remove at least some of the enriched uranium, she said. "One might be concerned that the real reason is Iran would like to divert some of that material," she added.

Between the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in June last year and the regional war in February, Tehran blocked IAEA access to the bombed sites. Among the reasons given was that it was too dangerous to enter.

More recently, Tehran has pushed back on reports saying it had agreed to the return of inspectors, but western diplomats believe that will happen eventually.

Iran can say 100 times, I'm not going to build a nuclear weapon, and saying it 10 more times isn't going to change anything

Laura Rockwood, former senior IAEA official

Should they return, IAEA inspectors are expected to "start with the declared nuclear sites and simultaneously try to ascertain whether there is any undeclared nuclear activity going on", Ms Rockwood said.

The Iran-US agreement includes the lifting of American and UN sanctions on Tehran, which has sought to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict started. "I would be surprised if Iran did not make readmission of the agency inspectors subject to sanctions being lifted," Ms Rockwood said.

Concessions

The lifting of UN sanctions requires the approval of the Security Council's five permanent members – the US, the UK, Russia, China and France. European countries, which pushed for UN sanctions to be reimposed on Iran in September, will expect further measures, including the removal of Iran's enriched uranium to another country, such as Russia, where it would be downblended.

The safest bet may be for Iran to agree to adhere to the additional protocol it signed in 2003 with the IAEA, which would give the agency more access to information and locations linked to Iran's nuclear activities.

"If they revert to just the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, it is unlikely that would end up being sufficient to allow the IAEA to verify the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme. There are just too many questions about what's going on," Ms Rockwood said.

The additional protocol had been provisionally introduced under the 2015 nuclear deal, which the US withdrew from in 2018. Mr Trump maintains that the new agreement is better.

"Iran can say 100 times, 'I'm not going to build a nuclear weapon', and saying it 10 more times isn't going to change anything," Ms Rockwood said. "You need to make sure that you have inspectors on the ground who are able to detect any indications of the resumption of a nuclear weapons programme."

But Iran may not feel compelled to make concessions on par with the 2015 deal. "Given the strength that they're feeling right now, they may not even agree to that which they agreed under the JCPOA," she added. "They may say, 'Go ahead, try me. We're in control of the strait [of Hormuz]. There's nothing you can do, but bomb us a few more times.'"

The magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening, toppling buildings and severely damaging the country’s main international airport.

The government said 172 people remained trapped, 920 were dead and 3,360 injured after the quakes devastated parts of Caracas and surrounding areas on ⁠Wednesday evening. More than 50,000 people were reported missing. The ground shook once again on Friday afternoon - a weaker 4.9 tremor that was felt in the capital Caracas and nearby Maracay.

Many places were experiencing a loss of electricity, water and gas supplies amid continued aftershocks. Venezuela’s oil facilities, however, appeared to be functioning normally, although one loading terminal near the epicentre was damaged.

Interim president Delcy Rodriguez declared La Guaira to be a disaster zone, where more than 250 buildings were damaged. The coastal region borders the capital Caracas and houses the Simon Bolivar International Airport, which suffered extensive damage. At least five other Venezuelan states have been affected.

The Venezuelan government is to create an initial $200 million reconstruction fund using International Monetary Fund resources to finance repairs to infrastructure, hospitals and housing, Ms Rodriguez said on state TV. Officials are also discussing an additional fund to support victims, while public and private banks are to activate special credit lines for people who lost businesses or jobs.

The disaster also poses a new challenge for Ms Rodriguez, who took the reins of a deeply unpopular government after the US captured President Nicolas Maduro at the start of the year. Venezuela’s political opposition has set up a website to track missing people in parallel to government efforts, while calling for the release of political prisoners for their safety.

A UN ​report estimated direct damage from the two quakes, magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, at about $6.7 billion. The second quake was Venezuela's most powerful in more than a century.

Saudi Arabia crashed out of the tournament at the first hurdle, after they were held by the mighty outsiders from Cape Verde in Houston.

It means Pico Lopes, the Shamrock Rovers defender who was working in a bank when he was approached to play for Cape Verde on the recruitment website, can now look forward to pitting himself against Lionel Messi in the next round.

Many of the Saudi Arabia players have already been there, done that, and toasted a World Cup victory against Messi’s Argentina.

But that heady night in Doha three and a half years ago feels an age away now, as the Green Eagles get set to head straight home from the United States.

Had Saudi Arabia made it through, they would unlikely have been star-struck by Messi. After all, many of them have Cristiano Ronaldo as their teammate. All either play with or against world stars on a weekly basis in the Saudi Pro League.

The country’s domestic league is home to three of the world’s top 10 best paid players, according to Forbes, whose rich list is led by Ronaldo, earning over $200 million a year.

So why could the national team not make it through the group stage at an inflated World Cup where 67 per cent of teams will do precisely that?

When Ronaldo arrived in the league, he sparked a rush of outstanding overseas players to move to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has thrived as a result. Ronaldo’s own personal quest to win the league became a story that attracted global interest.

When he finally achieved at, at the end of the season just finished, there were more eyeballs on the league than many would have ever thought possible pre-Ronaldo.

Even as far afield as America, people were taking note. “Right now everyone is talking about the Saudi league climax,” Clint Demspey was quoted as saying as Al Nassr were vying with relegation bound Damac in the season finale.

The former USA striker went on to say, “Saudi is already among the top leagues; MLS is far behind.”

And yet the growth of the league has had a series of unwanted consequences for the national team it supports.

That is not without precedence. At the 1990 World Cup, England had their best performance in 24 years as they reached the semi-finals.

The enthusiasm Italia ’90 generated put in motion the formation of the Premier League, which has become the world’s most watched and most money-spinning competition.

Like the SPL now, it was transformed by both new wealth, alterations to employment law, and amendments to the regulations governing overseas players. As a result, the number of foreign players at the top clubs far outweighed home-grown ones.

Within three years of the Premier League’s start in 1992, England’s national team had plummeted from fourth in the Fifa standing to 27th – their lowest ever ranking. And they failed to qualify for the first World Cup after the advent of the Premier League.

The parallels to the SPL are striking. Saudi Arabia were 48th in the Fifa rankings when Ronaldo arrived. Three and a half years later, they sit 59th. And, if the performance at the World Cup is anything to go by, the decline will be difficult to arrest.

The squad that played at the World Cup was a mishmash of players who either played for lower-ranked SPL sides who did not vie for honours with Ronaldo and Co, or who were squad players in the top teams.

Saud Abdulhamid, their trailblazing right back who plays for Lens in France, was in a minority of one among players with overseas experience.

Feras Al Brikan, the first-choice striker, exemplifies the point. He scored the winning goal as Al Ahli Saudi won the Asian Champions League last season. Tellingly, he did so as a substitute.

He played 1,730 minutes for Al Ahli Saudi in the SPL last season, an average of 50 minutes per game. He was back up to Ivan Toney, the prolific Englishman who averaged over 80 minutes per game.

It stands to reason Al Brikan was not conditioned to lead the line for three games at the World Cup when he has only been a bit part at club level.

The problem exists all over the field, but is exacerbated in goal. There are a number of great Saudi Arabia-based goalkeepers at the World Cup.

Al Hilal’s Yassine Bounou, for example, will expect to go deep in the tournament with Morocco.

But having imported stars for a position where there can only be one player per line up has proved prohibitive for home-bred players.

It meant Mohammed Al Owais, who plays for Al Ula in the second tier, found himself between the posts for the national team at the World Cup.

The dismal World Cup campaign was not exclusively the fault of the SPL. The problems are many and varied.

Successive injudicious appointments for head coach hamstrung them. Roberto Mancini, who was appointed at the start of the World Cup cycle, was an expensive flop.

Herve Renard, who returned to replace Mancini, had lost all the lustre of his previous appointment.

Georgios Donis had little chance of making an improvement, with scarcely a month to work with.

And the Green Eagles have suffered from the natural cycle of sport, too. The players who underpinned their competitiveness in Qatar are four years older, and not necessarily four years better.

Salem Al Dawsari, their great talisman, has shown his age this season. Mohammed Kanno, playing his third World Cup, had nothing like the impact a player of his pedigree might have expected to.

So, how to resolve the problems? There are no easy fixes, but if anyone has the resources to satisfy a football-mad population, it is Saudi Arabia.

The kingdom might be revising how it spends its money on sport, and it has already pulled its funding from LIV Golf.

But it is safe to assume, with the World Cup heading there in 2034, funding for football will be ring-fenced.

The Pro League project needs to be tweaked to work better for Saudi Arabian players. And the coach of the national team needs eight years to construct a side to compete, rather than fewer than eight weeks which Donis had this time.

Question: I’m based overseas and given the current geopolitical uncertainty, I’m wondering if buyers like me are now the first to pull back. Is foreign money still coming in, or are international investors quietly stepping away from Dubai? ML, Hong Kong

Answer: I have to say that foreign money is still coming in, but I would not say it is coming in with the same ease or the same confidence it had before the conflict. Dubai Land Department’s first-quarter statistics still show strong foreign investment value at Dh148.35 billion ($40.39 billion), which is up 26 per cent year-on-year. That is a big number in any year, not least when the market is somewhat challenging.

At the same time, it was reported that some investors and advisers are looking at alternatives such as Singapore or some other countries as the conflict somewhat clouded the Gulf’s image as a safe place to hold assets. But that does not mean there is a stampede for the exit. It means foreign capital is behaving more carefully, which is perfectly logical. International money can be brave, but it is rarely sentimental. If it senses an easier, safer or simpler option elsewhere, some of it will pause or diversify into other areas.

My own view is that Dubai is not being abandoned, far from it. But it is being re-evaluated, and that is an important difference. Dubai and the wider UAE, in general, still offers things many places do not such as the tax advantages, strong infrastructure, decent regulation, forward thinking leadership, global connectivity and an established property market. But today, overseas buyers are more discerning and also cautious. They want more reassurance, more value and more reason to act now rather than later. That is a tougher environment, but not a broken one. Dubai has shown that it has surpassed situations that has affected it before. The market will need a little time to rebuild but rebuild it will.

Q: I watch the Dubai property market from afar. I have been thinking about investing in Dubai for a while and believe that the time might be right for an opportunity to finally step in. What's your opinion on the current sale prices, are they likely to drop if given the current situation, or has there has been a shift from a seller's to a buyer's market? LJ, UK

A: There is already some price movement in parts of the market. We have seen evidence that some sellers were cutting asking prices by around 12 per cent to 15 per cent to secure quick deals as the conflict unsettled the sentiment. So the idea that prices are steady is not quite telling the correct facts. We do, however, need to be pragmatic. A few anxious sellers do not automatically mean the whole market has repriced.

Dubai is not the market moving one way, nor for that matter are the other emirates in the UAE. There are many owners with no urgency or motivation to sell, especially in prime areas or in fully paid up property but of course there are owners who need liquidity or who no longer can ride out the risk. These two groups behave very differently. That is why headlines about the market can sometimes send out the wrong message. What we are seeing so far is more pressure on volumes and confidence rather than a wider based collapse in prices.

With tensions easing, the market may recover faster than many expect because the underlying appeal of Dubai and the UAE in general has not vanished, and certainly, the fundamentals which got us to where we were before February 28, when the Iran war started, still remain intact. So I would caution on dramatic language on both sides. The UAE real estate market is clearly not immune to bad news, but neither is it one that just falls apart because sentiment turns gloomy for a period of time.

The opinions expressed do not constitute legal advice and are provided for information only. Please send any questions to mario@evadxb.com

Several teams have already secured third place in their groups but the final list of best third-placed teams will only be known when all group games have finished.

Below is the list of teams that have qualified for the Round of 32 and the sides already out of contention.

Teams that have qualified for knockouts

Mexico

Mexico were the first team to qualify for the knockouts following a hard-fought 1-0 win over South Korea in Group A. They had kicked off the tournament with a 2-0 win over the unimpressive South Africa and ended it with a comfortable 3-0 win over Czech Republic to finish with maximum points in Group A. Mexico also secured home advantage for the Round of 32.

South Africa

South Africa played the opening game of the 2026 finals, falling to a 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico. A draw against Czech Republic and a win over South Korea saw them finish as runners-up in Group A.

Switzerland

Switzerland defeated Canada 2-1 to qualify for the knockouts as Group B winners. The Swiss were held to a 1-1 draw against Qatar in their first game and then defeated Bosnia 4-1.

Canada

Co-hosts Canada also qualified for the next round despite defeat to Switzerland on Wednesday as the runners-up of Group B. They had started the tournament with a draw against Bosnia before crushing Qatar 6-0.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Bosnians finished third in Group B and their tally of four points means they cannot be caught by another third-place finisher and they are through.

Brazil

Brazil's win over Scotland, following a draw with Morocco and victory over Haiti, sealed the five-time world champions' 15th consecutive advancement from ​the group stage. They will face the runner-up from Group F.

Morocco

The Atlas Lions made it two successive World Cups of going through the group phase unbeaten. After opening with a draw against Brazil, Morocco then beat Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2 to finish second in Group C. They face the winner of Group F.

USA

The co-hosts are locked in for the home finals. Despite missing talisman Christian Pulisic, the US overpowered Australia 2-0 to reach the knockouts, following their commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Group D.

Australia

The Aussies are through to the last 32 after a 0-0 draw against Paraguay confirmed them as runners-up to the US in Group D.

Only six spots remain.

Who will take them? 👀#FIFAWorldCup #Qualified | @McDonalds pic.twitter.com/B8vtNDsAv1

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 27, 2026

Germany

The Germans started with a 7-1 thrashing of Curacao but required a brace from substitute Deniz Undav to clinch a last-gasp 2-1 win over Ivory Coast and secure their place in the Round of 32 from Group E.

Ivory Coast

The Africans finished second in Group E behind Germany after beating Curacao in their final match.

Ecuador

Their surprise win over Germany means they will go through as one of the best third-placed teams.

Netherlands

The Dutch went unbeaten to top Group F. They face Morocco in the last 32.

Japan

Japan finished second in Group F and will face Brazil in the next round.

Sweden

The Swedes beat Tunisia and drew with Japan to seal progress as a best third-placed team.

Argentina

Defending champions Argentina stormed into the Round of 32 as the tireless Lionel Messi became the tournament's all-time leading ⁠scorer during the 2-0 win over Austria. They had started the tournament with a 3-0 win over Algeria in Group J.

France

Kylian Mbappe has been on fire in the tournament, with his second brace in as many matches powering France into the knockouts with a 3-0 victory over Iraq following a 3-1 triumph over Senegal in Group I.

Norway

Erling Haaland has hit the ground running. The Manchester City star struck twice in their 3-2 win over Senegal that secured entry into the knockout rounds, following an impressive 4-1 triumph over Iraq.

Colombia

Colombia beat DR Congo 1-0 in Guadalajara to qualify for the Round of ⁠32 with a match to spare, following their opening 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in Group K.

Cape Verde

Debutants Cape Verde extended their ⁠World Cup dream run as they secured a place in the knockouts following a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia. It was their third straight draw in Group H.

England

England make it to the last 32 ahead of their final Group L game against Panama.

Results elsewhere meant that Thomas Tuchel's men were assured of a place in the next round as one of the top eight third-placed finishers.

Take a bow, Cape Verde. 🇨🇻

The World Cup debutants, representing a country with a population less than 500,000, have finished second in Group H meaning they have qualified for the World Cup knockout stages - becoming the smallest nation to ever do so.

They'll face defending… pic.twitter.com/qGMjAcJkkv

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 27, 2026

Egypt

Egypt also made it to the knockout stage before their final group stage match against Iran as overnight results guaranteed their qualification.

Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal qualified for the Round of 32 after a win and a draw in Group K, thanks to results elsewhere.

​​Ghana

Ghana were handed qualification to the next round following favourable overnight results. They too had a win and a draw after two games.

⁠Paraguay

A win, a draw and a loss in Group D was enough for the South Americans to qualify as part of the third-best finishers.

Teams that are out of World Cup 2026

Haiti

Became the first side to be officially eliminated from the tournament after five-time champions Brazil defeated them 3-0, to go with a 1-0 loss to Scotland in their opener.

Jordan

Coach Jamal Sellami bemoaned his team’s inexperience as a 2-1 defeat to ⁠Algeria ended their campaign, following a 3-1 loss ⁠to Austria in their Group J opener.

Turkey

An incredible end to Turkey’s World Cup journey. Turkey fell to a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Paraguay, ending their campaign which had started with a 2-0 loss to Australia. Turkey failed to score despite attempting a staggering 62 shots in the two matches.

Tunisia

A shocking tournament for Tunisia, who first sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi after their opening 5-1 loss to Sweden in Group F. New manager Herve Renard could not save their campaign as they slipped to a 4-0 defeat to Japan.

Panama

Croatia defeated Panama ⁠1-0 in their crucial Group L match that sent the ⁠central American side out of the tournament. Panama had lost their opening game to Ghana 1-0.

Qatar

Last tournament's hosts bowed out of the tournament after losing to Bosnia. The Arab team put in a much better effort but still lost 3-1 on Wednesday, finishing bottom of Group B. Did pick up their first World Cup point in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland but were then hammered 6-0 by Canada.

Czech Republic

The Czechs never recovered from a crushing defeat to South Korea despite taking the lead in their opening match. After drawing with South Africa, they bowed out with a defeat to Mexico.

Curacao

The minnows bowed out after finishing bottom of Group E with one point.

Saudi Arabia

The kingdom saw their finals campaign end following an insipid performance against Cape Verde. They 0-0 in their final game of the tournament, having started with a draw against Uruguay and losing 4-0 to Spain.

Uruguay

Bowed out of the finals with two draws and one defeats in Group H.

Iraq

Iraq had a tournament to forget, losing all three games by a big margin. Their final game was a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Senegal.

From pop and rock to ballet, opera and musicals, the months ahead offer a packed line-up across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will bring his arias to Abu Dhabi, while the Offlimits Music Festival returns in November with retained headliners Shakira and the Jonas Brothers.

Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi Festival and NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre will bring a strong classical programme later in the year, including American Ballet Theatre, Dhafer Youssef and Sondra Radvanovsky, while Dubai audiences can look forward to shows by Blue, Atif Aslam and Hiba Tawaji with Ibrahim Maalouf.

Here, we round up the concerts and live events still to come this year.

1. Spacetoon Memories: July 4 at Jafza One Convention Centre, Dubai

Singer Assem Sukkar returns to Dubai with a concert revisiting the Arabic cartoon theme songs that shaped a generation. One of the defining voices of Spacetoon’s early years, he performed songs associated with programmes including Dragon Ball, Sabeq wa Laheq, Hazeem Al-Ra’ad and Saqoor Al-Ard.

Doors open 7.30pm; show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh125

2. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan: July 5 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan launches his Once Upon a Time World Tour in Dubai with a concert spanning qawwali, romantic ballads and songs from Pakistani and Indian cinema. He will be joined by his son Shah Zaman Ali Khan, bringing two generations of the musical family together on stage.

Show starts 7.30pm; tickets from Dh190

3. Ramy Sabry: July 5 at Space42 Arena, Abu Dhabi

Egyptian singer Ramy Sabry brings his romantic pop catalogue to Abu Dhabi. Before becoming a solo performer, he composed for artists including Amer Mounib, Sherine Abdel Wahab and Fadl Shaker, while his own songs include Ymken Kher, Kelma, Hayaty Msh Tamam, Ahd Eldonia and El Hob 3ebna.

Doors open 7.30pm; show starts 9pm; tickets from Dh1,195

4 Sonu Nigam: August 21 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Indian singer Sonu Nigam launches his Revolution Tour in Abu Dhabi with a concert celebrating three decades of music. The Padma Shri recipient’s repertoire spans Bollywood songs, romantic ballads and pop releases recorded in several Indian languages.

Doors open 7.30pm; tickets from Dh150

5. Miami Band: August 29 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai

Kuwait’s Miami Band bring their career-retrospective, The Miami Show, to Dubai, featuring a catalogue that has been part of Gulf pop since the early 1990s. The set is expected to include songs such as Bastans, Ya Omri Ana and Ya Helwakom.

Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh195

6. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Fanfarai: September 5 at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

The Arts Centre season opens with two brass ensembles drawing on musical traditions from either side of the Atlantic. Grammy-winning New Orleans group The Dirty Dozen Brass Band combine second-line jazz with funk, bebop, R&B and soul.

French-North African ensemble Fanfarai bring Algerian and Moroccan traditions into a line-up of brass, percussion, bass and keyboards, alongside Afro-Cuban music, Latin jazz and funk. Both groups are making their Gulf debuts.

Doors open 8pm; show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh78.75

7. The Butterfly Who Flew Into the Rave: September 10 to 12 at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

New Zealand dancers Oli Mathiesen, Lucy Lynch and Sharvon Mortimer condense the physical experience of a three-day rave into an hour-long performance. Set to Detroit techno producer Suburban Knight’s album Nocturbulous Behaviour, the Middle East premiere unfolds through continuous movement without a pause.

Shows start 7.30pm; tickets from Dh52.50

8. Christina Aguilera: September 25 at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi

Christina Aguilera will return to Abu Dhabi just more than a year after her Saadiyat Nights performance. The seven-time Grammy Award winner last appeared in the emirate in February 2025, a show that was described in The National as a masterclass in live performance, underlining her reputation as one of pop’s most formidable vocalists. Her return follows earlier UAE appearances including Expo 2020’s closing ceremony.

Doors open 7pm; tickets from Dh395

9. K-Pop Fever: September 26 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

K-Pop Fever is a concert-style production celebrating some of the genre’s most popular songs. Featuring 12 singers and dancers, the performance combines live vocals with large-scale choreography inspired by leading K-pop groups and solo artists.

Doors open 2pm; tickets from Dh155

10. The Corrs: September 27 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Irish sibling group The Corrs return to Abu Dhabi with their combination of pop-rock and traditional Celtic influences. The quartet’s catalogue includes Runaway, Breathless and What Can I Do, alongside material from their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten.

Doors open 6.30pm; tickets from Dh325

11. Untitled 14km: October 1 and 2 at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

Moroccan artist Youness Atbane combines dance, theatre, performance and installation in a satire examining the international art world’s approach to Arab identity. Set inside an imagined museum, the work follows four characters attempting to create an exhibition connecting the region’s poetic history with contemporary Arab art.

Show starts 9pm; tickets from Dh199

12. Marilyne Naaman: October 6 at Dubai Opera, Dubai

Lebanese singer and actress Marilyne Naaman makes her Dubai Opera debut with a concert blending Arabic music and western pop influences. She reached a wider audience through The Voice France and has since released songs including Nachez, 5 Minutes and Lech Ma Bterjaa?.

Her recording of Ana Min, the theme song from television drama Bil Dam, became a regional hit.

Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh295.

13. TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan: October 11 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai

Filipino singers TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan bring their In Between Middle East Tour to Dubai following a four-night sold-out run in the Philippines. The married couple will perform solo material and collaborations, moving between romantic pop, soul, R&B and jazz.

Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh299

14. Morgan Jay: October 11 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Musical comedian Morgan Jay brings his Goofy Guy Tour to Abu Dhabi, combining stand-up, live music and improvised audience interaction. Performing with a guitar, he turns dating, relationships and exchanges with the crowd into R&B-influenced songs and comic routines.

Doors open 6.30pm; tickets from Dh275

15. Sondra Radvanovsky and Vincenzo Scalera: October 17 at The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky will perform arias and songs by Bellini, Verdi and Puccini, accompanied by pianist Vincenzo Scalera. The programme, as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival, also includes music by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Richard Strauss.

Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh150

16. Blue: October 25 at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, Expo City Dubai

British pop group Blue will celebrate 25 years of hits with a Dubai show built around fan favourites such as All Rise, One Love and Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, alongside newer material from their Reflections album. The four-piece remain one of the UK’s most successful boy bands, with three number one albums and 11 Top 10 singles.

Doors open 6.30pm, show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh239

17. Russell Peters: October 25 at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi

Known for his rapid-fire delivery, crowd banter and cultural observations, Indian-Canadian comedian Russell Peters built an international following through specials such as Outsourced, Red, White and Brown and Deported. Peters remains one of the highest-grossing comedians globally, with a touring career spanning more than two decades.

Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh275

18. Nass: October 30 at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

French-Moroccan choreographer Fouad Boussouf brings together seven male dancers in a work connecting hip-hop movement with the ritual dimensions of North African music. The title takes inspiration from Moroccan group Nass El Ghiwane and draws parallels between their search for identity and the origins of hip-hop.

Doors open 7pm; show starts 7.30pm; tickets from Dh52.50

19. Riverdance: October 31 and November 1 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Riverdance returns to the UAE with a production marking the Irish dance show’s 30th anniversary. The staging retains Bill Whelan’s Grammy Award-winning score while introducing updated choreography, costumes, lighting, projection and motion graphics.

Performance times vary; tickets from Dh215

20. Benjamin Clementine: November 1 at Dubai Opera

British singer, pianist and composer Benjamin Clementine performs a programme combining experimental pop, contemporary classical music, jazz and poetry. His debut album, At Least for Now, won the Mercury Prize, while later recordings include I Tell a Fly and And I Have Been.

Doors open 7.30pm; show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh500.

21. American Ballet Theatre: November 20 at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

American Ballet Theatre will present works by three choreographers: Twyla Tharp’s playful Sextet, Alexei Ratmansky’s meditative Serenade after Plato’s Symposium, and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, set to music by Tchaikovsky.

Doors open 7pm, show starts 8pm, tickets from Dh125

22. Offlimits Music Festival: November 21 at Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi

The Offlimits Music Festival, originally scheduled for April, has been moved to November 21. The line-up is expected to remain intact, including Shakira and the Jonas Brothers, positioning the event as one of the season’s biggest pop-led concerts in the capital. Tickets remain valid for the new date.

Doors open 3pm; tickets from Dh495

23. Algarabia: November 26 at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

Algarabia presents a theatrical production blending flamenco with Arabic poetry, performed by musicians from Spain’s University of Navarra Symphony Orchestra alongside dancers and actors. The work follows the journey of an Arab girl drawn to ancient botanical theory and poetic tradition.

Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh100

24. Hiba Tawaji and Ibrahim Maalouf: November 27 at Dubai Opera, Dubai

Hiba Tawaji and Ibrahim Maalouf will unite for a one-night performance at Dubai Opera, with the programme drawing on French musical heritage through a blend of chanson, jazz and contemporary composition. Tawaji’s emotive vocals and Maalouf’s genre-crossing trumpet work make this one of the more distinctive concert pairings on the calendar.

Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh355

25. Atif Aslam: November 27 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai

Atif Aslam returns to Coca-Cola Arena after five consecutive years of sold-out Dubai concerts. The Pakistani singer’s programme will move between Bollywood songs, pop-rock and devotional music, with hits including Tajdar-e-Haram, Jeena Jeena, Pehli Nazar Mein, Dil Diyan Gallan and Aadat.

Doors open 9pm; tickets from Dh350

26. Tarkan: November 27 at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi

Known internationally for the global hit Simarik and a catalogue that has defined Turkish pop for more than two decades, Tarkan is making his Abu Dhabi debut is further proof of Turkish’s pop growing popularity in the region.

Doors open 7pm, show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh295

27. Verdi’s Opera Gala: November 29 at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

Marking 125 years since Giuseppe Verdi’s death, this programme is led by soprano Maria Agresta and tenor Giorgio Berrugi, and includes selections from Nabucco, I Vespri Siciliani, Otello and La Traviata, alongside overtures and duets drawn from Verdi’s wider catalogue.

Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh125

28. Andrea Bocelli: December 2 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli brings his 30th Anniversary Romanza World Tour to Abu Dhabi as part of Yasalam Classics. The concert celebrates Romanza, the album that helped establish him internationally and includes songs such as Con te partiro and Vivo per lei.

Doors open 6pm; tickets from Dh295

29. Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson: December 3 at Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi

Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson will open the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 after-race concert series with separate sets at Etihad Park.

Capaldi returns to the capital following his Saadiyat Nights performance in January, bringing a catalogue that includes Someone You Loved, Before You Go and Forget Me. Larsson joins the bill with pop staples such as Lush Life, Never Forget You and Symphony, offering a high-tempo contrast to Capaldi’s ballad-driven set. The show launches the four-night programme running alongside the race weekend at Yas Marina Circuit.

Showtime yet to be announced; access exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders

30. Lisa Batiashvili and Giorgi Gigashvili: December 10 at The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

Georgian musicians Lisa Batiashvili and Giorgi Gigashvili will perform works by Beethoven, Bartok and Franck, alongside a contemporary piece by composer Josef Bardanashvili.

Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh150

31. Minsoo Sohn: December 11 at The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

Pianist Minsoo Sohn will perform Book One of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, presenting the 24 preludes and fugues that explore every major and minor key. The recital highlights both the intellectual depth and emotional breadth of the landmark work.

Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh150

32. Chicago the Musical: December 16 to 20 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai

The Broadway production of Chicago comes to Coca-Cola Arena for eight performances over five days. Set during the Jazz Age, the musical follows nightclub performer Roxie Hart and vaudeville star Velma Kelly as they compete for public attention while awaiting trial for murder.

The score includes All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango and Razzle Dazzle.

Performance times vary; tickets from Dh49

33. Dhafer Youssef: December 19 at The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

Oud maestro Dhafer Youssef will perform with his quintet, bridging sounds from the East and West through jazz, Arab and North African traditions, as well as European classical and electronic elements. He is expected to perform material from his latest album Shiraz, described as his most personal work to date.

Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh150

34. Tamaas Festival: January 29, 2027, at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

Tamaas Festival returns with three acts moving between traditional forms and club-oriented production. Moroccan-Swiss musician Sami Galbi combines rai and chaabi with electronic music, while Nigerien guitarist Bombino performs Tuareg desert blues and rock.

British collective Ibibio Sound Machine close the evening with West African rhythms, post-punk, disco and electronic music.

Festival starts 7pm; free pass upon registration

35. Ramadaniyat – The Handover: February 17, 2027, at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

Egyptian oud player Aly Eissa, Alexandrian violinist Ayman Asfour and Belgian-Norwegian keyboard player Jonas Cambien make their UAE debut as The Handover. The trio bring the ritual and folk music of rural Egypt into contact with free improvisation, psychedelic rock and electronic textures.

Doors open 9pm; show starts 9.30pm; tickets from Dh52.50

36. Tribute to Ziad Rahbani by Faraj Suleiman: March 26, 2027, at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi

Palestinian composer and pianist Faraj Suleiman returns with a programme dedicated to Lebanese composer, pianist and playwright Ziad Rahbani. Rather than reproducing the original recordings, Suleiman re-orchestrates and re-harmonises the material through contemporary piano, jazz and Arabic composition.

Doors open 7pm; show starts 7.30pm; tickets from Dh78.75

Cape Verde have been one of the standout teams of the finals so far, holding their own against stronger teams.

They held Spain and Uruguay to a draw and even though they could not force a result against Saudi Arabia, their performance was enough to secure a clash with defending champions Argentina in the next stage.

The match at the Houston Stadium barely kicked into top gear with Cape Verde lacking the edge in ‌the final ⁠third. Laros Duarte missed ​their best chance when ​one-on-one ‌with goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais, who saved his ⁠effort.

For Saudi Arabia, the World Cup that started with promise ended on a low. The kingdom had kicked off the finals with a draw against Uruguay but a 4-0 defeat to Spain put a spanner in the works.

They exited the tournament having scored a single goal in their three games.

They never threatened to take control of the match in Houston.

Take a bow, Cape Verde. 🇨🇻

The World Cup debutants, representing a country with a population less than 500,000, have finished second in Group H meaning they have qualified for the World Cup knockout stages - becoming the smallest nation to ever do so.

They'll face defending… pic.twitter.com/qGMjAcJkkv

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 27, 2026

Saudi Arabia ​produced their ‌first attempt on target in first-half stoppage time when Mohamed Kanno directed a header straight at ⁠Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, whose mother was watching in the stands having arrived ⁠late to the tournament.

“We ⁠were very poor in creating actions. ​One ⁠cannot win a ‌game this way,” Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis said.

“It ​was ‌not what we wanted because when playing ⁠in such a match against a ⁠team more or less the same level of us our level was not good. This gives cause for concern.”

Cape Verde thus became the smallest nation ever to reach the second phase.

Meanwhile, Spain defeated Uruguay ​1-0 ​to top Group ⁠H and reach the knockout ​stage.

Alex Baena's first-half strike decided the contest as Marcelo Bielsa's side exited the tournament.

Spain finished the stage with seven points from two ⁠wins and a draw, while Cape Verde ‌claimed the second knockout berth after ​three consecutive draws.

Spain struggled to breach Uruguay's backline before Baena broke the deadlock just before halftime by firing a shot that goalkeeper Fernando Muslera fumbled into his own net.

Uruguay replaced Muslera at halftime after his costly error. And despite turning up the pressure, ⁠they could not beat ​Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, ​who ‌denied Mathias Olivera and Nicolas de la ⁠Cruz, while Ferran Torres hit the ⁠crossbar at the other end.

Agustin Canobbio's stoppage-time red card for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsi summed up Uruguay's ​frustrations as Spain comfortably saw out the victory.

“It might be one of the goals that has made me happiest,” Baena said. “We knew it was going to be a tough match.

“They were fighting for their lives, and we were fighting for the top spot. We didn't show our best form, but we competed very well,” he added.

England guaranteed passage

England's place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup has been secured ahead of their final Group L game against Panama.

Results on Friday night, where Uruguay were beaten by Spain, meant that Thomas Tuchel's men are assured a place in the last 32 whatever happens against the Central Americans at the New Jersey Stadium on Saturday.

England are guaranteed to be one of the top eight third-placed finishers, meaning they will progress even if things go wrong against Panama.

But Tuchel will have much stronger ambitions and they will finish top of the group if they can match Ghana's result against Croatia.

That would guarantee them a last-32 tie in Atlanta against third-placed team on Wednesday.

Portugal, ​Egypt, ​Ghana ​and ⁠Paraguay also secured places ⁠in the Round ⁠of 32 on Friday before their final group ⁠matches.

Today, the industry has so much more to offer. “Advances in skincare science, technology and ingredient delivery systems have transformed facials into highly personalised treatments designed to address a range of concerns and support long-term skin health,” says Misyura Ulyana, senior aesthetic beauty laser therapist at Sequoia Clinic in Dubai.

A facial is one of the fastest-developing areas of beauty treatments, and what it constitutes has expanded to include the use of lasers, ultrasound, DNA, tailored infusions, LED lights, radiofrequency and even the use of artificial intelligence for 3D mapping of the dermis, alongside traditional serums or drainage and massage techniques.

“The facials available today range from traditional spa treatments to advanced concern-focused procedures,” says Rosie Osborne, who divides her time between Dubai’s Browz Clinic and both Mandarin Oriental hotels in Dubai, where she serves as resident skin specialist. “Facials can be divided into four categories: maintenance, corrective, regenerative and holistic. Ultimately, a facial should be tailored to what the skin needs at that moment, rather than following trends or a one-size-fits-all approach.”

For Dr Victoria Scott-Lang, a dermatologist at Cornerstone Clinic in Dubai, facials serve as a complement to injectable and invasive skin treatments, such as Botox, fillers, peels and facelifts, which remain undeniably popular.

“Facials can provide a temporary improvement in skin appearance, improve hydration and leave you looking fresher and more radiant. And because there is little or no downtime, facials can be a good option for patients looking for a quick boost before an event,” she says, adding: “For many patients, they form part of a broader approach that may also include medical-grade skincare, laser treatments or carefully selected injectable procedures,” she says.

Here are six facials to consider depending on your skin's needs.

Fire & Ice facial

Where: RAK Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah

Best for: Resurfacing the skin

Price: From Dh500 for 45 minutes

The likes of Beyonce, Jennifer Lawrence and Charlize Theron are all fans of this globally popular facial, particularly before red-carpet events, as it provides an instant glow with no redness or downtime.

Designed to gently resurface the skin while simultaneously hydrating and soothing it, according to Dr Meeth Atawane, specialist dermatologist at RAK Hospital, “it bridges the gap between a traditional facial and a superficial chemical peel, making it an excellent option for patients seeking visible skin rejuvenation without the recovery time associated with more intensive procedures”.

The Fire phase involves applying a resurfacing mask containing glycolic acid, citric acid, retinol and niacinamide to exfoliate dead skin cells, stimulate cell turnover, improve skin texture and enhance overall radiance. The Ice phase involves the application of a cooling, soothing mask enriched with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and botanical extracts.

“Patients typically notice brighter, more radiant skin, smoother skin texture, reduction in dullness, softening of fine lines and enhanced overall skin glow,” says Dr Atawane.

The Rosie Glow

Where: Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Dubai

Best for: Tailored skincare

Price: From Dh1,700 per session

“Healthy skin should always come before correction, so traditional and holistic facials are more important now than ever,” says Osborne, who believes personalisation is key in skincare.

“Hands-on facials are incredibly effective for maintaining glow and overall skin health between more advanced procedures,” she adds.

Osborne's favourite treatment, The Rosie Glow, encapsulates her signature skin philosophy and keeps her celebrity clients – Sienna Miller, Jessie J, Sophie Habboo and Jamie Laing – coming back.

“It’s not one fixed protocol, but a personalised approach that adapts across my locations and to the individual,” she says. “It’s built around skin longevity – the belief that real results come from working with the skin’s own ability to repair and renew itself, not against it.”

Each bespoke treatment combines three pillars: exfoliation, hydration and stimulation, to support collagen production and create bright, healthy skin. She says: “It’s a regenerative, non-invasive approach, and the results keep improving long after the treatment ends.”

Super Anti-Ageing Facial

Where: Sense, A Rosewood Spa, Rosewood Abu Dhabi

Best for: Lifting and firming

Price: From Dh1,200 for 75 minutes

The spa offers four facials from leading aesthetics doctor Dr Barbara Sturm, each with a focus on skin glow, anti-pigmentation, tension release or anti-ageing.

For assistant spa manager, Evgeniia Noskova, the Super Anti-Ageing Facial is the most “results-driven” treatment.

“It begins with gentle yet effective cleansing, followed by intensive hydration using hyaluronic acid,” she explains. “Potent anti-ageing actives are then infused into the skin, complemented by Dr Barbara Sturm’s signature lifting massage technique, designed to stimulate circulation, improve elasticity and sculpt facial contours.”

The complexion is left looking visibly radiant and feeling rejuvenated thanks to enhanced elasticity and resilience, a strengthened skin barrier and improved regenerative function.

Natura Bisse Inhibit Facial

Where: Sensasia Spa, various locations, Dubai

Best for: Smoothing wrinkles and skin correction

Price: From Dh630 for 60 minutes

When asked to pick her current favourite treatments, Salina Handa, founder and creative director of Sensasia Spas, says she's a fan of facials and invasive treatments working in tandem.

“Think of it as infrastructure versus architecture,” she says. “Injectables build the structure. Facials maintain the infrastructure that holds everything together – barrier integrity, hydration, circulation and cellular health.”

Handa says the Natura Bisse Inhibit Facial is suitable “for anyone in the injectable cycle. Powerful bio-remodelling actives combine with advanced massage techniques to deliver visibly softened wrinkles and genuine correction – not temporary plumping.” She suggests getting the facial every three weeks between Botox appointments to actively extend and enhance those results.

Sequoia Signature Facial

Where: Sequoia Clinic, Dubai

Best for: Uneven skin tone

Price: From Dh999 for 90 minutes

Results-focused facials use a range of tools and methods to soften fine lines and achieve glowing skin. At longevity clinic Sequoia, the focus is on facials that address several concerns at once, from signs of ageing and pigmentation to redness and rosacea-prone skin. They also incorporate technologies such as HydraFacial, microneedling, mesotherapy devices and LED light therapy.

“The Sequoia signature facial combines advanced skincare ingredients, a specialised massage and personalised Heleo LED therapy,” says Dr Parisa Khonsari, a specialist in aesthetic and integrative medicine.

The process utilises a blend of vitamin C, glycolic acid, tranexamic acid and anti-ageing peptides to target dryness, pigmentation, uneven skin tone, fine lines, enlarged pores and congestion. “The pressure point massage helps relieve tension and boost circulation, while LED therapy supports healing, collagen production and overall skin health,” says Dr Khonsari.

Promising visible transformation in a single session, the facial works “before an event or as part of a long-term skin health plan”, she says.

Bio-Microneedling Facial

Where: Sophie Milnes @beautybysophiedxb, Mira Oasis, Dubai

Best for: Stimulating the skin’s natural repair processes

Price: From Dh700 for 60 minutes

“The best facial is not necessarily the most advanced one; it’s the one that addresses your individual skin concerns and goals,” says skin specialist Sophie Milnes.

But as far as trends go, she lists regenerative microneedling facials as a go-to right now. The treatment uses ingredients such as exosomes, highly concentrated serums derived from human stem cells, polynucleotides (salmon DNA), NAD+ and peptides to stimulate the skin's natural repair processes and enhance cellular function.

“Clients see improved skin texture, increased collagen production, better hydration and a brighter, healthier complexion,” she says. “These treatments focus on long-term skin health rather than surface-level concerns.”

If it's a non-invasive treatment you're after, Milnes says bio-microneedling “reflects the shift towards regenerative skincare”.

This uses microscopic spicules derived from sea sponges on the outer layer of the dermis – rather than metal needles – to naturally stimulate skin renewal and collagen production. It improves skin texture, reduces pigmentation and refines pores for a brighter complexion and natural-looking results.

But an early header from Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra served as a quick reality check for the Lions of Mesopotamia. They were then mauled 5-0 by Senegal's Lions of Teranga, crushing Iraq's dreams of reaching the knockout stage of the tournament, and sending them back to Baghdad.

For Senegal, who lost to Norway and France, their roaring win in Group I and third-place finish marked a crucial return to ferocious form. It was enough to give them a strong chance of reaching the final group of 32 knockouts.

“It wasn't a surprise for us because we know our team is capable of showing us such beautiful football to make people believe [again],” said Ahmadou, a Senegalese fan who has been living in Montreal for about 10 years.

The team's Lions of Teranga nickname comes from the country's courage and spirit of hospitality.

1986 all over again

Tens of thousands of Iraqi fans had poured into Toronto in recent days, including legions from Michigan, which is home to about 200,000 Chaldeans.

In the hours ahead of the sell-out match, where Iraqi fans appeared to outnumber Senegalese by about 10-1, a cacophonous procession of Iraq supporters marched from a Toronto park to the stadium, banging drums and letting off green smoke bombs for their team's last hurrah.

Things went quiet soon after kick-off, however, following Diarra's goal. Then, at the 13-minute mark, Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka was given a red card after pulling on Senegal forward Sadio Mane's shirt, denying him a shot on goal.

From then on, things only got worse for Iraq as their 10 remaining men struggled to mark a rampant Senegal.

Iraq's World Cup dreams ended in a similar fashion to the last time they played in the tournament four decades ago, when they crashed out of the 1986 tournament in Mexico after losing three matches scoring only one goal, the same outcome as this year.

“We feel a bit sad,” said Hussam, an Iraqi now living in Toronto, “especially that we reached this point.”

“But on the other hand, we're really happy, because this is the first time since 40 years that we went to the World Cup.”

Like many other Iraq fans The National spoke to, 2026 is over, but hopes are already sprouting for 2030.

The maker of ChatGPT announced the move in a statement related to its newest models, GPT-5.6 Sol, Terra and Luna.

In the statement, the California-based AI company said that it had given a preview of the models and their capabilities to the US federal government.

"At their request, we are starting with a limited preview for a small group of trusted partners whose participation has been shared with the government, before releasing more broadly," the statement posted to OpenAI's website read.

The company, led by Sam Altman, added that it doesn't want this sort of rollout to become a long-term solution to the Trump administration's worries about powerful AI models falling into the wrong hands.

"We are taking this short-term step because we believe it is the strongest path to broader availability in the coming weeks, while we work with the Administration to develop the cyber Executive Order framework and a repeatable process for future model releases," it said.

Introducing a limited preview of GPT-5.6 Sol, our next generation frontier model, as well as GPT-5.6 Terra, a balanced model for efficient, everyday work, and GPT-5.6 Luna, a fast and affordable model for high-volume work.https://t.co/OoM83SyISN

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) June 26, 2026

Ever since his second term began last year, US President Donald Trump has said that he wants his White House to take a less regulatory and more innovation-centric approach to AI, often criticising his predecessor Joe Biden's policies towards the technology in the process.

Yet in recent weeks, the White House has taken regulatory measures steps related to AI that have been far more heavy handed than anything Mr Biden ever proposed.

Earlier in the month, the Department of Commerce forced OpenAI rival Anthropic to disable access to its latest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, for "any foreign national, whether inside the US or outside".

Anthropic, which had claimed that those models were finely tuned to reduce the potential risk of misuse that the company had warned about for several months, said the Commerce Department had cited a vague risk that the models could be compromised.

"We have not even received a disclosure of a concerning non-universal potential jailbreak that led to a harmful result," the company said.

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Cyber Director Sean Cairncross, at least 100 AI executives, cybersecurity experts and academics expressed concerns with the Trump administration's moves.

Regardless, Anthropic complied with White House orders.

A debate about whether or not the Trump administration is overstepping, however, has continued to percolate.

"We’re quickly barreling toward a future where the few control an extraordinarily powerful expressive technology without democratic transparency and accountability," said John Coleman, legislative counsel for Fire, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

"This power grab should concern all of us, no matter your opinion of AI."

One day before OpenAI's announcement, The National asked the US State Department about whether or not the recent White House regulatory moves on AI contradicted Pax Silica, an effort to strengthen US-led AI coalitions.

A State Department representative said that "ensuring American technology dominance and protecting critical technologies are not mutually exclusive", adding that the Pax Silica coalition is "built exactly on that understanding".

The protests were a response to an online campaign called June 26 Revolution, which urged Gazans to demonstrate for democratic rule, basic rights and an end to people's continued suffering in the Palestinian territory.

The protesters in Gaza city and in the southern city of Khan Younis carried signs demanding that Hamas leave power and chanted “our voices are not acts of betrayal”, rejecting the group's stance that criticising it amounts to treason. They dispersed peacefully after about an hour, residents told The National.

At the same time, other residents held signs reading, “No to destruction, no to division. Yes to living in peace”, calling on all parties not to exploit the suffering of Gaza's people to deepen internal divisions.

The Facebook page of the June 26 Revolution, named after the date set for the protests' launch, says it is motivated by the “suffering of the people and their legitimate demands”.

It says the campaign is not affiliated with “groups or militias collaborating with the occupation [Israel], or any entities operating east or outside the Yellow Line” that divided Gaza into Israeli-controlled and Hamas-controlled territory after the ceasefire.

It is not clear who is behind the campaign, but several Gazans living abroad appear in videos posted on the Facebook page, including journalists, activists and opponents of Hamas.

Large areas of Gaza were destroyed, and most of its population was displaced in the war triggered by a deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Residents say Israel's continued control over the entry of goods has left them still facing shortages of food items, medicine and other essentials.

The number of protests on Friday was fewer than the June 26 Revolution had called for. It had asked people to assemble at 18 locations across the strip.

The Israeli government had endorsed the protests. On its Arabic account on X, it encouraged people to “revolt against the oppressors”, a reference to Hamas, which has ruled the territory since 2007.

The online campaign has divided Gazans. Some have encouraged the movement, which they view as the public rejection of a life spent in humiliation and oppression by Hamas and Israel.

Others discouraged people from leaving their tents and homes for fear of causing further chaos, armed conflict and bloodshed, at a time when Hamas faces a challenge from Israel-backed Palestinian militias.

Israeli media, such as The Times of Israel, has criticised these Israeli-armed groups for not making enough “headway” against Hamas, despite receiving military-grade drones, air support and intelligence, as well as food supplies and access to Israel for medical care.

Some also rejected the call for demonstrations because of Israel's clear support, fearing that it was an attempt to fragment society further.

The Hamas-linked Palestinian Scholars Association issued a fatwa, or religious edict, accusing those behind the protest campaign of being “agents of the occupation”.

The coalition of Palestinian tribes in Gaza issued a statement thanking people for what it described as their role in preserving social unity and thwarting attempts to undermine the Palestinian national fabric. The coalition also urged people not to be drawn into what it called misleading campaigns aimed at sowing discord.

Earlier, prominent Gaza families had issued clarifications after conflicting statements by people purporting to speak for them on the issue.

“Palestinian unity, maintaining social peace, strengthening the values of brotherhood, solidarity, and compassion among our people are a national, moral, and religious responsibility incumbent on everyone,” the Ashiy family said in a statement.

The Kilani-Rajab family said it would not allow people to speak on its behalf to “achieve private agendas or interests”, adding that any official statement should come from its leaders.

The protest campaign was heavily influenced by Palestinians abroad, such as the journalist Abdul Hamid Abdul Ati, who are believed to have begun the calls.

The last major protests in Gaza were in March last year, when there was heavy pressure on Hamas to disarm, which the group blamed on Israel. Demonstrators held posters saying “Hamas does not represent us” and told The National they were opposed to the war continuing.

The current ceasefire is part of a three-stage US-backed plan under which Hamas will disarm, the Israeli military will withdraw, and Gaza will be placed under a Palestinian technocratic committee and security maintained by an international force.

It has yet to move beyond the first phase as Israel continues to carry out attacks that have killed more than 1,000 people since October, and Hamas refuses to disarm. Three police officers were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza city on Friday, according to local authorities.

In late 2003, the UAE became the stage for the future of world football.

The Fifa World Youth Championship, now known as the Fifa Under-20 World Cup, was held in the Emirates from November 27 to December 19, bringing 24 teams to seven stadiums across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain.

The tournament had originally been scheduled for March and April that year but was postponed because of the Iraq War. When it eventually kicked off in late November, it became one of the most significant international football events hosted by the UAE at the time.

Matches were played at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium and Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium in Al Ain, Al Maktoum Stadium and Al Rashid Stadium in Dubai, and Sharjah Stadium.

For the UAE, the tournament carried importance beyond its role as host. Led by Ismail Matar, the national youth team reached the quarter-finals, giving local fans one of the country’s most memorable runs at a Fifa competition.

Matar, then a young Al Wahda player, became the face of the UAE’s campaign. His performances earned him the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, ahead of several names who would go on to shape the next decade of world football.

Among those who played in the UAE were Spain’s Andres Iniesta, Brazil’s Dani Alves and Fernandinho, Argentina’s Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez, and Eddie Johnson and Freddy Adu of the US. At the time, many were still at the start of their careers. Within a few years, several would become regulars at the highest levels of European and international football.

Brazil eventually lifted the trophy in Abu Dhabi after beating Spain 1-0 in the final on December 19. The decisive goal came late, when Fernandinho headed in the winner in the 87th minute at Zayed Sports City Stadium.

The victory gave Brazil a fourth title in the competition and completed a remarkable period for the country’s football teams. Brazil were already senior world champions, having won the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, and had also won the Under-17 World Championship earlier in 2003.

For Spain, the defeat came at the end of a campaign that hinted at what was to come. Iniesta scored three goals during the tournament and later became central to the senior Spain side that won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

The UAE tournament was also notable for its attendance figures. More than half a million spectators watched the 52 matches, with crowds turning out not only for the hosts but also for some of the biggest youth teams in world football.

The tournament came during a defining year for UAE football. Al Ain had just become Asian champions, winning the AFC Champions League in 2003, and the national youth team’s run gave local supporters another reason to believe the country could compete on bigger stages.

Matar became the symbol of that optimism. His Golden Ball win placed a UAE player above a field of players who would go on to dominate world football for the next two decades. Four years later, he would score five goals as the UAE won the Gulf Cup on home soil.

From Alia Bhatt's entry into Yash Raj Films' spy universe with Alpha and South Indian star Yash's long-awaited return in Toxic, to major releases from Malayalam and Punjabi cinema, audiences will have plenty to choose from over the coming months.

Here are the biggest Indian films releasing this summer.

Welcome to the Jungle (Hindi), June 26

Choreographer-turned-director Ahmed Khan assembles a star-studded ensemble for this comedy, the third instalment in the hugely successful Welcome franchise. Akshay Kumar, who starred in the original 2007 film, leads an impressive cast that includes Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Raveena Tandon, Lara Dutta, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani and Jackie Shroff.

The film follows a rag-tag movie crew that heads deep into the jungle to film what must become a guaranteed blockbuster. Unsurprisingly, things do not go according to plan. What follows is a series of increasingly chaotic mishaps, misunderstandings and larger-than-life encounters, delivering the slapstick humour and madcap energy that fans of the franchise have come to expect.

Alpha (Hindi), July 3

After the Tiger and War franchises, Yash Raj Films expands its spy universe with Alpha, a globe-trotting action thriller headlined by Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. Directed by Shiv Rawail, the film promises an origin story centred on two formidable operatives navigating a world of espionage, betrayal and high-stakes action.

The trailer shows Bobby Deol playing a ruthless mentor-turned-adversary who finds himself locked in a deadly confrontation with Bhatt's character, Sita, an assassin. The footage also teases the involvement of Anil Kapoor, whose character appears to have ties to the mysterious Alpha programme. While details about Sharvari's role remain largely under wraps, the trailer suggests she joins forces with Bhatt in a mission to stop Deol's character, Fateh, at any cost.

I, Nobody (Malayalam), July 9

Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran headlines this mystery thriller from director Nissam Basheer, reuniting with Parvathy Thiruvothu after Koode in 2018. It follows Rajeevan, an ordinary family man who finds himself at the centre of a mysterious bank heist, leaving everyone questioning whether he is a victim caught in the wrong place at the wrong time – or the mastermind behind the operation.

Positioned as a stylish heist thriller with plenty of suspense, I, Nobody has already generated significant buzz among Malayalam cinema fans, with Parvathy describing the film as a “shocker” and posting a teaser that shows a side of her on-screen chemistry with Prithviraj that audiences have not seen before. The film also stars Hakkim Shahjahan, Ashokan and Vijayaraghavan.

Dhamaal 4 (Hindi), July 10

Director Indra Kumar reunites the gang for another round of chaos for one of the most successful Bollywood comedy franchises. Returning favourites Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Jaaved Jaaferi and Sanjay Mishra are joined by an ensemble cast that includes Ravi Kishan, Esha Gupta, Sanjeeda Shaikh and Upendra Limaye.

It follows the Dhamaal crew as they embark on yet another madcap treasure hunt, only to find themselves facing eccentric rivals, wild animals, ghosts and a seemingly endless series of disasters. Packed with callbacks to earlier films, this promises a trademark mix of slapstick comedy, mayhem and increasingly ridiculous situations as the gang races towards hidden riches.

Dastaar (Punjabi), July 17

The 1980s marked a watershed decade for Sikhs around the world. Set in Punjab and the UK between the 1980s and 2000s, this period drama from director Amar Hundal stars Punjabi actor Tarsem Jassar.

It follows a Sikh immigrant whose life is shattered by a brutal attack. Forced to confront loss and adversity, he embarks on a journey defined by courage, faith and the determination to uphold his identity and honour.

The title, which refers to the Sikh turban, points to the film's central themes of heritage, responsibility and resilience. Starring Geet Goraya, Aman Dhaliwal and Aashish Duggal alongside Jassar, Dastaar is inspired by true events and has been billed as a story of power, sacrifice and survival.

Batwara 1947 (Hindi), August 14

National Award-winning director Rajkumar Santoshi returns with a historical drama set against the backdrop of the Partition of India. It boasts a star-studded cast led by Shabana Azmi, Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, Karan Deol, Ali Fazal and Abhimanyu Singh.

Set during the turbulent events surrounding India's independence in 1947, the film explores themes of resilience, sacrifice and humanity amid one of the most traumatic chapters in South Asian history. With music by AR Rahman and lyrics by Javed Akhtar, Batwara 1947 is positioned as both an epic historical drama and a deeply personal story about survival and hope, and is scheduled for a worldwide release in time for India's Independence Day on August 15.

Khalifa (Malayalam), August 20

It's a busy year for Prithviraj Sukumaran, who teams up with Malayalam superstar Mohanlal for this action thriller billed as a tale of vengeance, legacy and power, directed by Vysakh. Sukumaran plays Aamir Ali, a formidable figure drawn into a violent conflict that stretches across generations. Mohanlal, meanwhile, plays a pivotal role as Mambarakkal Ahmed Ali, the patriarch whose legacy looms large over the story.

The first glimpse of the film, also titled The Bloodline, teases a stylish world of gold smuggling, family rivalries and brutal revenge, with action sequences spanning locations including London and Dubai.

Promoted as Malayalam cinema's biggest action spectacles of the year, Khalifa promises slick visuals and large-scale set pieces and is slated for a worldwide theatrical release during the festival of Onam.

Toxic (Kannada), August 26

Kannada superstar Yash returns to the big screen with Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups, a sprawling gangster epic directed by acclaimed filmmaker Geetu Mohandas. Set in a bygone era in Goa, the film unfolds against the backdrop of a powerful drug cartel operating beneath the region's idyllic beaches and vibrant nightlife, with Yash playing the enigmatic gangster Raya.

The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. The teaser promises a dark, stylish and violent crime saga, with lavish production values and a tone that marks a significant departure from conventional action entertainers.

With a rumoured budget of 8 billion rupees, it is one of the most expensive films ever made. Originally slated for release in April, the project has faced delays amid regional instability linked to the Iran war, but is currently on track to arrive in cinemas in August.

Release dates are subject to change. Check local cinema listings for the latest schedules

Fortunately, the spot just outside the main entrance of Souk Madinat Jumeirah – in the space previously occupied by J54 Studio – has put together two eight-course Chef’s Journey menus that translate into savings of about Dh400 compared with the price point of the a la carte dishes.

These can be enjoyed in a space that exudes a heritage-chic aesthetic, inspired by the Mayan, Aztec and Incan civilisations.

Here’s how my culinary and cultural journey unfolded.

First impressions

Named after the double-headed serpent-dragon said to move between worlds, Amaru is replete with motifs from the three Latin American dynasties. Think symbols etched on to the colonnade encircling the dining room; cosmic light projections that call to mind the worlds the restaurant’s namesake was said to glide between; and a larger-than-life ceremonial mask that would be almost intimidating were it not for its exaggerated moving eyes, giving the space a hip, energetic vibe.

The restaurant itself is set up in concentric circles, starting with a hexagonal bar and working its way outward to high tables and plush booths. The circle is an important archetype in many cultures, representing both community and the cosmos. A symbol of eternal continuity in Latin America, it reflects a reverence for nature, time and life itself.

Philosophical leanings aside, the curved layout lends the 220-capacity restaurant an intimate feel, complemented by foot-tapping instrumental Cuban music.

The menu

My dining partner and I sample the vegetarian and regular Chef’s Journey menus, each offering eight dishes, of which the guacamole starter and yucas side dish are common. Lime and spices are an inherent part of Latin American cooking, and both shine through in the creamy guacamole that is served with totopos rather than tortilla chips, with embossed Herdmar cutlery and Bonna Premium Porcelain plates.

It's an early sign of the restaurant’s fine dining promise, realised through the premium ingredients – think Kamchatka king crab, 9+ Wagyu tenderloin and tuna belly with edible gold – sourced and prepped by Peruvian master chef Carlo Valentino.

Even the Amaru and truffle-corn salads are indulgent enough to stand on their own for those who want to eat light. The first is a delectable mix of baby spinach, persimmon, avocado, Manchego cheese, kiwi and roasted asparagus, while the second melds the goodness of fresh truffle with goat’s cheese, roasted sesame paste and a trio of white, yellow and cancha corn nuts.

Beef and mushroom empanadas, and chicken and mushroom arepas follow. While the fillings are tangy and moreish, both casings are a bit too dense and doughy for me. Standouts among the appetisers are the mushroom anticuchos from the vegetarian menu and the Pacific Gold ceviche from the regular.

The street food skewers are elevated by the velvety texture of the shiitake, with chipotle and aji Amarillo – two of chef Valentino’s favourite spices – and tempered with mozzarella and chives. It’s akin to melt-in-the-mouth meat.

On the other end of the flavour spectrum, the ceviche comes with a luscious citrusy base of rocoto tiger’s milk – for more heat, a spicy sauce is served on the side in a delicate silver pipette – and a generous portion of sweet wild sea bass, plus a crunch of calamari.

Five appetisers in, we’re full to bursting and so are only to sample a few bites each of the two mains and dessert. This is definitely a menu that deserves to be savoured over a couple hours. The aforementioned cassava yucas is given the trendy charcoal treatment here – but is strictly an acquired taste.

The restaurant’s signature meat dish, the 36-hour Venezuelan asado negro is a dish of many flavour profiles: tender short ribs, creamy butternut puree, semisweet jaggery glaze, earthy coriander powder dip and spiced lime segments. It’s masterful, with just the right amount of melt, flake and glaze in each bite.

Equally well-executed is the Josper-cooked compressed eggplant a la brasa, served layered with white miso, tomato tartare, black garlic and a smoked emulsion that result in a crisp exterior and fondant-like filling.

While the chef’s famed pinata dessert is not part of the set menu, a nibble at the crunchy churros and saccharine sweet dulce de leche fondante is an excellent end to an exquisite – and relatively economical – spread.

Standout dish

If you’re opting to go a la carte, the Pacific Gold ceviche (Dh179) and short ribs (Dh175) are a highlight for meat-eaters, while vegetarians will be well served with the Amaru salad (Dh95), shiitake anticuchos (Dh75) and eggplant main (Dh85)

A chat with the chef

Chef Valentino is from Lima and has worked not only all over the Americas, but also in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East over the past two decades. It’s what keeps him ticking, he says. “Every kitchen has its own way of working, its own traditions and challenges. Cooking in multiple continents, using unique ingredients and techniques, and immersing myself in different culinary cultures is what keeps this profession so exciting.”

Having built the kitchen at Amaru from the ground up, chef Valentino says Latin American cuisine is defined by its diversity, colour and vibrancy. Unsurprisingly, he lists chillies (“aji Amarillo, rocoto, chipotle and charapita, which bring depth and character”) as one of his favourite ingredients to work with, alongside ancient grains including quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat.

Seafood is another chef favourite, and Valentino recommends the king crab causa (Dh175) “inspired by the landscapes of the Peruvian mountains” from Amaru’s cold section. From the hot section, the chef lists the octopus (Dh200) as a personal favourite, served with parsnip foam, tenkasu and Jerusalem artichoke puree.

Other chef-recommended dishes include: asparagus shizo (Dh75) for vegetarians, featuring chargrilled green and white asparagus, served with pickled radish, asparagus puree and sweet potato gel; the 9+ Wagyu anticuchos (Dh195), a tribute to Latin American street food, for meat lovers; and for dessert, the pinata (Dh110), “inspired by the festive tradition of celebration and sharing. Hidden inside is a chicha morada sphere created using liquid nitrogen techniques, filled with creamy chirimoya ice cream.”

The verdict

Amaru can easily become my go-to joint, be it on weekly date nights, a casual visit with friends or for special occasions. It’s just so cool.

What might give me pause is its a la carte prices. Amaru is easily up there among the UAE’s most expensive Latin American restaurants. Fortunately, the two set menus offer fantastic value for money, plus premium ingredients, sophisticated plating and masterful cooking.

Consider: the eight-course vegetarian menu, priced at Dh250 per person, offers dishes that total Dh625 from the regular menu. Likewise, the non-vegetarian set menu is for Dh290, made up of dishes that would otherwise set you back Dh850.

Contact information

Amaru at Souk Madinat Jumeirah serves dinner from 6pm until 11pm, with the bar open until 3am. Reservations can be made by contacting 050 263 7060.

This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant

She first started out on a salary equal to Dh3,500 ($953) a month at a small salon before going freelance, when she was able to build her income up to Dh40,000 a month, working without a single day off.

Since opening Beauty by Fullah at the beginning of the month, she has earned no salary, because she has been reinvesting in the business.

Tell us about your career path

My first job was in a small salon. The salary was Dh3,500. I finished my two-year contract there and then started working by myself – freelance nail art, just me on my own.

Now, I've opened my own salon. We have two chairs for pedicure, three tables for manicure, two chairs for the hair station, one hair wash and one room for massage. In that room I bought a bed that works as a massage bed and a hair wash station – like a Japanese hair wash bar where you get a full-head massage – so everything is in one room. My speciality is nails. I've been doing nails since 2012, so any kind of nail, any kind of design, I can do. My favourite is 3D – flowers, animals, charms, stones, bling bling.

My customers are mostly younger, so I keep my prices affordable. But the decoration and the products we use are very good quality.

How much did you earn as a freelancer?

Because I was working so hard – I didn't have any days off – I could earn between Dh30,000 and Dh40,000 a month.

How much do you earn now?

Right now, there is no salary. We just recently opened, so it's all investment first. All my savings are going into the salon now. I think in about three months I'll start paying myself again. I want to earn the same, but I’ll have other people working for me.

Do you manage to save?

I will know at the end of the month. I'll check the records after the first few weeks. But in general, yes. I never go for fancy things. I don't do any shopping.

Before, I was sharing a room with one of my friends to save money – just one small studio – and then I moved to my own room, but still a small studio to save money. All my expenses go only to rent and food. That's it.

Do you invest in anything?

Back home, yes. In Vietnam, I have two houses.

Do you have any debt?

No.

Growing up, were you taught to manage money?

Even growing up, I never did any shopping. My cousin always gave me her clothes. And even now I'm not buying clothes or anything like that – it's been the same for years. My whole family, everyone works so hard, and we never had summer holidays or went travelling. We always saved all the money we had to buy a house, and just kept saving.

What are your biggest monthly outgoings?

For spending, I allow myself Dh1,000 for food – I'm on my own, so that's enough. And for the house, rent and petrol, about Dh5,000. So, around Dh6,000 on expenses and Dh5,000 goes back home to invest. The rest goes to the salon.

What are your financial goals?

I want to invest more and open more branches – maybe five, not just in Dubai but in other emirates like Abu Dhabi or Fujairah.

In 20 years, I want to be retired. My plan is to buy more houses in Vietnam and maybe a farm. In 20 years, I'll just be on the farm with all the animals, growing vegetables. I like nature.

One of the phrases commentators could be using is the name for the title itself, batal al-alam, or world champion, as they assess the athletes capable of carrying their teams towards the trophy.

Batal can also be used before any champion is crowned. A player who scores a decisive goal, makes a crucial save or leads a comeback may be hailed as the batal of the match. In this case, the word takes on its associated meaning of “hero”.

The plural is abtal, meaning champions or heroes, while the feminine form is batala.

Batal comes from the root letters ba, ta and lam. Classical Arabic dictionaries describe a batal as a courageous person or formidable fighter, particularly someone distinguished by strength and bravery in battle.

That older meaning remains present in amel butuli, or heroic act, which may describe a rescue, sacrifice or display of exceptional courage.

Someone does not need to win a competition to be considered a batal. The root letters are also associated with what appears to be the word’s antithesis. Batil means false, invalid or void, while abtala means to cancel or render something ineffective.

Over time, the word moved from the battlefield or competition into storytelling. Batal al-qissa is the main character or protagonist of a story.

In these settings, the word moves into more evocative territory, as it does not necessarily describe someone courageous or morally admirable. An antihero can also be described as the batal of a story or film.

In everyday conversation, ya batal is used to encourage children or praise friends and colleagues. A child may hear anta batal after completing homework, visiting the dentist or doing something difficult.

Depending on the situation, variations of the phrase can mean “champ”, “well done”, “good man” or “you’re a star”.

Between friends, shukran ya batal can mean “thanks, champ”, particularly after someone helps solve a problem.

Tone can turn the compliment into gentle sarcasm. Bravo ya batal, said after someone forgets an appointment or makes an obvious mistake, carries much the same meaning as a rueful “nice one, champ”.

Used for moments of brilliance or ignorance, batal can describe heroic and childish pursuits alike.

Set amid the Hajar Mountains, about 90 minutes from Dubai, Masfout Museum sits in a small agricultural town that most visitors never pass through. If you find yourself in the mountain interior – heading to or from Hatta, exploring the wadis or simply looking for somewhere beyond the usual cultural circuit – it is well worth stopping for.

The museum is housed among the oldest surviving structures belonging to the emirate of Ajman, a fortified tower house that once served as both a defensive post and an administrative seat for the region.

Carefully restored, it now tells the story of the people who lived inland, in the mountains, farming and herding through seasons the Gulf coast never knew.

This is a different story than the dominant narrative in UAE heritage, which primarily focuses on coastal trading.

Why go there?

The country's museum landscape is rich with pearl diving, maritime trade and desert Bedouin culture, but the mountain interior – with its own distinct ecology, agriculture and way of life – is largely absent from the cultural circuit. Masfout Museum fills that gap.

The setting alone is a bonus. Masfout sits at roughly 800 metres above sea level. The drive through the mountains is beautiful, particularly in the winter months when the wadis carry water and the hillsides are green. Come in summer and temperatures are typically lower than in the main cities.

The museum also benefits from a slower pace that’s often difficult to find in the UAE's larger heritage sites. You are likely to have the place largely to yourself, which makes it easier to absorb what you're looking at.

What you'll see

The restored fort is compact but well-curated, with displays organised around the themes of mountain life, women’s responsibilities, governance, schooling and children’s activities, agriculture and traditional crafts. Exhibits cover farming tools, traditional dress, the systems of irrigation – the ancient aflaj channels – and water preservation methods, such as wells and date cultivation.

Masfout’s chief export was tobacco, and there’s a section dedicated to this, too, so visitors can learn how it was traded with merchants from other emirates as well as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Iran. You’ll also learn about its high-quality marble, since the nearby mountains yield the material in a variety of colours.

The architecture of the fort itself is another highlight. Thick-walled and built for both heat management and defence, it features the narrow windows, internal courtyard and watchtower typical of mountain fort design in this part of Arabia.

Photographs and archival material provide context on Masfout's history as a regional centre, and on the relationship between the mountain communities and the coastal towns they traded with. The fort's role in the broader history of Ajman emirate is explained clearly, without academic heaviness.

Star attraction

A weaponry room features an old cannon, as most forts used small and large cannons as far back as the 16^th century.

Around this section, there are illustrated signboards with interesting facts about the town’s defensive measures and how the fort’s architecture supported this. This includes using boiling molasses against invaders and using two shots of a rifle to warn the town of an imminent attack.

Another memorable section is dedicated to indigenous wildlife in the Hajar region, including models of endangered species such as the Arabian leopard and ibex. You can also learn more about the desert hare, peregrine falcon, striped hyena and more here.

What to know before you go

The drive takes about 90 minutes from Dubai and two and a half hours from Abu Dhabi. Combine the museum with a drive through the broader Masfout area – the mountain scenery, date farms and roadside fruit stalls are part of the appeal. Allow an hour for the museum, more if you explore the surrounding village on foot.

Nearby, if you follow signs for Al Boma Tower, you’ll find The View, a lovely little cafe with an excellent vantage point of the town.

Since you’re there, it’s also worth visiting the bordering town of Hatta, which is home to Hatta Heritage Village, so you can learn more about the area.

Ticket price and location

Entry to Masfout Museum is free. It’s open from 8am to 8pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; from 8am to 2am on Wednesday; and from 8am to noon and again from 3pm to 8pm on Friday.

Even Green leader Marine Tondelier has said that AC was no longer a "taboo" subject as people took to sleeping parks to escape the heat and schools sent children home because the temperatures in classrooms were unbearable.

Not all Parisians are convinced. France should not copy the US, where AC is the norm, says sustainable fashion designer Beatrice Ferrant. Paris, she adds, is unique – and that must be encouraged.

"In America, it’s cold everywhere," Ms Ferrant told The National, speaking from her Saint-Germain-des-Pres shop – a 500-year-old building that once lodged Benedictine monks and later sold pigments to Picasso and Braque. "Americans want air conditioning. Fine, but I want trees."

To cool down, she throws water outside the door in the morning and opens her business earlier, while adding a long midday break.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire, who recently described AC as a "plague", would probably agree with her. The French government views AC as a last-resort measure to adapt to climate change, because it is energy intensive and ejects hot air outside.

Minister for Ecological Transition, Monique Barbut, Friday said she was "appalled by people who tell me we should just install air conditioning everywhere." "Do you think that will prevent forest fires or the death of animals? That isn't adaptation; it's an emergency measure," she said.

A recent study shows that eight out of ten people in France view AC as not respectful of the environment. Though increasing number of people are installing AC, numbers remain relatively low - some 27 per cent of houses and 12 per cent of flats are equipped with the technology.

Carbon footprint

But some scientists are pushing back. "The public health benefits of air conditioning far outweigh – in France – its limited impact on the climate and the environment," Francois Gemenne, a member of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and co-director of the Defence and Climate Observatory in Paris, wrote in a LinkedIn post.

France's largely nuclear electricity grid means AC carries a far smaller carbon footprint than in most countries, he argued – a point that applies equally to Spain and Portugal, which increasingly rely on solar power.

And while the heat expelled by ACs can warm the city's surface areas by as much as 2°C, it does not affect climate change, Mr Gemenne said. But he warned that ACs "cannot replace collective adaptation solutions".

Despite decades of warnings about heatwaves by scientists, this week's soaring temperatures appeared to take France by surprise. More than 3,500 schools shut on Thursday as temperatures rose above 30°C in class. Trains were cancelled or delayed.

Many headed for the nearest water spot. In Paris, the Canal Saint-Martin was open to swimmers earlier than scheduled. But across the country, 55 people drowned, largely because they swam in unsupervised areas.

The high temperatures also forced landmarks including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre to shut early. At the Longchamp Racecourse west of the capital, thermometers hit 41°C.

No reprieve

For those who want to install AC, the obstacles are formidable. Those who proceed without permission can be taken to court and ordered to remove the units. The result is a proliferation of portable AC devices – less efficient, with tubes snaking out of windows. In the UK, climate laws have forced people to do the same.

For tourists, the experience can be jarring. "Coming to Paris is difficult. There is no reprieve anywhere from the heat," Tracy, a tourist from Florida in the US, told The National. Her father, Tom, said "the lack of ice is pretty challenging".

"We’ve purchased a lot of water but it’s not cold by an American definition. So that takes a little getting used to," he added.

Ms Ferrant has spent five years trying to get local authorities to allow shop owners on her street to put out potted plants. She is philosophical about the pace of change.

"French procedures are slow. But you can't ask everything from the government," she said. "If Americans visit, they might complain about the lack of air conditioning. But they are delighted to come to Paris because what we offer doesn't exist back home."

For just how long Parisians can keep an open-mind about adaptation is an open question. Heatwaves are expected to multiply faster than public authorities invest to change millennia-old cities built for a climate that is now vastly different. Mr Gregoire said Paris's climate would soon resemble that of Seville, in southern Spain.

Ines, who was working without AC in a Paris shop, vented her exasperation over the conditions. "We make do with the means at hand, but it’s true that working [in these temperatures] is very hard," she said.

Her building, constructed in 2021, was designed to retain heat – a feature in winter, but a problem in summer. Her local town hall has opened a cool room for residents, but she doubts it is enough. "Cities need to adapt," Ines added. "Unfortunately this summer is probably going to be remembered as cool, compared to what we're going to endure in the future."

Political moves

Divisions over ACs have become political. The French far right, which is poised to win next year's presidential election, wants to offer ACs for all – a measure rejected on the left, which is seeking better adaptation measures.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for a maximum workplace temperature limit this week, as he launched a Heat Ready London plan to tackle the conditions. Mr Khan, one of the hosts of London Climate Action Week during the record June temperatures, called for AC units to be installed to schools, offices and hospitals. Residents of southern England faced temperatures of about 36°C amid a three-day red warning for extreme heat.

Officials are under increasing pressure to help the UK adapt to the growing risk of extreme heat fuelled by human-driven climate change. Mr Khan said it was “very important” for workplaces, schools and hospitals to have AC with climate change set to bring increasingly hot conditions to London in the coming decades.

The London plan warned of the health effects of rising temperatures and backed measures to prioritise support for vulnerable residents in high-risk, built-up areas.

The UK's Green Party leader Zack Polanski said Mr Khan's proposals do not go far enough, particularly on imposing a maximum workplace temperature limit. "I welcome the Mayor publishing a heat plan, which is a step above the government's dangerously complacent 'wing-it' approach to planning for extreme weather," Mr Polanski said.

Commentator Issam Chaouali was addressing his fellow countryman, midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, from the commentary box during Tunisia’s 5-1 defeat by Sweden in Mexico. Yet it was also the question on our lips in the early hours as we watched the 2026 Word Cup match in a packed Khalidiya coffee shop.

A few minutes later, Chaouali also uttered, albeit less frenziedly, the instructions we wanted to give the players.

“Shoot the ball,” he urged. “Ben Slimane, you normally shoot from there. Take the shot.”

This is why I love Arabic football commentary.

The Arabic commentator is often the loudest voice in the room, with a vibrato that hovers above even the noisiest household. There are none of the pregnant pauses or the notion of allowing the game to breathe associated with their, say, British counterparts.

Instead, he has the depth and dexterity to conjure the endless emotions of this beautiful and tortuous game. He, and at present this remains an almost exclusively male broadcasting domain, finds the words for the panic, irritation or hope that the rest of us can express only by flailing our fists at the screen.

The World Cup, which is running until July 19 across the US, Canada and Mexico and is streamed regionally on Tod by beIN, continues to be a gold mine of examples of this craft.

Many of the broadcaster’s biggest commentators have been assigned to cover their national teams or neighbouring Arab sides, so we can expect emotions to flow with the passion of a local derby.

During Egypt’s 3-1 victory over New Zealand, commentator Ali Mohamed Ali watched goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir save a dangerous shot. “Shobeir, you lion,” he cried. “You lion! A very dangerous ball. Look at it again.”

Later, as star striker Mohamed Salah surged forward, Ali dropped the description and addressed him directly. “Mohamed Salah, this is your move. This is your move. Play it. This is your moment.”

Salah scored and the commentator captured the relief after more than an hour of frayed nerves. “We have Salah, so nothing frightens us,” Ali declared in his rapid Egyptian delivery. “This is beautiful. This is Egypt. Egypt can do it.”

That delirious style is matched by Moroccan commentator Jawad Badda who, during his side’s topsy-turvy 4-2 victory over Haiti, moved deftly from instruction to poetry.

A missed chance was met with disbelief and described as though the ball had a mind of its own. “No, no, no! This ball refuses to go in. It simply refuses to enter the net.”

When captain Achraf Hakimi scored, Badda’s delivery steadied, and carried the calm of someone who had been composed all along.

“The captain delivers when he is needed. Achraf Hakimi restores the balance. Achraf Hakimi puts Morocco back on the right path. He corrects the course. This is the path we want.”

With Morocco fighting their way back in front through Sofiane Rahimi’s goal, Badda delivered a near-soliloquy of praise.

“From the feet of an artist. Sofiane shows no mercy. When creativity speaks, Sofiane is its title,” he said. “The honour of a country, the pride of a nation and a spirit that knows no impossibility.”

North African commentary styles share the same energy, although some of the voices remain distinct.

The deep baritone and droll humour of Algerian commentator Hafid Derradji were especially effective in summing up the dour mood of Algeria’s 3-0 collapse to Argentina, courtesy of a Lionel Messi hat-trick.

“In my life, I have never seen Messi laugh and celebrate the way he is celebrating tonight,” he noted.

While Derradji mixed disappointment with wry admiration, Chaouali was gnashing his teeth during Tunisia’s defeat by Sweden. By the third goal, Chaouali had replaced well-meaning observations with potent indictments.

“This is the first time I have seen Tunisia like this,” he fumed. “We learnt nothing from our past defeats. We changed nothing, corrected nothing and fixed nothing.

“Some of these players are simply not at the required level. The coach played the team he wanted, chose the players he wanted and did everything his own way.”

The Tunisian coach, Sabri Lamouchi, was sacked the following day.

That anger is not the rage bait often associated with football bloggers online. It is genuine and forms part of the bond Arab viewers share with commentators.

While there is a risk that this style can become excessive or overly partisan, neutrality and accuracy matter only as much as a commentator’s ability to describe what his audience is feeling.

They are the great equaliser. Like us, they speak as though the players can hear them but, more importantly, articulate what every fan is already shouting.

This illustrates the promise and peril of saviourship by artificial intelligence amid the desperation spawned by the stark scale of global humanitarian retreat. OECD data reveals that official humanitarian aid fell 36 per cent to $15 billion last year, the lowest in a decade. Agencies have shed a third of their staff and closed hundreds of field offices. Meanwhile, the UN has given up universalism by hyper-prioritising 88 million out of the estimated 500 million people in dire need.

Humanitarian cuts could cost 500,000 lives annually with only half of them possibly salvaged through national mitigation efforts, once parallel reductions in development and health aid are also factored in.

Fast-growing AI capabilities have demonstrated efficiency yields of about 25 per cent in some industries, according to research done by the University of Pennsylvania and other such institutes. But similar hopes that AI could allow humanitarians to do more with less are misplaced – not because the technology is weak, but because it may be pointed towards the wrong problems.

To start, no algorithm manufactures a food ration or filters water. So, on the largest part of aid cuts – cash, food, medicine and other tangibles for human survival – AI offsets nothing.

However, AI can bring efficiency to the logistics and administration of aid delivery: assessing needs, organising transport, co-ordinating, complying, monitoring and reporting. This is perhaps 40 per cent of humanitarian effort – usually office-bound – while 60 per cent is irreducibly physical in camps, convoys, clinics and water points. The associated arithmetic of workflows points to the current generation of AI potentially substituting only a tenth of human effort.

That is hardly game changing because although AI can assist shrinking humanitarian capacities to function more efficiently, it cannot replace what is missing. Even such marginal utility is tempered by concerns. An overwhelming 90 per cent of resource-constrained field workers use whatever bots they can get, but less than a quarter of their employers have formalised AI policies and safeguards. At a time when AI capabilities are doubling every seven months, according to Metr, an independent research organisation that evaluates frontier AI models, the risks of harm-causing errors are significant.

This is not an argument for throwing the rapidly growing AI baby out of the humanitarian bath water but for redoubled care when walking with it. The benefits are strongest in anticipatory action.

During the Los Angeles fires of January 2025, predictive AI modelling assessed fire trajectories, optimised evacuation routes and prioritised firefighter deployments. In Bangladesh, flood predictions modelled potential livelihood effects to trigger household cash transfers before the waters arrived. The emergency response mechanisms of the UN, World Bank and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are activated more quickly nowadays when certain thresholds are crossed.

In Africa, where previous delayed Ebola responses caused serious human and economic consequences, AI-powered disease surveillance platforms predict hotspots and reduce response times. AI logistics engines in DR Congo anticipate population movements and pre-position aid.

However, despite the considerable life-saving potential of semi-automated anticipatory action, less than 0.5 per cent of funding goes there, according to Devinit, an independent developing and consulting organisation. More cruelly, the first casualties of aid cuts have been long-standing food security and health-monitoring systems that produce the large-scale data on which AI trains.

We need humanitarian-minded tech bros to invest the billions needed to underpin greater machine learning for more reliable humanitarian AI. Imagine the consequences for a Darfuri family sent by a hallucinating bot along a road with waiting armed predators, only to reach an empty distribution centre.

This illustrates how life-saving AI in benign disaster contexts becomes a dual-use weapon in wrong hands. “Do no harm” is a sacred humanitarian mantra but keeping secure the data of vulnerable people in chaotic emergencies is challenging. Data leaks show that the substrate that feeds AI to enable smart aid can expose hapless recipients to terrible abuses.

Thus, the AI directing refugees towards safety can allow belligerents to pre-block evacuation routes and humanitarian convoys or warn a neighbouring country to close borders early. At a time when international humanitarian law is observed more through violations, AI-driven protection could, perversely, enhance risk.

But could AI be a fairer aid dispenser in a system discredited by diminishing neutrality and impartiality because polarised geopolitics are compromising humanitarian choices? Could an un-sentimental, un-feeling AI be more consistent and trustworthy than fallible and emotional humans?

No, because human prejudices already baked into AI models cannot adjudicate between contested values. Thus, “life-saving” – the bedrock for rationing scarce aid – splinters into incompatible meanings around who to serve and how. Choosing is a moral act with all its risks of bias. This is impossible to code into an algorithm.

A deeper danger lurks with AI trained on historical data. It faithfully learns that forgotten crises are low priority because they were forgotten, thereby entrenching yesterday’s neglect into tomorrow’s logic. Besides, an AI appearing to make triage fairer chooses the contested factors that are quantifiable and not necessarily humanly meaningful. That is not fairness, but values-imposition disguised as technocratic objectivity.

When the capacity to be troubled by a choice that affects vulnerable people becomes, instead, an inefficiency to be optimised, the conscience of the humanitarian enterprise is lost

Traditional humanitarians proudly walk the last mile to ensure that that the most vulnerable are not overlooked. AI’s probability-based protocols cannot do that, and so gaps widen when the digitally disconnected, remote or incapable get cleansed out of databases.

In fairness, flesh-and-blood aid workers already have a kind of AI run by hand, with severity scores and spreadsheets converting anguish into services that grow sterile with metrics and value-for-money considerations. Thus, AI did not begin any dehumanisation but threatens to complete it by making computations invisible. At least a human running the cruel arithmetic feels the burden of its weight. An algorithm triaging millions does so without itself hurting. So, an exhausted, impoverished sector may be sorely tempted to let the machine carry a burden that should remain humanly unbearable.

When the capacity to be troubled by a choice that affects vulnerable people becomes, instead, an inefficiency to be optimised, the conscience of the humanitarian enterprise is lost. Hence, the direction in which we point AI at is an immensely consequential choice.

Turned towards humanitarian bureaucracies to make rationing frictionless and responsibility diffuse or unaccountable could allow AI to finish hollowing out the very humanity the word enshrines.

But if AI clears the desk of distractions to make space for the humanitarian to sit in the same room as the beneficiary and help them to challenge and navigate life’s adversities, then AI can be a powerful agent to restore something that our humanitarian system mislaid long ago. That is the dignity which is, after all, largely a matter of who gets to decide on what, regardless of how dire the attending circumstances are.

That is the true AI for humanitarian good, a project still in its very early stages.

The vast redbrick halls and underground chambers of the military museum are beneath the Vittoriano, the monument dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II in the historic centre of the Italian capital.

Together with the Sacellum of the Unknown Soldier and the Central Museum of the Risorgimento, the Shrine of the Flags of the Armed Forces preserves the flags of all Italian military corps throughout history.

“This is a sacred place,” a museum manager said while accompanying The National on a rare tour of the museum and underground chambers that were recently renovated, before reopening to the public.

On a sweltering June day, as a heatwave gripped Rome and much of Europe, crowds kept streaming towards the Vittoriano, one of the Italian capital's most magnificent landmarks.

Visitors climbed the monument's broad marble staircases, pausing for photos before continuing to the panoramic terrace overlooking Rome. Others descended into its quieter spaces, exploring the Shrine of the Flags, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the monument's network of museums and memorials tracing Italy's history.

Large Italian flags on the Vittoriano's facade, standing out against a blue sky, offer a glimpse of the military heritage preserved within.

“You can see the whole of Italy's history here,” said the manager, a military officer. “But you can also feel its sadness,” he added, speaking to The National on condition of anonymity because he had not yet received authorisation to speak publicly.

The Shrine of the Flags traces its origins to the aftermath of the First World War, when Italy sought to honour its unknown war dead. Military theorist Giulio Douhet proposed creating a tomb for an unidentified soldier as a symbol of all those who died without recognition.

In 1921, one of 11 unidentified soldiers was selected by Maria Bergamas, the mother of a missing Italian soldier, and buried beneath the Altar of the Fatherland at the Vittoriano in a ceremony that united the country in mourning.

The shrine's present form was largely shaped by architect Armando Brasini who, in the 1930s, transformed the space beneath the monument into a crypt connected to the Gallery of the Flags. Rather than creating only a state monument, Brasini added a chapel and an altar, allowing the site to serve as both a national memorial and a place of worship.

Materials used throughout the chapel were taken from First World War battlefields, while the gate protecting the tomb was cast from melted Austrian cannons captured during the war.

The Armed Forces Flags Memorial was established in 1935, when Italy transferred its war flags from Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vittoriano. The exhibition galleries themselves opened to the public later, in November 1968.

The two main galleries display about 200 war flags, banners, standards and related military memorabilia. They include the flags of the Army, Air Force, Carabinieri, Engineers, Artillery, Bersaglieri, Infantry, Tax Police and Public Safety departments, as well as decommissioned naval units.

Beyond the flags, the museum displays some of Italy's most significant military relics, including the MAS 15 torpedo boat that sank the Austro-Hungarian battleship Szent Istvan in 1918, part of the submarine Scire, the famous human-guided torpedo known as the Maiale, and a Bleriot XI-2, one of the world's pioneering aircraft that became the first to cross the English Channel and was later used for reconnaissance and bombing missions.

In the chambers below, the smell of fresh paint still lingers after the recent renovation, as the museum hopes to attract more visitors interested in Italy's military history and national identity.

"Today is the first step. This first step sometimes is the hardest one, but it's an important one, and the one we've taken together," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

The agreement was signed by Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, and Nada Hamadeh, ambassador of Lebanon.

Ms Hamadeh said the meeting was "long and difficult" but that it would ultimately lead to restoring her country's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and "securing a permanent and final cessation of hostilities, enabling our people to go back to our land".

Mr Leiter described the agreement as "performance-based", and said the "train has been put back on the tracks" towards peace.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in a statement posted on X thanked the US for facilitating the agreement, which he said works towards a future in which there is "no occupation, no captives, no subservience".

توجه الرئيس جوزاف عون الى الادارة الاميركية وعلى رأسها الرئيس دونالد ترامب، بالشكر على ما بذل من جهود في استضافة المفاوضات ورعايتها ودعم موقف لبنان للوصول إلى الخطوة التي أعلنت اليوم.
كما شكر جميع الدول الشقيقة والصديقة التي رافقتنا خلال هذه المفاوضات الصعبة، داعمة مواقف الدولة…

— Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) June 26, 2026

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that Israel will maintain its security zone within the borders of the Yellow Line in Lebanon until Hezbollah and other groups are disarmed. It added that the Israeli military would continue to "eliminate threats of any kind" within the security zone.

The statement said that Israel and Lebanon had agreed on two areas near the "yellow line" - which marks Israeli-held territory - where there would be a pilot for the dismantling of Hezbollah and the transfer of the territory to the control of the Lebanese army.

The Lebanese embassy confirmed the two pilot areas and non-state armed group disarmament, saying the measures "constitute the first step toward a gradual and comprehensive withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, in full respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty".

"This achievement marks an important step toward restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing a permanent cessation of hostilities, enabling displaced citizens to return to their homes, and allowing all Lebanese to live in peace, security and prosperity," it said.

Hezbollah, which was not part of the talks, rejected the deal. Hezbollah MP Hassan Falallah told Al Mayadeen that Beirut will not be able to force the implementation of the agreement unless it seeks a civil war.

Hours after the agreement was signed, a protest erupted near the Grand Serail in Beirut, with demonstrators waving Iranian and Hezbollah flags.

The conflict in Lebanon has become a major focal point for continuing discussions between Washington and Tehran aimed at cementing an end to the conflict. Part of the initial agreement between Iran and the US stipulates a permanent end to fighting in Lebanon.

Israel has reacted angrily to the preliminary agreement between the US and Iran. It was not involved in negotiating the deal despite being one of the main parties to the conflict.

Israeli officials are particularly concerned that the agreement requires an end to fighting in Lebanon, where Israel has been battling Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Lebanese officials, meanwhile, worry that the deal could leave Iran in a stronger position, making Hezbollah even less willing to give up its weapons. By insisting that Lebanon be included in its agreement with Washington, Tehran has also left Beirut in an awkward position, as the government attempts to push for Hezbollah's disarmament while trying to repel Iran's influence.

US and Gulf allies released a statement on Thursday saying that ​negotiations ‌between Iran and Washington should not rely on ​the outcomes of other conflicts, and ​that ​all ​non-state groups ​should be disarmed.

Hezbollah is unlikely to agree to any plan that would include its disarmament throughout the country. The group has maintained that it is only required by previous agreements and UN resolutions to disarm in the area south of the Litani River, near Lebanon’s border with Israel.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, senior research fellow with Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy, said the agreement marked "a welcomed development and an important first step toward reclaiming Lebanese sovereignty," but cautioned that Israel's commitment to further withdrawals appeared limited.

She said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's earlier remarks suggested Israel intended to maintain its military presence in the original yellow line along the border until Hezbollah is disarmed.

Under that interpretation, she explained, Israel would only withdraw from a handful of towns it occupies outside that area, including Zawtar Al Sharqiyeh, Zawtar Al Gharbiyeh, Ghandouriyeh, Hadatha, Beit Yahoun and Mazraat Buyut Al Sayyad, while it has already partially pulled back from Kafr Tibnit.

Ms Tsurkov said that would leave only a small number of additional areas that could be handed over to the Lebanese army under the phased arrangement before negotiations risk reaching an impasse, given Beirut's continued difficulty in disarming Hezbollah.

Alan Eyre, former US diplomat and distinguished diplomatic fellow at the Middle East Institute, said he did not believe Washington was investing significant effort in regional diplomacy. Instead, he said, the administration was focused on extricating itself from the conflict with Iran and had become involved in Lebanon only because it was part of that broader effort.

"The US administration is essentially indifferent to Lebanon qua Lebanon," Mr Eyre told The National. "Lebanon is not unique in being caught in the middle of this war. Others in the same situation are the GCC countries and the people of Iran."

He said Lebanon's political and security challenges long predated the current conflict and would persist "as long as weak governance precludes finding a way to successfully deal with the challenges posed by Hezbollah, and Israel seeks to secure its security through solely military means".

The total number of captives exchanged by the warring nations under 22 rounds of UAE-led talks now stands at 7,791, reported state news agency Wam on Friday.

There were 160 prisoners released from each of the two nations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) commended both countries for their cooperation with the UAE’s mediation endeavours as a trusted international mediator, wrote Wam.

The success of this mediation, the 25th to date, reflects the distinguished relations between the UAE, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine, the Ministry said.

We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. All of them had been held captive since 2022.

Among those released today are servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service,… pic.twitter.com/f8ZDyEgJTb

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 26, 2026

"We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. All of them had been held captive since 2022," wrote Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X.

"I thank our entire team, which works every day to bring our people back. Special gratitude to all our units on the frontline who replenish Ukraine’s 'exchange fund' and, through their courage, make it possible for us to bring people home.

"We remember everyone who remains in captivity. We are checking every name. We must bring everyone back – both military personnel and civilians."

International Maritime Organisation chief Arsenio Dominguez told reporters in New York that the evacuations had been conducted under a UN safe-passage programme launched on Tuesday to help ships stranded by the US-Iran war.

The IMO paused the operation on Thursday after an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, leaving about 600 ships and 11,000 sailors still awaiting evacuation.

Tehran on Friday reasserted its right to control shipping in the ​critical waterway and warned its Gulf neighbours against siding with Washington.

Mr Dominguez said the IMO remained in contact with Iranian and Omani authorities to clarify what had led to the attack and restore the guarantees that underpinned the evacuation framework.

“I maintain conversations with the government of Iran, as well as with the government of Oman,” he said.

The IMO chief added that Iran's and Oman's foreign ministers had held a high-level meeting on Monday during which the evacuation mechanism was discussed, paving the way for its launch the following day.

“Right now, I'm still engaging with Iran in relation to the position that was taken at foreign affairs level, and then the actions that were taken by the IRGC [Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps],” he said.

“As soon as I get further confirmations … that vessels would not be targeted, we're ready to reinitiate the process of evacuation.”

Mr Dominguez said the evacuation would resume gradually once security guarantees were restored.

“It will be progressively,” he said when asked about the time frame, adding that it would probably take “a few weeks” to evacuate the remaining vessels.

The evacuations are being conducted through two temporary shipping corridors, a northern route running close to Iran's coast and a southern route near Oman, after the IMO's long-established traffic lane through the Strait of Hormuz was deemed unsafe.

Mr Dominguez said the traditional Traffic Separation Scheme, in place since 1968 to reduce the risk of collisions, cannot be used because of reported mines in the waterway.

The US and Iran are still negotiating terms of the interim peace deal, including issues such as getting ships through the key strait and addressing the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Under the deal, the two sides were given 60 days to work out the details.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of violating its ceasefire agreement with the US after launching what he said were four one-way attack drones at ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran shot at least four One Way Attack Drones at ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He said one of the drones “solidly hit the upper deck of a large and very expensive cargo carrying ship” but that the ship was able to proceed. He added that US forces had intercepted the three other drones.

“Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our Ceasefire Agreement,” he said.

Jihan Abdalla contributed to this report from Washington

The US technology giant describes its chip technology as revolutionary and says it will be perfect for the demands of the artificial intelligence boom.

An announcement from IBM on Thursday unveiled “the world's first sub-1 nanometre chip technology”, adding that it showcases how “continued gains in performance and efficiency remain possible”.

Jay Gambetta, director of IBM research, said the chip technology was a significant advance on several levels.

“It marks a landmark moment in computing, pushing technology beyond the nanometre era to the scale of atoms,” he explained.

“With our new nanostack architecture, we’re not just making smaller transistors, we’re reinventing how chips are built to deliver dramatically more power and energy efficiency.”

That push for more efficiency comes as data centres, central to AI expansion, are placing a tremendous burden on energy grids around the world.

According to IBM, it expects for the sub-1 nanometre chip technology to go into production within the next five years.

IBM's announcement comes weeks after the company turned 115 years old.

Widely known as “Big Blue” because of its logo designed by graphic designer Paul Rand, the company has long been synonymous with mainframe computers and office electronics.

It joined the personal computer boom in 1981, and even tried its hand at selling operating systems such as OS2.

IBM, headquartered in Armonk, New York state, sold its personal computer assets to Lenovo, and now focuses on AI cloud computing, consulting, quantum computer hardware and technology research.

This is far from the company's first foray into semiconductors. It was part of a strategic alliance in the 1990s with Apple and Motorola that produced the PowerPC semiconductor architecture.

As AI continues to dominate technology headlines, companies have been working to improve semiconductors to best accommodate the boom.

Last year, Microsoft announced the Majorana 1 chip, which it said was made of a material that is not a solid, liquid or gas.

“The key thing that we have done over the last couple of years is we have invented a new state of matter,” Zulfi Alam, Microsoft's corporate vice president of quantum computing, said at the time.

Over the past decade, Nvidia has pivoted from selling products to enhance computer graphics to focus on chip designs after it noticed the spike in demand during the ascent of AI.

Nvidia is now one of the most valuable companies in the world, and its incredibly powerful CPUs and graphics processing unit designs have become synonymous with AI infrastructure buildout.

But IBM's launch of its sub-1 nanometre chip shows that it is not keen on sitting on the sidelines.

“This industry-first innovation continues IBM’s legacy of leading in next-generation technologies and sets the foundation for the next era of computing,” Mr Gambetta said.

IBM's stock rose 4 per cent and reached a price of $268.85 on Friday morning, one day after the chip announcement.

Clinical trials in the capital, being carried out by California-based BioSapien, aim to advance care for patients with colorectal cancer through a drug-delivery method called MediChip.

This is a 3D-printed biodegradable mesh measuring 2cm by 2cm that delivers the chemotherapy drug directly to the tumour before releasing it slowly, potentially making the treatment more effective.

BioSapien has said that its method could “revolutionise” how such drugs are delivered and limit the need for surgery.

The method also aims to cut side effects because the drugs will be targeted, instead of travelling throughout the body.

The company is recruiting across the region to create an initial cohort of six colorectal cancer patients who still have tumours following previous treatment.

If things go to plan, the trials, which could begin within weeks, will expand to around 40 patients.

Stepping up cancer fight

“Based on the data that we have, I personally feel 100 per cent confident in the safety profile of the product,” Dr Khatija Ali, BioSapien’s founder and chief executive, told The National.

“All of our results to date have shown tremendous safety results. Compared to IV [intravenous] chemo, where you end up having all sorts of systemic [body-wide], off-target effects, or dose-limiting toxicities, our product, just by the nature of its design and its mechanism, does not have any systemic effects.”

She said that reducing the need for major surgery could save patients from having to use a colostomy bag for the rest of their life. Also as the drug is targeted at the tumour site, less may be needed.

In a statement released to announce the trials, Dr Ali said the company aimed to “revolutionise how chemotherapy is delivered”.

Although MediChip is initially being developed to target colorectal cancer, BioSapien plans also to use it against other cancers.

It could potentially be used to treat many cancers with solid tumours, among them oesophageal cancer, lung cancer, and brain tumours.

The chips could, Dr Ali said, also be implanted to reduce the size of tumours before surgery to remove them, or to destroy any remaining cancer cells after such surgery.

BioSapien, which was founded in 2018 and is based in San Diego, is not developing the drugs used with the MediChip.

The chips are designed to degrade naturally inside the patient over about three months, although in the trials they will be taken out and replaced by new chips.

Dr Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, executive director of the health life sciences sector at Abu Dhabi's Department of Health, said the authority wanted to speed access to “promising new therapies” while maintaining safety and scientific standards.

“The advancement of BioSapien's Phase I clinical trial reflects the value of bringing together enabling regulation, research excellence and world-class healthcare infrastructure within a single ecosystem,” she said in a statement.

The statement described colorectal cancer as “a high priority” for the Department of Health, as it is among the most common types of cancer.

UAE ideal for trials

Assuming trials go well, the technology could be approved for commercial use in the UAE in the first quarter of 2028, Dr Ali said. Limited use in specific cases could begin in the final quarter of 2027.

Dr Ali, who was born in Saudi Arabia, said the company considered several locations for the trials, including Japan and India, but selected Abu Dhabi for multiple reasons.

These included, she said, a culture of innovation, a more favourable regulatory environment without excessive “red tape” and fast approvals to test new drugs without a lowering of standards. Cost was another factor.

“Doing a clinical trial in the UAE is relatively cheaper and more cost-effective than it is in the US, but without sacrificing the quality,” she said.

“What I mean by that is that you have large hospital networks like Cleveland Clinic, Burjeel Medical [City], PureHealth and others that are recognised worldwide, that have the same calibre, but at a low fractional cost.”

BioSapien has been working with a well-known cancer research and treatment centre in New York called Roswell Park, where the first batch of MediChips have been produced in a facility leased to BioSapien.

Roswell Park, which was founded in 1898, has also assisted BioSapien in its new drug submissions to the US Food and Drugs Administration, the US drugs regulator.

A firm called BA Sciences has carried out tests on the MediChips, including stability tests to confirm how long they will last.

Colorectal cancer, also referred to as bowel, colon or rectal cancer, typically affects individuals aged over 40, although cases among young people have become more common, according to the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

It is one of the most common cancers, and figures from the UK indicate that about 54 per cent of patients survive for 10 years or more.

Among the risk factors are not eating enough fibre, eating processed mat, being overweight or obese, smoking and drinking alcohol.

Aside from technologies of the kind BioSapien is testing, many other new methods to deliver cancer drugs in a more efficient and targeted way are being developed and used.

These include liposomes, which are tiny fat particles that contain the drug, and gold nanoparticles to which the drug is attached.

Often their small size of these particles enables them to penetrate deeply into tissues, and they may be used to deliver other types of drugs, such as antibiotics.

“It was not introduced to me nor to other GCC countries. We don’t know anything about it,” Mr Al Budaiwi told On the Record with Hadley Gamble in an exclusive interview in Bahrain. “We did not discuss it.”

Despite reports suggesting Gulf states are to foot the bill for a key piece of US President Donald Trump’s deal with Tehran, Mr Al Budaiwi said he was unaware of any details. “We really don’t know anything about it,” he added.

The idea of using economic diplomacy as an incentive for good behaviour from Tehran is not new. Mr Al Budaiwi referenced 2024 talks between the GCC and the Iranian government when investment, connectivity and digitalisation were all on the table. Those conversations have not been restarted, he said, but the door has been left open in principle.

“If we have a normal relationship with Iran or any other country, then we are open to investment,” he said.

He made the comments after Mr Rubio’s first visit to the region since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran in February. The trip to the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain had been framed as an opportunity to both reassure Gulf allies of US support and offer the chance for consultation on the framework for a lasting agreement with Iran.

Asked whether an interim US-Iran deal is good for the GCC, Mr Al Budaiwi said: “What is a good deal for the GCC is a region that’s stable and secure. What is a good deal is a neighbour that refrains from using force and attacking us.

"What is a good deal is [the Strait of] Hormuz would be open as it was before the war. What is a good deal is when we need to, all of us, think, including Iran, about our future, about a dialogue, a serious dialogue where we ensure that there is peace and stability for our children.”

So far Mr Trump’s negotiations with Tehran do not include Gulf countries, yet the Secretary General rejected the notion that Washington left the Gulf in the lurch. “Maybe it’s better to be on the sideline, not to be involved,” Mr Al Budaiwi said. “But we are involved. We are there.

“Mr Rubio was with us in a joint ministerial meeting in Manama on June 25 and we heard assurances that, step by step, he is going to inform the GCC of all the dialogue that is going on. Qatar is in the discussion, so we have access. [Mr Rubio] is on a phone call almost daily or every other day with a minister here and there. So yes, we are involved, we know what’s going on.”

Iranian ballistic missiles, drones and regional proxies have not yet been discussed between Tehran and Washington, but Mr Al Budaiwi was clear that the GCC’s priority remains for the issue of Iran-backed militias to be addressed.

“Proxies are the most important issue here. Iran’s continuous interference in Iraq, Yemen and others, Lebanon, has to be stopped,” he said. “The biggest damage we received in the GCC countries ... came from the militias in Iraq.”

In an exclusive interview this month, Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi pledged to disarm all militia groups by September 30, when US troops are scheduled to withdraw from the country. Mr Al Zaidi said that he planned to hold his own security forces responsible for any future violence against the Gulf, but claimed Iraqi intelligence found “no evidence” that attacks on Saudi Arabia originated from the country.

Mr Al Budaiwi rejects that claim. “That’s not accurate. There is evidence,” he said. “We provided them with co-ordinates, pictures and so on. No, it is from Iraq, unfortunately.”

He ruled out any form of tolls being applied by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. “It’s not acceptable,” he said. “Even Oman does not agree on the fees. We issued a statement with Mr Rubio during the meeting that has a clear, specific paragraph about not accepting any kind of fees.”

Mr Al Budaiwi’s assessment tracks with current shipping data. About 20 million barrels per day, about a fifth of global oil consumption, transit through the strait.

Iran's disruption of the waterway during the war helped push Brent crude above $90 per barrel and increased diesel margins to $37 per barrel in Europe, Goldman Sachs said. Gulf states have used alternative routes – including Fujairah in the UAE, Duqm in Oman and Saudi Arabia's Yanbu Red Sea port – to export energy, as well as accelerating Gulf rail and electricity links.

On Iran’s nuclear programme, Mr Al Budaiwi said Tehran accepted it would not have a nuclear weapon under the deal with the US, but he stressed that the UN's nuclear watchdog must verify what Iran is doing.

“The [International Atomic Energy Agency] has to play a role in securing the monitoring system,” he said. “Also, the amount of uranium has to be dealt with. Where do you locate it? Where do you store it?”

Asked whether he believes Tehran's nuclear claims, he said: “I want to believe them, yes. I would like to believe them.”

During the call they discussed the importance of the interim agreement between Iran and the US, state news agency Wam reported on Friday.

Sheikh Abdullah stressed “the importance of full compliance with the provisions of the agreement to ensure the immediate and comprehensive cessation of hostilities in the region, respect for the sovereignty of states and the principles of good neighbourliness”, Wam reported.

He emphasised the need for “strict adherence to international law, and the protection of maritime corridors and freedom of international navigation, including ensuring the uninterrupted flow of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz”.

Sheikh Abdullah expressed his hope that “the ongoing negotiations would yield positive outcomes, leading to lasting security and stability in the region”.

He also emphasised that serious diplomacy was the best route of addressing regional crises.

Since the regional war broke out on February 28, the UAE has defended itself against 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles and 2,265 drones.

Two UAE Armed Forces personnel and a Moroccan civilian contractor working for the military have been martyred. Ten civilians have been killed. A total of 230 people have been injured as a result of Iranian attacks on the country.

The US and Iran signed a 14-point framework last week after nearly four months of war which laid out a framework for negotiations on a final agreement within 60 days.

Appearing in federal court in Maryland, Mr Bolton admitted to illegally retaining classified information.

The case stemmed from his compiling of notes for his book The Room Where It Happened, and sharing them with two family members. The documents included notes on intelligence briefings and meetings with senior government officials and foreign leaders.

The New York Times reported that under his plea deal, Mr Bolton could be jailed for up to five years and be fined more than $2 million. If Mr Bolton had gone to trial and lost, he could have faced decades in prison.

Agents raided Mr Bolton's Maryland home in August and seized documents labelled “classified”, “confidential” and “secret” from his office, according to previously unsealed court filings.

After leaving the White House in Mr Trump's first term, Mr Bolton, who also served as US ambassador to the UN under former president George W Bush, became a severe critic of Mr Trump. The investigation into his handling of sensitive documents was perceived as the President targeting his adversaries.

Mr Trump has opened investigations into other opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, who headed a case accusing him and his family business of large-scale fraud, and former FBI director James Comey, who oversaw a probe into links between Mr Trump's 2016 political campaign and Russia.

Messi, the tournament's top scorer so far, posted a video on Instagram this week showing him working out in the gym after Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 and secured first place in Group J.

The video showed him lifting dumbbells and doing pull-ups before giving the camera a thumbs-up. While there was no reference to Saturday's match, it appears to have been interpreted as a warning.

In comments on the Instagram video and posts on other social media platforms, Jordanians implored Messi to go easy on their team.

“For the love of God, what have we done to you?” Instagram user Mohanad Soud said. “You didn't train this hard against Algeria and Austria.”

“What do you want from Jordan?” Mr Soud asks in video message with an inset of the footage Messi posted. “You have everything – all the trophies, all the medals. Let them win.”

Even without strength training, the 39-year-old Argentinian forward “performs wonders”, he said.

Another Instagram user, who goes by l.nashmi962, addressed Messi and questioned whether anyone in Jordan had “made you angry”.

“Half of Jordan supports Argentina because of you. Isn't your father ill? Why don't you go visit him and leave us alone? It is enough what happened to us,” he said.

Supporter Khaled Al Azzah wrote in a comment on Messi's video that Jordan was taking part in the World Cup “for the honour of participation”, adding: “Let us preserve that honour.”

Another commenter made a similar plea, writing: “Why do you want to cause us psychological angst? Let us exit with peace.”

Compared with some other Arab countries represented at the tournament, Jordan lacks a strong footballing tradition. Its team is ranked 63rd in the world, well below the rest of group J.

Jordan lost its opening game against Austria 3-1, although the match was closer than the score suggests. This was followed by a 2-1 loss to Algeria after a lacklustre performance. A young man died after that game in a crush in central Amman, where thousands of fans had gathered to watch on giant screens.

Messi's five goals have made him the leading goal scorer in the history of the World Cup, with a total of 18 from six tournaments.

Property agent Hamed Al Rasem said the only hope for Jordan to avoid an embarrassing scoreline was for Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni to substitute Messi and his other top players “very early” in the game.

“The only competition will be Jordanian players racing after the game to exchange shirts with Messi,” he told The National.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (Ncema) issued a clarification on social media that the alerts were sent out due to a “technical malfunction”.

“Sudden technical malfunction in the early warning system, which occurred this Friday evening, resulted in the sending of incorrect warning messages,” Ncema wrote on X, before adding that the glitch had been addressed.

“The specialised teams immediately initiated the necessary corrective procedures upon detecting the issue, in accordance with approved plans to ensure service continuity and minimise any potential impact on users.

“The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority and the relevant entities apologise for this unintentional technical malfunction and extend their sincere thanks and appreciation to members of the community for their understanding and co-operation during the response period.”

Technical Malfunction in the Early Warning System Handled, with Appreciation to Community Cooperation and Understanding. pic.twitter.com/79PWvG9DCU

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) June 26, 2026

The first alert by the Ministry of Interior urged people to immediately seek a safe place and stay away from windows, doors and open areas owing to a missile threat.

“Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building, steer away from windows, doors and open areas. Await further instruction,” the alert said.

This was followed by another alert thanking people for their co-operation and offering reassurances that the situation was currently safe. A third message followed asking people to “please disregard the previous warning”.

Ncema's statement was released in a host of languages including Arabic, English, Urdu, Spanish, Hindi and French.

A Pentagon adviser on Russia's military machine has mapped an emerging network of drone operators and electronic warfare specialists with skills honed in online gaming.

The military is now focusing its recruitment on men and women with advanced computer skills and “a gaming background”, said Sam Bendett, a Russia drone expert who advises the Pentagon.

Everything is seen. Everything is targeted. Everything is expendable

Jim Hadfield

The recruits who have highly developed digital skills from years of Xbox or Nintendo gaming are tasked with operating a massive range of drones from land, sea and air in Moscow’s new Unmanned Systems Forces (USF).

“Ultimately the gamification of this particular conflict is feeding a new pipeline of Unmanned Systems Forces’ recruits,” he told the Royal United Services Institute land warfare conference.

“The Russian military is adapting,” said the expert for US Centre of Naval Analysis. “This force is growing in numbers and technologies and they're becoming more lethal and more successful.”

A key component of the USF will be the 50th Brigade of 7,000 drone troops ready for operations by December.

Its soldiers will fly everything from FPV (first person view) drones, fixed-wing and multi-rotor, alongside a “growing roster” of unmanned ground vehicles, as well as UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) interceptors.

Rubicon raiders

Russia’s “most capable and most dangerous UAV formation” is an operation nicknamed the “Rubicon Unit” but officially the Centre for Advanced Unmanned Technologies

The elite military unit acts as a combined combat force, research laboratory and training centre for advanced aerial, ground and naval drones and is responsible for allegedly destroying 33,000 Ukraine targets.

“Rubicon is tasked with identifying where Ukrainian operators are located, where their technologies are based and where Ukrainian logistics and supply that feed the UAV pipeline are located,” Mr Bendett told an audience of senior officers. “So Rubicon is probably enemy number one on the Ukrainian battlefield today.”

Night bombers

He also highlighted the “emerging capability” of ground robots that are becoming increasingly common on the front line, and noted Moscow’s Courier tracked drone, which has a version armed with a 82mm mortar that is fed shells by a robotic hand.

But more importantly, unlike advanced armoured vehicles, they “are small, cheap, and attritable (destroyable)” and very useful “because you can't operate large, expensive, exquisite systems any more as they will be eaten by FPV drones”.

There was also a warning that Russia will very soon introduce an advanced AI command and control system called SVOD that will be link up soldiers in front line platoons back headquarters.

But the Russians remain “envious” of Ukraine’s ability to field heavy drones known as “Baba Yaga”, named after a mythical bogeyman, that act as night bombers carrying 20kg of explosives, mortar rounds and anti-tank mines that can level bunkers in the dark.

Kyiv is gaining more resources develop its defence base after the EU transferred 3.2 billion euros in the first tranche of its loan scheme to the country on Thursday. At a meeting with European leaders at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdansk, Poland, officials said they expected to sign 10 billion euros for 160 projects that will include reconstruction.

Adapt fast

Western armies also need to adapt very quickly to the advances or will be highly vulnerable to Russian attack, a Ukrainian drone pilot told the conference.

“I suggest that you guys integrate the Ukrainian lessons as soon as you can,” said Dmytro Zhluktenko. “There is a big urgency because our strategic adversaries they are learning much faster than Western countries.”

The former FPV front line drone operator added that up to 90 per cent of Russian casualties “are being destroyed, deleted by Ukrainian drones”.

Many of those Russians were hit between 5 and 20km behind the front line, he added. “Those guys don't even get to shoot their rifles. They don't see the combat before we draw on them. Ukraine is literally your war-fighting university.”

‘Hauntingly brutal’

His views were echoed by Brigadier Jim Hadfield who said unless the British military adopted those lessons “paid for in blood” then “we won't generate the capabilities we need”.

“Too often I hear, we wouldn't fight like this. I disagree. Russia will fight like this and so we must be ready to fight back.”

Britain too needed to form a “gaming army” with software engineers and data analysts embedded across all its formations.

Soldiers also needed to develop the “robustness” demonstrated by Kyiv’s troops. “The Ukrainian battlefield is hauntingly brutal. It demands soldiers capable of absorbing and delivering violence at a scale and ferocity that few have experienced.”

In an era where the only cover from fire was underground and the “rifle is increasingly a sidearm”, Ukrainian expertise had to be embedded across the armed forces.

He added that his experimental unit, 20 Brigade, would act as a test bed or laboratory “where failure is allowed but only once” and whenever they discover tactics that work they will be shared with Nato.

“We're in an era of cheap, massed precision,” he concluded. “Everything is seen. Everything is targeted. Everything is expendable.”

Prices are down more than 20 per cent compared with their 2014 peak and have combined with a favourable exchange rate, availability of high-value loans and stable investment opportunities.

American and Gulf buyers account for 50 per cent of sales in the luxury homes market in London so far in 2026, according to a new wealth survey by Beauchamp Estates, which said London was “back in the investment conversation with wealthy Gulf families”. Several American buyers are families who have relocated from the Gulf in the past year.

High-end finance broker Enness Global has seen a 66 per cent increase in enquiries from the Middle East, with deals including the sale of two £15 million prime London homes financed with short-term Sharia-compliant loans.

The latest high-value deal is the sale of a £190 million property within Regent’s Park. The Holme is a 40-bedroom, 200-year-old mansion close to London Zoo and has the US ambassador as a neighbour.

The property was put on the market by receivers in 2023 with an asking price as high as £250 million. It was bought for £139 million in 2024 by the Luxembourg-based company Zedra on behalf of an anonymous US billionaire who has now flipped it for a £50 million profit.

The name of the buyer has been reported in the Financial Times, which identified the purchaser as living in the UAE.

The deal, which is being handled by UK Sotheby's International, is said to be within days of completion.

The sale is the latest in a flurry of deals for some of the city’s most desirable homes. The £190 million price tag is surpassed by only a handful of transactions, including the April sale of Nick Candy’s family home in the exclusive Chelsea district for more than £270 million to Suneil Setiya, the founder of Quadrature Capital.

A Beauchamp Estates survey shows that purchasers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait account for 25 per cent of all Mayfair sales and 20 per cent of prime central London sales this year. American buyers currently account for half of all luxury home sales above £5 million in Mayfair. After Mayfair, the next two most favoured addresses with American and Gulf buyers are Belgravia and Knightsbridge.

“Clearly they see London providing them with exceptional value at present,” said Rosy Khalastchy, director of Beauchamp Estates.

Sales in Mayfair between January and May rose by 15 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. In the first five months of 2026 there have been 32 deals at a cost of £189.3 million compared to 28 deals at £140 million in 2025. The majority of purchases were ‘turn-key’ apartments in either new developments located around Grosvenor Square and Curzon Street, or newly refurbished apartments in buildings with retained Georgian or Victorian facades.

The majority of American buyers in Mayfair, which is becoming London’s ‘Silicon Square’, work in AI, fintech or private equity. There are now more than 165 fintech companies and around 200 private equity firms, many American owned, based in Mayfair.

Jeremy Gee, Managing Director of Beauchamp Estates, said: “All the biggest deals over the last six months have been to either wealthy American or Gulf families. The booming American economy and the Gulf crisis has benefited the London real estate market which is viewed as providing value-for-money, an opportunity to acquire bargains and purchase outstanding trophy homes.”

Islay Robinson, chief executive of Enness Global, said: “We’re seeing exceptional demand for UK property from Middle Eastern buyers in 2026. It’s a combination of factors: political and regional concerns directing capital toward stable assets, the strength of the US dollar making London attractive for dollar-holding buyers, and a widely held view that London values are well-positioned in the current cycle.

“The real shift is on the financing side. High loan-to-value lending is widely available to international buyers, increasingly without the assets-under-management conditions that used to be standard, and lenders can move quickly. For overseas buyers, that ease of access is now as much a driver as the underlying appeal of the property itself.”

Camilla Dell, founder of property consultants Black Brick, told The National that while London has its “fair share of political uncertainty and much higher levels of tax”, the prime London market is now down 24.5 per cent since the peak in 2014, according to Savills.

“This long-term depression has had one positive impact. For the first time in generations, London property is starting to look like good value for money. Combined with a weaker pound, a US dollar-based buyer buying today is effectively getting a 40 per cent discount today compared with buying at the peak,” she said.

According to a report by Coutts more than half of homes put up for sale in London subsequently have their asking price cut, by an average of 12 per cent.

Mercedes lead the constructors’ championship and Kimi Antonelli heads the drivers’ standings, but Barcelona changed the championship picture.

Lewis Hamilton claimed his first win for Ferrari, cutting Antonelli’s points advantage. In Austria, Red Bull will introduce a major upgrade at their home race, and McLaren have a chance to re-enter the fight at the front.

The race is held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, a short, fast circuit that is easy to underestimate. Built into the Styrian hills, it climbs sharply through the first half of the lap before dropping into a fast, sweeping final sector where one mistake can ruin the whole run.

The altitude, almost 700 metres above sea level, places extra strain on the power unit and turbo, while the mix of long straights and heavy braking makes it a circuit that rewards efficiency as much as commitment.

Here are the best storylines going into the weekend.

Can Hamilton make Ferrari believe again?

Hamilton’s victory in Spain was the first non-Mercedes grand prix win since 2024, and his first in Ferrari red. It ended Ferrari’s 34-race wait for a victory and moved the seven-time world champion up to second in the drivers’ standings, 41 points behind Antonelli.

Now Ferrari have to show that performance wasn’t a fluke and that they can challenge Mercedes on more than one type of circuit. Barcelona rewarded downforce and tyre management; Austria is more about power delivery, traction and efficiency on the straights, which makes this weekend a better measure of Ferrari’s wider potential.

The moment of victory! #F1 #BarcelonaGP @LewisHamilton pic.twitter.com/ET9mkIA9MC

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 14, 2026

Ferrari are set to introduce their first ADUO engine upgrade in Austria, with the changes understood to be modest, perhaps worth less than 10 horsepower, but useful at altitude and on a track with long acceleration zones. Hamilton has avoided big title claims, saying: “It is very, very hard to think long-term at the moment. I think it’s just about taking it one race at a time, one week at a time.”

Charles Leclerc also needs a clean weekend. His pace has rarely been in doubt, but recent errors and reliability problems have strengthened Hamilton’s position inside Ferrari. Austria has been one of Leclerc’s strongest circuits, with five podiums at Spielberg, including victory in 2022.

Mercedes need to stop giving points away

Mercedes remain the strongest team of 2026. They won the first six grands prix, Antonelli leads the championship, and George Russell is third. However, issues with reliability have been troubling.

Antonelli was heading for another major result in Barcelona before losing power while running second. Russell had already suffered a costly retirement in Canada. Mercedes' two works cars have now suffered failures in three races, while customer team McLaren have also been hit by Mercedes-related reliability problems this season.

Toto Wolff has been direct about the weakness. “Our Achilles heel so far has been reliability,” he said. “We have lost a large amount of points across both cars in recent races; if we don’t put together clean weekends, our competitors will happily take advantage.”

Austria gives Mercedes little margin for error. The lap is short, qualifying gaps are usually tight, and even a small issue can leave a driver with too much to recover. Mercedes are bringing updates focused on performance and reliability, which tells you where their concern lies.

Russell took pole in Barcelona, but his race became complicated once he and Antonelli started fighting each other. Wolff said Mercedes lost time to Hamilton in that phase, before the Virtual Safety Car helped the Ferrari driver rejoin ahead after his final stop.

Russell was also compromised by an incorrect front wing adjustment at his final pit stop. Wolff has since admitted Mercedes may need to rethink how freely their drivers race each other when another team is close enough to take advantage.

Red Bull need upgrade to deliver at home

The Austrian Grand Prix is Red Bull’s home race, but this year the team is feeling the pressure. Max Verstappen is seventh in the drivers’ standings, Red Bull are fourth in the constructors’ championship, and the RB22 has been behind Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren across the opening part of the season.

That makes their Red Bull Ring upgrade one of the main talking points of the weekend. Red Bull are expected to bring their largest upgrade package since Miami, with aerodynamic changes and weight-saving work aimed at moving the RB22 closer to the minimum weight limit. Reducing that excess should improve lap time and give the engineers more freedom with set-up.

Verstappen is excited for the home race due to his happy memories there: “We have a new package we are bringing, so it is exciting to see how much this could give us in lap time.”

His future also continues to dominate the headlines. Verstappen is signed until 2028, but his deal is believed to contain exit clauses, and his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, has made clear that the priority is a car capable of winning. A strong showing in Austria would show Red Bull can still respond technically.

Isack Hadjar is worth watching as well. His race pace has been impressive, but poor starts have cost him positions. He said after Barcelona: “We need to work on our starts because it's not possible to keep going like that every race weekend.”

Can McLaren turn Austria into a comeback?

McLaren looked like Mercedes’ main threat earlier in the season, especially after their Miami sprint one-two finish. Since then, Ferrari have gained ground, Hamilton has won, and McLaren have had to recover from difficult weekends in Monaco and Canada.

Austria should suit them better. Lando Norris took his first F1 podium at the Red Bull Ring in 2020 and won last year’s race there on his way to the title. The team also bring new parts, including minor updates around the rear corners and an experimental rear wing for Friday's practice.

That rear wing is one of the most interesting technical items of the weekend. Ferrari and Red Bull have already used versions of the concept, where the rear wing flap rotates into an inverted position to reduce drag on the straights. McLaren are now testing their own version, although it may not race immediately.

Technical director Neil Houldey said: “Austria has historically been a strong track for us, and while we take nothing for granted in such a tight field, we are optimistic that the car and driver characteristics will again suit the circuit, putting us in the fight at the front.”

For Norris and Oscar Piastri, Austria is a chance to show McLaren still belong near the top of the grid, rather than watching Mercedes and Ferrari turn the championship into a private contest.

The campaign was triggered by an ISIS-claimed attack on US troops in Palmyra in December last year, in which a member of the Syrian security forces opened fire during a joint patrol, killing two American soldiers and a US interpreter.

ISIS attacks against Syrian government forces have risen from 16 last year to 52 in the first half of 2026, according to the conflict monitor Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (Acled).

“In 2025, there were 274 political violence events involving ISIS in Syria. Of those, 203 were directed against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and 16 against government forces,” Muaz Al Abdullah, a researcher on Syria and Iraq for Acled, told The National.

“But in the first half of 2026, Acled recorded 70 ISIS attacks, of which 52 targeted government forces and five were directed against the SDF,” he said.

Mr Abdullah said ISIS now targets all state security organisations. Attacks have hit checkpoints, patrols and security centres. “Government forces are an easy target because of their lack of capacity and weaker security presence,” he explained.

The Syrian leadership, which came to power after the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime in December 2024, has its origins in the country’s Islamist insurgency. It evolved from Jabhat Al Nusra, Al Qaeda’s former affiliate in Syria, to Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS). The group was led by Ahmad Al Shara, who is now Syria’s president.

Since assuming power, Mr Al Shara has sought to demonstrate that his government is a reliable security partner, particularly in the fight against ISIS. Syrian authorities have increased co-ordination with US-led coalition forces on counterterrorism operations, sharing intelligence and conducting raids.

ISIS started gaining traction in Syria in 2013, in the chaos of the civil war. It seized and controlled large areas, including Raqqa, which became the capital of its so-called caliphate across Syria and Iraq. Its downfall started in 2016, when a US-led coalition, alongside the SDF and local allies, pushed the group back. Raqqa fell to the Kurds in 2017, and the group lost its last major territorial enclave in Syria, the village of Baghouz, in March 2019.

Security gaps

The Syrian state assumed control of former SDF-held areas following heavy fighting in January 2026. However, the expansion significantly stretched the country’s security apparatus, which lacked the personnel needed to effectively police such a vast territory. As a result, security oversight in parts of the north-east region weakened, leaving some areas only partially secured and more exposed to attacks.

On June 15, ISIS fighters targeted Raqqa’s main police headquarters, killing two police officers and injuring three others. “What we saw was something we had not seen in months. Two ISIS fighters entered the building, and they were both wearing explosive vests,” Mr Al Abdullah told The National.

One was killed by police after failing to detonate his vest, but the second managed to detonate his explosives outside the building.

The nature of the attack is also concerning for Mr Al Abdullah. “ISIS militants can now walk up to a police station wearing an explosive vest without being spotted before,” he said, highlighting security gaps in the area.

“In Raqqa, there is only 20 per cent of the necessary police force. There is a major shortage of security personnel, which makes these types of attacks easier. Between January and June, ISIS appears to have been planning and preparing for larger operations. The attack in Raqqa may be the first of several such attacks.”

In January, several ISIS-linked detainees held in SDF-run detention centres are said to have escaped during fighting with government forces. These detention centres, overcrowded and poorly secured, hosted up to thousands of ISIS fighters, until an agreement moved them to Iraq.

“Following the prison-related incidents in 2026, many experienced planners and hardline ISIS members were either released or managed to escape. The group has since entered a phase of reorganising its ranks, allowing for more sophisticated attacks.”

There is no exact number of ISIS members in Syria currently, but Mr Al Abdullah believes there are “thousands” all across the country.

Territory shift

The group's main areas of operation remain in central Syria and the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, while its sleeper cells in former SDF-held areas have become less active as the territory they occupy has shrunk. Some of that activity has shifted towards the Aleppo region, where 12 events have been recorded in the first half of this year.

Attacks are now increasingly launched from areas where ISIS has greater freedom of movement, particularly rural areas east of Deir Ezzor. Some parts of the region, which lack basic state infrastructure, have come under ISIS influence.

The economic and general living conditions in both Raqqa and Deir Ezzor remain very poor, while the situation in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor is even worse, with a persistent lack of basic services.

“We have seen farmers pay tax to the group until recently,” Mr Al Abdullah said. “In some of these areas, ISIS is approaching the point where it could exercise full control. They are also benefiting from a security vacuum created by a lack of state capacity.”

To reduce ISIS’s operational capabilities, “the government needs to take significant steps to address the situation,” Mr Al Abdullah added. Primarily, this would involve fostering “closer ties between the people of the Deir Ezzor region and the government” by creating more employment and restoring main services.

From June 25, passport holders from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Africa and Kenya can obtain a visa on arrival when travelling to the UAE, provided they also hold a residence permit issued by the US, the UK, a European Union member state, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada.

The move is expected to boost tourism and business travel between the UAE and the countries, which are already well connected by air. Here's every airline currently operating direct passenger flights between the Emirates and each of the six destinations.

Philippines

Cities served: Manila, Cebu, Clark

Airlines:

• Emirates: Three daily direct flights from Dubai to Manila; one daily service to Clark with a stop in Cebu.
• Etihad Airways: One daily direct flight to Manila.
• Cebu Pacific: Four flights a week from Manila to Dubai (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays) are relaunching on July 2 after being suspended during the Iran war.
• Philippine Airlines: Direct daily flights between Manila and Dubai are scheduled to resume on August 3 after being suspended during the Iran war.

Thailand

Cities served: Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai

Airlines:

• Emirates: Three daily direct flights from Dubai to Bangkok; two daily services to Phuket.
• Etihad: Four daily direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok, with some flights continuing to Krabi and Chiang Mai; four daily direct flights to Phuket.
• Flydubai: One daily direct flight from Dubai to Bangkok; one daily direct flight to Krabi.
• Air Arabia: Three daily direct flights each from Sharjah to Bangkok and Phuket; one daily direct flight to Krabi.

Indonesia

Cities served: Jakarta, Bali

Airlines:

• Emirates: Two daily direct flights each from Dubai to Jakarta and Bali.
• Etihad: Two daily direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta; one direct service to Bali.

Vietnam

Cities served: Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang

Airlines:

• Emirates: One daily direct flight from Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City; five direct flights a week from Dubai to Hanoi (Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays); four direct flights a week from Dubai to Da Nang (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays).
• Etihad: One daily direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Hanoi.

Kenya

Cities served: Nairobi

Airlines:

• Emirates: Two daily direct flights from Dubai to Nairobi.
• Etihad: Two daily direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Nairobi.
• Air Arabia: One daily direct flight from Sharjah to Nairobi, and an additional direct flight three times a week to Nairobi (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).
• Kenya Airways: One daily direct flight from Nairobi to Dubai.

South Africa

Cities served: Johannesburg, Cape Town

Airlines:

• Emirates: Four daily direct flights from Dubai to Johannesburg; two daily direct flights to Cape Town.
• Etihad: One daily direct flight from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg.

What are the new visa-on-arrival rules?

Eligible travellers can choose between a 14-day visa on arrival, which costs Dh100 (and is extendable once for a further 14 days for Dh250); and a 60-day visa on arrival, which costs Dh250 and is non-extendable.

An overstay fine of Dh50 per day will apply to those who remain beyond the permitted period, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Special visa-on-arrival scheme for Indians

Indian passport holders can also obtain a 14-day visa on arrival if they hold:

• A valid US visa or green card
• A valid UK visa or UK residence permit
• A valid visa or residence permit from an EU member state
• A valid residence permit from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore or South Korea

The visa costs Dh231.

Other countries eligible for a UAE visa on arrival

The UAE already offers visa-on-arrival entry to passport holders from dozens of countries, with the length of stay depending on nationality.

30-day visa on arrival (free)

Passport holders from the following countries and territories can receive a 30-day visa on arrival free of charge:

• Andorra
• Brunei
• Hong Kong (China)
• Kazakhstan
• Macau (China)
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Republic of Ireland
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan
• Vatican City

90-day visa on arrival (free)

Citizens of the following countries receive a multiple-entry 90-day visa, valid for six months from the date of issue:

• Albania
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Kosovo
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mexico*
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Nauru
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Republic of Guyana
• Romania
• Russia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay

* Mexican passport holders are eligible for a multiple-entry 180-day visa, valid for six months.

Tabby, a buy now, pay later company, sent out an email on Friday morning to inform customers of their big win, in which it asked for delivery information and Emirates ID details to hand over the prize.

But the joy proved short-lived for the would-be raffle winners, who were quickly alerted that the message had been issued in error. Tabby customers were able to enter the raffle, which ran from May 20 until June 21, by spending a minimum of Dh500 on their account card.

"Today we sent an email to a number of our customers telling them they had won a prize in a raffle. They hadn't and that is entirely our mistake. We're sorry," Tabby said in a statement issued to The National. "We immediately closed the form linked in the email and wrote to all affected customers to apologise and correct the mistake."

Tabby said personal data shared by customers who responded to the email would not be stored by the company.

A review has been launched to establish how the email was inadvertently sent to customers who not been selected as winners.

"We understand why this is upsetting," the company added. "An email from an official Tabby address is something people should be able to trust and this one let them down. That is a fair thing to be angry about.

"The form is no longer accessible and any information submitted before it was taken down has not been used for any purpose and will be deleted safely. We are reviewing how this happened and have put further controls in place so it does not happen again. To everyone affected, we're sorry."

Raffle win falls flat

Yay I won a great prize from Tabby, after going through such a tough time since the war started.. I am ecstatic🎉... Well that ecstacy was short lived with @paywithtabby 😢 So disappointed, no phone call with an apology just a automated email. pic.twitter.com/0PfBtXgINM

— Clinton O' Leary (@grassblade) June 26, 2026

A number of Tabby customers took to social media to share their disappointment after their hopes of a free holiday were dashed. Rob Scott, who lives in Dubai, was among the users who received the email on Friday telling him of his "win".

The thought the raffle success had come just at the right time, because he is planning to fly to Glasgow in the coming days. "I didn't even apply for the raffle. I thought, this is great," said Mr Scott, 38.

"Then I heard from a couple of other people who received the message too. I filled in the form and put down my Emirates ID. I had to check it wasn't a scam at first. I got the email telling me I had won at 10.30am and the second message at 11.37am, saying it had been sent in error."

Rents fell by an average of 1.1 per cent in the three months to May 2026, with apartments down 0.9 per cent and villas and townhouses declining 2.1 per cent, according to Cavendish Maxwell. On a month-on-month basis, rents edged 0.4 per cent higher between April and May – a figure the property consultancy says points to a gradual correction rather than a sharp reversal.

Despite the softening, rents remain nearly 9 per cent higher than the same period last year and more than 44 per cent above their May 2020 levels, in a measure of how far the market has climbed since the pandemic.

"Tenants are likely to have more options and greater negotiating power than they've had in several years, while landlords may find that the era of near-automatic annual rent increases is drawing to a close, at least in the near term," said Ali Siddiqui, research manager at Cavendish Maxwell.

More homes, lower rent

The shift is being driven in large part by new supply. Almost 18,200 units have been delivered so far this year, a 13.1 per cent increase on the same period in 2025. As that pipeline continues to grow, the demand-supply imbalance that pushed rents sharply higher from late 2021 is losing its force.

For residents whose contracts are up for renewal, the softening landscape has created an opening. Karishma Sakhrani, whose tenancy expires in September, is already in negotiations with her landlord. "I am negotiating with my landlord for a small rent reduction. Cost of living is up and work's taken a hit this year. Should that not work out, I'm hoping we can split payments from two cheques to four," she said.

Ms Sakhrani says listings on Property Finder show rents in her building have dropped about 20 per cent over the past year. Her existing rent falls within the Real Estate Regulatory Authority smart rental index range, but she said current market conditions justified relief. So far, her landlord has not agreed.

"At first I've received a little push back, with suggestion that it's the sales market under pressure, not rentals," she said.

Not everyone has extracted concessions. Jahnavi Ghaghda, who pays Dh50,000 a year for an apartment in Production City, renewed her contract on May 15 without securing a reduction. "I asked if it'd be possible. They said no," she said, adding that a separate request for flexibility on her notice period was also refused.

End of an era

The cooling is being felt on the supply side of the market, too. Investor Ramla Shahid was unable to attract a tenant for her Dubai Hills apartment at its original asking price and ultimately accepted a reduction.

"The apartment was originally marketed at Dh195,000, but I wasn't receiving the level of interest needed to secure a tenant at that price. Given the current market conditions and the softer rental environment we are starting to see in some areas, the rent was ultimately negotiated down to Dh175,000 in order to secure a suitable tenant," she said.

Ms Shahid attributed the adjustment principally to market forces. "The reduction was driven more by market demand and tenant affordability than by the Rera index," she said. "Rental growth has slowed significantly compared with the sharp increases seen between 2023 and 2025. In many communities, rents are now stabilising, while some areas are experiencing declines."

Rahim Latif, founder of Downtown Dubai-based property firm Revan Luay, said the statistics reflect a recalibration on the market rather than a “downturn”. He said that while the regional conflict "undoubtedly introduced a degree of caution into the market", rental growth had already been moderating before tension increased, "largely due to increased housing supply entering the market".

The luxury segment, Mr Latif said, remains more insulated. In prime locations such as Downtown Dubai, demand from high-net-worth individuals relocating to the emirate and corporate executives continues to outpace supply, keeping occupancy strong even as growth moderates.

Mr Siddiqui cautioned against reading the data as a sign of wholesale reversal. "Suggestions that rents are reverting to Covid-era levels are not supported by broader market data. While isolated cases may exist in specific buildings or micro-locations, this is far from a widespread phenomenon and should not be mistaken for a market-wide trend," he said.

Attention is now turning to the Dubai Land Department's Flexi Rent scheme, launched on June 23, which allows tenants to spread payments across more instalments. Mr Latif welcomed it as "a positive and forward-looking step" that could lift occupancy rates and encourage longer tenancies. Cavendish Maxwell said it would be "watching with interest to see what impact the newly announced flexible rent initiative has on the market".

Ms Shahid said she had no plans to adopt the scheme for her properties in premium communities. "In my view, tenants looking to live in these areas should typically have the disposable income and financial stability to comfortably sustain the rental commitments," she said, adding that she would continue to favour annual or two-cheque arrangements, which provide certainty over collecting rent in instalments.

The era of exceptional gains in the property market seems to be coming to an end, added Mr Latif. "I expect the market to transition from a phase of rapid rental escalation to one characterised by steady demand, increased choice for tenants, with greater sustainable growth for landlords and investors," he said.

The price of Brent, in particular, is now below where it was before the US-Iran war broke out on February 28. The benchmark for two thirds of the world's oil – which closed at $72.87 on February 27 – slid 4.34 per cent to settle at $71.99 a barrel.

West Texas Intermediate, the gauge that tracks US crude, fell 3.74 per cent to $69.23 per barrel. WTI closed at $67.02 on February 27.

From last week's close, Brent and WTI are down by nearly 10.6 per cent and 8.7 per cent, respectively.

“With shipping traffic steadily improving through the Strait of Hormuz, traders are increasingly focused on a growing queue of cargoes waiting to move,” said Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

“Millions of barrels are already loaded on tankers that were unable to leave the Gulf during the disruption, while hundreds of additional vessels remain positioned outside the region waiting to load. The result is a potential surge of supply entering the market at a time when buyers are showing signs of caution.”

Crude prices have been declining steadily during peace negotiations between the US and Iran, and a fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Washington and Tehran are working to strike a deal within 60 days, under the terms of an initial agreement.

More ships are now able to transit the strait, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and gas normally flows. But on Thursday, a cargo vessel was struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman, causing damage to its bridge but there were no casualties, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said.

The incident led to an immediate increase in oil prices, although the gains were later erased.

On Friday, the US Central Command said American forces had carried out strikes on Iran in response that "unwarranted aggression".

“Most of the increase in flows from the Gulf is outbound – ships exiting the strait. However, a significant increase in inbound flows requires shipping confidence to return, including safety assurances and mine clearance to allow insurance premiums to normalise,” said Giovanni Staunovo, a strategist at Swiss bank UBS.

“Considering how slowly tankers move – basically at the pace of a fast bike – it will take a while for them to reach their loading facilities. Another challenge is that some of the tankers waiting outside the Gulf were diverted to other regions to pick up crude and refined products, so they would first need to unload their cargo before moving back to the Gulf.”

On Friday, Saudi Aramco ​resumed oil ​loading operations ​at ⁠its Ras Tanura terminal ⁠in the Gulf ​after an almost four-month halt, shipping data ⁠from LSEG showed. Meanwhile, oil exports from the UAE in early June recovered to reach nearly 85 per cent of prewar levels, as the country used alternative shipping routes and pipelines, the International Energy Agency said this week.

Adding to the easing of energy supplies globally are also record exports by the US that have kept Asian and European markets better stocked, and the release of strategic reserves in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

"I have been informed of an attack today ⁠in the Gulf of Oman on a vessel which passed through the Strait of Hormuz. This vessel did not transit under IMO’s evacuation framework," International Maritime Organisation Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez said in a statement.

The attack took place a day after Oman announced the creation of a temporary shipping transit corridor for the evacuations in collaboration with the IMO.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO) said the ship reported being struck 13.8km south-east of Dahit, in Oman's Musandam region, but no casualties were recorded.

The UKMTO said in a statement that it would "not be conducting notifications to vessels regarding inclusion in IMO planning batches during this period".

Iran appeared to claim responsibility for the attack in message issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' navy, which said the route the ship was sailing on was “unacceptable and extremely dangerous”.

“We warn all vessels to strictly refrain from any movement outside the designated routes,” it said. The IRGC will take action against vessels that do not follow its instructions, the group added.

Maritime security company Vanguard said the ship, identified as the Singapore-flagged Ever Lovely, continued to sail through the strait despite the attack.

The evacuation route announced by Oman on Wednesday runs along the south of the strait, along its coast. About 11,000 seafarers were expected to leave the strait under the plan.

The route was created as an alternative to the usual shipping corridor through the strait, which is considered too dangerous owing to Iranian sea mines placed there during the war. It could take up to six months to clear them.

An IMO spokeswoman stressed the need to get the stranded seafarers out. "They're not military, they're not trained for these things. They're seafarers from India, the Philippines – it's been quite a challenge," she said.

Before the latest attack, crossings through the strait had more than doubled as confidence improved after the US and Iran signed an interim deal on June 17. Issues regarding shipping tolls, demining efforts and control of the strait have not yet been resolved. Insurance is another hurdle.

Oman's Royal Navy had emphasised that ships would transit the temporary route without fees or tolls. It added that each ship could conduct an independent risk assessment before starting its voyage.

The IMO had said the new arrangements should give insurance companies more certainty, potentially giving more ships leeway to move through the temporary routes.

The disagreement has persisted during direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials in Washington this week, forcing both sides to extend negotiations until Friday morning after they were originally scheduled to conclude on Thursday.

Meanwhile, another complication has arisen with Hezbollah's rejection of a redeployment to a handful of villages away from the border. The group has told Iranian officials involved in a separate mechanism with the US that Israeli forces must fully withdraw from Lebanese border towns.

Israel and Lebanon have been discussing the US-backed proposal for Israeli forces to transfer some of the Lebanese territory that Israeli forces invaded during the war with Hezbollah to the Lebanese military under a "pilot zone" plan.

"Lebanon hasn't backed down and is still demanding withdrawal from areas closer to the border, areas that the Israelis didn't fully occupy yet but have forces encircling them," a Lebanese security source told The National. "Those zones link to other key areas in the south."

Another Lebanese security source said "there’s no progress because the other delegation is insisting on north of [the] Litani [River] for the pilot zone".

"The problem is you cannot call it a pilot zone if they [Israel] are not there," the source added.

Eli Cohen, an Israeli security cabinet member, said the military has carried out what he described as minor redeployments in southern Lebanon to improve defensive positions. But he insisted forces will not leave border areas, “even if [President Donald] Trump or any other US official were to ask".

The idea of the pilot zones emerged during earlier Israeli-Lebanese negotiations, before the US-Iran deal was signed last week. The agreement was followed by the creation of a new ceasefire mechanism that includes Iran, giving Tehran, Hezbollah's main backer, a direct and formal role in the Lebanon-Israel security file.

On Friday, Hezbollah's leader Naim Qassem said Israel must withdraw from all of southern Lebanon. "National security interests" will be at the top of the agenda to be discussed in Lebanon following the withdrawal, he added in a speech to supporters to mark Ashura.

According to the Lebanese security official, Hezbollah told Iran that it would not accept an Israeli withdrawal from areas far from the border alone and that the message was "likely conveyed" to the Americans through the newly established joint committee.

On Friday, the Israeli military dropped leaflets on Mansouri, southern Lebanon, for the first time since the ceasefire. The Israeli military often drops leaflets on areas under displacement orders. Friday’s drop did not precede a displacement order, the military said. It was meant as a reminder for displaced residents not to return to the area.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that an initial Israeli-Lebanese agreement was expected soon, while US and Lebanese sources noted that Thursday's discussions at the State Department in Washington lasted for more than 10 hours.

Mr Rubio stepped into communication channels to push towards concluding the current round of talks by issuing a “declaration of intent” between Lebanon and Israel, according to the sources. The US exerted pressure on both parties to leave this week’s negotiations with some form of agreement.

The Lebanon file has become one of the most critical elements of the US-Iran negotiations, as both parties move to technical discussions aimed at reaching a permanent peace deal in less than two months. Mr Trump has in recent weeks shown growing frustration with Israel's actions in Lebanon.

Two people were killed and one was injured in an Israeli strike on the town of Mayfadoun, in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh district, on Thursday, the Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported. An Israeli strike also hit the town of Nabatieh Al Fawqa on Friday.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a joint initiative to replace the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon after its withdrawal at the end of the year. "It is necessary to guarantee an international presence in order to avoid a dangerous security vacuum," Ms Meloni said alongside Mr Macron in the southern French city of Antibes.

An international conference may soon be organised for an official launch of the joint mission, she said.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the initiative, calling it a "sincere expression of the international commitment to supporting Lebanon's sovereignty and stability", the presidency said in a statement.

Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni handed over the objects to Egypt’s ambassador to Greece, Omar Amer Youssef, during a ceremony at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens on Wednesday.

The handover followed co-operation between Greek and Egyptian authorities, with assistance from Interpol and the judiciary, according to Greece’s Ministry of Culture.

The objects were given to the museum in 2018 by a member of the public, who said they had been found by chance in Peristeri, a western suburb of Athens, wrapped separately and placed inside a paper bag.

They were registered by the museum and examined by archaeologists and conservators. Four were found to be ancient artefacts, while two were judged to be forgeries. All six were returned to Egypt as part of the case.

One of the figurines carries the inscription “Arab el Madfuna” on its reverse side, the Arabic name of the ancient Egyptian city of Abydos, which was among the indications linking the objects to Egypt.

The Ministry of Culture said information was sought from Egyptian authorities through Interpol because there were strong indications the objects had been illegally trafficked from Egypt. Police and prosecutorial authorities were also asked to investigate whether any criminal offences had been committed.

Following documentation provided by Egyptian authorities and a decision by the Athens First Instance Prosecutor’s Office, which archived the case after no criminal offence was established under Greek law, the ministry issued an export permit for the objects to be returned to Egypt.

Mendoni said in the ministry statement that the return was “an act of genuine respect” for cultural heritage and part of Greece’s commitment to the 1970 Unesco Convention.

“Greece returns cultural property to where it historically, culturally and morally belongs,” she said.

She added that the co-operation between Greek and Egyptian authorities showed that the protection of cultural heritage could only be achieved through mutual assistance and trust between states.

Ambassador Youssef said in the same statement that the return was “a highly symbolic act” that reaffirmed the level of trust and co-operation between Egypt and Greece.

He thanked the Greek government, the Culture Ministry and all those involved in securing the return of the objects.

“I am confident that today marks yet another important milestone in further strengthening the strategic relationship between Egypt and Greece, for the benefit of both peoples and our shared cultural heritage,” he said.

The return was carried out in line with the 1970 Unesco Convention, which provides an international framework for preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of cultural property.

The palace will remain the operational centre of “monarchy HQ”, but King Charles has decided it will not be his official residence, with nearby Clarence House to remain his London home.

“His Majesty retains huge affection for Buckingham Palace and a deep respect for its role in royal and public life,” a palace representative said. “It will be a buzzing hive of royal activity in every other way."

The decision has been taken partly to increase public access to the London landmark popular with visitors. Security concerns would limit numbers and restrict the areas people could visit when the king was in residence.

A string of royal accounts were published on Thursday, with key announcements including:

• The king has become the first monarch to publish their tax bill, £12.9 million for 2024-2025 – putting him among the country’s top 100 taxpayers for that financial year – and £11.7 million for 2023-2024, with more than £30 million paid in tax since he became the monarch in 2022
• Prince William, Prince of Wales, released his tax details for the first time, paying £7.76 million in income and capital gains tax in 2024-2025, after paying £8.34 million in 2023-2024
• The Sovereign Grant, which funds King Charles’s official duties and the work of his household, increased by £45.8 million to £132.1 million in 2025-2026
• The grant has a core element covering the cost of things such as travel, property maintenance and payroll and this has almost doubled in three years, increasing from £51.8 million in 2024-2025 to £99.9 million in 2027-2028
• Prince William undertook the most expensive official overseas visit, making a round-trip by charter plane to Saudi Arabia in February at a cost of £130,106, including staff planning the visit

"I can update you that after careful consideration, and to greatly increase opportunities for public access, the King and Queen have decided not to adopt Buckingham Palace as a personal residence and will instead continue to use Clarence House as their London home," said James Chalmers, Keeper of the Privy Purse. “Their Majesties will, however, have access to private rooms within the palace where they can retire during the course of a working day and which could be utilised as potential residential accommodation in times ahead.”

Queen Victoria was the first monarch to use the palace as the official seat of court in 1837. After marrying Prince Albert, she transformed the palace to accommodate their growing family, entertain guests and conduct official business.

The palace has been undergoing a 10-year reservicing project that includes replacing boilers, electrical cables and pipes at a cost of £369 million to reduce the fire and flood risk. That work is due to be completed next March.

“This is both a change from the past and a recognition of the future," Mr Chalmers added. "Let me be clear, however, that in all other ways Buckingham Palace will continue to be both the ceremonial and operational centre of royal life.

“It is and will remain Monarchy HQ, the crown jewel of our national buildings, with the sovereign’s standard flying proudly from the roof whenever His Majesty is in London, just as it has done since accession.”

There was a general expectation the king would live at the palace because it was so closely associated with his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who had an apartment at the residence that will be available to King Charles and Queen Camilla during the day when the reservicing work is completed.

“It will remain a working home but we are seeking to widen public access precisely to maximise the national benefit of a publicly funded building," a palace representative said.

Queen Elizabeth II last stayed overnight at the palace on March 18 2020 and the following day released a message to the nation, written from Windsor Castle, a few days before the first Covid lockdown was announced. She wrote: “At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal.”

Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, spent much of the lockdown at Windsor Castle being looked after by a reduced number of staff known as HMS Bubble.

There has been speculation that Prince William, who has recently moved his family to Forest Lodge in Windsor, will not live at Buckingham Palace when he becomes monarch.

King Charles has lived at Clarence House, former home of the Queen Mother, since 2003 and will continue to host events at the palace, from garden parties to receptions, and hold audiences with new ambassadors. When the king is in London his royal standard flies from both the palace and Clarence House, whichever property he resides in.

Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, said that "despite ongoing concerns about the huge cost of the royals, the grant will remain hugely inflated on its initial level of £31 million in 2012".

"If that had risen by inflation, the grant would stand at £45 million, not £100 million," he added. “The government agreed to spent £369 million on refurbishing Buckingham Palace and now Charles doesn’t want to use it. But he’ll keep it under lock and key for when he does. Clearly the palace needs to be fully open to the public all year round.”

The medics treated complex femur and hip fractures, as well as carrying out bone reconstruction surgery. Doctors said the patients are to receive follow-up care onboard the ship after the successful operations.

The hospital, which is docked at Al Arish and began operations on February 24, 2024, is central to the UAE's relief efforts for Gazans, which began after Israel began its war on the enclave on October 2023. The hospital is equipped with advanced surgical and intensive care units, a radiology department and laboratories. It has 100 beds for patients and an additional 100 for accompanying relatives.

In November 2025, officials announced medics on the floating hospital had conducted more than 5,000 surgeries since the humanitarian initiative was launched.

Support for Gaza's health sector

The UAE has taken significant steps to bolster Gaza's under-pressure health sector, which is reeling from the effects of the conflict even as a fragile ceasefire remains in place. As well as establishing the floating hospital, the UAE opened a 150-bed field hospital in Gaza in December 2023.

The Emirates on Thursday opened a medical centre in the north of the enclave in support of its mission to improve the lives of Palestinians bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis. The UAE Medical Centre, part of the Operation Gallant Knight 3 aid campaign, is designed to strengthen Gaza's healthcare system, providing primary and therapeutic care to patients in the enclave, state news agency Wam reported.

It is the second medical centre to be established in Gaza under Operation Gallant Knight 3, after a medical centre was set up in the southern city of Khan Younis. Together, the centres form part of a wider plan to ensure medical care reaches as many people as possible across the enclave.

This month, the UAE unveiled an expanded prosthetics support programme for Palestinians who have lost limbs in the war. Under the Step of Hope programme, patients will be assessed at the floating hospital, where measurements will be taken for prosthetic limbs.

Teams in Gaza will use 3D scanning to “map patients' residual limbs”. The data will be shared with staff at the floating hospital, where the prosthetic will be made and given to the patient.

“Step of Hope embodies the UAE’s unwavering commitment to alleviating the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” Mohamed Al Sharif, official spokesman for Operation Gallant Knight 3, said after the launch of the initiative.

Large plumes of black smoke were visible across the capital as police and civil defence teams were called into action.

"Abu Dhabi Police and Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority teams continue to deal with a fire that broke out Friday morning at the Carpet Souk near Zayed port in Abu Dhabi, with no impact on traffic in the area," Abu Dhabi Police said, in a statement shared on social media shortly after 1pm.

"The public is advised to obtain information from official sources only."

It is not yet known whether there were any casualties resulting from the incident.

The National has contacted Abu Dhabi Civil Defence for more information.

The Carpet Souq is a popular attraction with the capital's residents and visitors alike, being home to dozens of well-established traders selling colourful carpets from all over the world.

In those homes, creativity was not treated as something separate from daily life. Her mother was Hanan Al-Agha, a Palestinian visual artist and poet, and Mubarak remembers her as someone who had little interest in the practical machinery around a public life.

“She was one of those hopeless romantics,” Mubarak says. “And she was very impractical about it. She did not understand success in terms of career-building, promoting herself, being a hit artist or doing whatever was working at the time. She was just herself.”

Following in her footsteps felt inevitable. And Mubarak did, just not how she thought she would. At 17, she was studying fine art in Jordan, moving towards a future she thought she was destined for.

“I was preparing myself without even thinking about it,” she says. “I had the skill to be a painter, and that was my whole identity.”

Acting wasn’t on her mind until the day she accompanied a friend to an audition. Mubarak was just there to keep her company, only for the director to ask her to try out too. She told him she was not an actress and had no idea how to act, but he insisted.

“I felt it was kind of magical,” Mubarak says. “I went on stage and auditioned. Apparently, I did well. He chose me to star in the play. Within six months, I was touring the world. I won many international awards for that first role.”

There is an Arabic expression for what happened next, she says, something like a creature calling your name until you follow it. It does not translate easily into English. But Mubarak heard that call, and what began as an accident became the work that has shaped most of her adult life.

“This is not a career to me,” she says. “It is part of me – part of my identity and who I am. Maybe that is a bit toxic and problematic, because you need to separate yourself from what you do, but it is very hard for me to do that.”

It is a modest way to describe a body of work that has made Mubarak one of Jordan’s most recognisable actors, and one of the rare performers in the region to build a truly pan-Arab career. She became familiar to Egyptian audiences through dramas including Sharbat Louz, Hekayat Banat, Moga Harra and Afrah Al Qoba, while her film work includes Daughters of Abdulrahman and The Guest: Aleppo-Istanbul, which won her Best Actress at Ireland’s Silk Road International Film Festival.

More recently, she led the hit Shahid romantic comedy-drama Ward Ala Foll Wa Yasmeen, a 15-episode series about a chance encounter between two people from different worlds. Through Pan East Media, the company she founded in 2011, Mubarak has also become a producer, giving her a measure of control beyond the roles she accepts.

She may not have become a painter, but she still sees herself as an artist. She dropped the brush, not the way of seeing the world.

“I was heavily influenced by my mother,” she says. “In fact, I think I am still influenced by her. If you had asked me this question 10 years ago, I might have said: ‘No, I found my own identity.’ Now I look at it and think it is very cool that I am still influenced by her direction in art and the way she presented herself.”

Al-Agha was a Palestinian refugee, and the ideas of homeland and displacement entered Mubarak’s life through her before they became subjects in her work. Mubarak was born and raised in Jordan – her father is Jordanian – and says the dual identities of her parents did not feel divided in childhood because families around her were already mixed.

With time – and travel – the distinction became clearer.

“When you live there, when you are born and raised there, you never really think about these things,” she says. “It is only when you start moving outside your country, to places where there are fewer Palestinian refugees, that you understand they live in very different circumstances elsewhere.”

That plight has continued to inspire her work, including Abu Dhabi TV’s drama series Obour in 2019, described as the first series filmed entirely inside a real refugee camp.

“That specific cause – protecting refugees, fighting for them and helping them find their voice in the society they are living in – is something I think I have engraved in me because of my mother,” Mubarak says.

Her own movement across the region began partly out of a yearning to express herself more fully. Jordan gave Mubarak her start, but the country still does not have the structure to sustain a full industry, even if it has strong artists, films that travel to festivals and productions that win major awards. After stops in Tunisia and Syria, Mubarak says Egypt was the inevitable next step.

“When you come to Egypt, it is our Hollywood, our Bollywood,” she says. “It is a whole industry that is growing and changing all the time.”

From there, she kept moving. Theatre had already made it normal for her to work with different nationalities and methods, and she discovered she could learn dialects and accents easily. What began as a practical advantage became part of the pleasure of the work, as Mubarak traversed the region’s various Arab film and television scenes like few others.

“It made my journey very rich,” she says. “It made me feel that, as an artist, I belong everywhere and to everyone, which I like a lot – to not have borders.”

That fluency brought opportunity, but it also led to her becoming too accustomed to the system. Mubarak says she reached a point when she had become, in her words, “a daughter of the industry”. She knew how things worked, what was expected and how to be good. The danger was that being good could start to replace being free.

That became clearer during the pandemic, when the pace of work slowed and she had more time to sit with herself. Mubarak began asking why she was still acting and what the work had done to her.

“I was different,” she says. “Not necessarily better, just different. I started to miss the brave, courageous, carefree artist who was not afraid of messing things up.”

Acting can make that difficult because it is built through other people. A performer is always working with a writer’s script, a director’s vision, another actor’s choices and the demands of a production, and while Mubarak values that collaboration, she also knows the effect that can have.

“In this profession, anything can divert your direction,” she says. “All of those factors can make you adopt information and beliefs that are not yours.”

That realisation changed the kind of collaborators she wanted around her. She credits Egyptian filmmaker Mohamed Diab – who directed her in Jordan’s 2022 Academy Awards submission Amira as well as in Marvel’s Moon Knight – with helping her recover a part of herself that had become too controlled.

“He made me re-evaluate everything and go back to my crazy little self,” she says. “The version of myself that searches for the fun in the moment and the tiniest details in what I am doing, not the bigger picture. Because in art, there is no bigger picture. That is what I have discovered over the years.”

That is not to say that Mubarak is careless about her craft. She watches her performances closely and talks about acting with discipline – she just does not want that discipline to create a comfort zone.

“Wanting to be safe in a role, or just being good in general, is not very interesting to me,” she says. “I do not mind being cursed or failing at something. I just want to do different things.”

That is why she turns down more than she accepts, even when the sensible choice might be to protect what already works. “If this were just a job for me, what I am doing would be crazy,” she says. “But because it is not, I try as much as possible to choose whatever feels different, new, exciting or scary to me.” And as much as she always strives to do the best both for herself and her audience, deep down, her greatest concern is that it may resonate too greatly.

“I am most scared when something is very successful,” she says. “Even more than when I fail at something, because it is very easy to want to stay comfortable in that love bubble.”

That instinct has become harder to protect in the current climate, in which audience reaction arrives earlier and louder than it did when she started. “I belong to a time when there was no social media,” she says. “We did not know what people were saying or throwing at us. We were just exploring, trying different things and following a passion.

“Now you have to be correct. You have to adhere to what the audience wants. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is limiting.”

But even after Mubarak realised she had become too careful in her work, her instinct for risk had not disappeared. It had simply moved to the wrong part of her life.

“What was happening was that I was keeping toxic people around me and being safe in art,” she says. “I decided to flip that. If I am going to try to untame a part of myself, it should be my creative brain – not crying over toxic people or feeling unsafe in my day-to-day life.”

That thought brings her back to the artist she was before acting. Mubarak does not paint now, but she still thinks visually. She loves fine art, architecture, Art Deco buildings, museums, literature and poetry, and is drawn to installation art because it lets a viewer step inside another artist’s world. She still sketches sometimes when working as a director or creative producer, mapping scenes and where characters should stand in a room.

As she travels, she still seeks out exhibitions wherever she can, and can picture the kind of painter she might have become. An impressionist, she says. She is particularly drawn to Spanish painter Francisco Goya and the way his pre-impressionist portraits carry something darker beneath their classical form.

“I am obsessed with Goya,” she says. “I love how he turned classical painting into something scary, something that gives you a dramatic feeling the second you look at it.”

It is a part of herself that she lost connection with after her mother died in 2008. “Maybe I was trying to go away from that for the longest time because it reminds me so much of my mother,” she says. “Maybe it was a way of separating myself, of taming that missing, that void. Maybe I am just analysing now with you, but I never thought about it before. Why did I stop painting altogether?”

The question hangs there, and Mubarak does not force it into an answer. She once thought the story was that she had found her own identity away from the first artist who shaped her. Now, after all the roles, countries, industries and years spent trying not to become safe, she seems more willing to see the beginning again: the house full of paintings, the mother who worked without calculation, and the young woman who learnt to look before she learnt to perform.

Maybe she will paint again, if the feeling returns. For now, she can look back without apology. “I’m proud of it all,” she says. “The flops, the failures, the successes, the projects that taught me things and pushed me forward. I’m proud of the entirety of the body of my work. I feel a little shy saying that, but it’s true.”

TN editor: Nasri Atallah

Fashion director: Sarah Maisey

Photographer: Hussein Mardini

Producer: Omar Kerdany

Hairstylist: Bishoy Naguib

Make-up artist: Dana Khedr

Production by Butter Films

Photographer assistant: Omar Khaled

Stylist assistant: Mariam Hegazy

Make-up assistants: Marianne Ashraf and Habiba Ahmed

With thanks to Kareem Samy and Nadine Ashraf at Mad Solutions

Shot at Gearbox Studios, Cairo

However, even though the Gulf states were the primary targets of Iran’s recent aggression during the recent war, none of the document’s 14 points address their security concerns. Any robust and lasting agreement would need to take this aspect seriously.

In a recent call with his Iranian counterpart, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Sabah, demanded that Tehran respect its neighbours’ territorial integrity, commit itself to non-interference in their internal affairs and renounce the use of proxies. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, meanwhile, insisted that Tehran work to rebuild trust with its neighbours before the Gulf states consider re-establishing any pre-war economic ties.

The Gulf states are playing a critical role, both directly and behind the scenes, to secure a conflict-ending deal. US and Iranian officials have also hinted that these nations might help pay towards Iran’s reconstruction. While this has yet to be confirmed, it shows the agency that the Gulf states have to shape a comprehensive agreement. After all, they can offer the one thing Iran needs more than anything else: economic recovery.

The framework agreement is a welcome break from the instability blighting the Middle East. Nevertheless, it is far from perfect.

It defers any Iranian concessions on the nuclear programme as well as its missile and drone stocks. It also gifts Iran something it has long sought – sanctions relief – as a prize for opening the Strait of Hormuz, something that Tehran did not control before the war. Worse, US officials have repeatedly hinted that they will seek to follow up the framework agreement by focusing exclusively on Iran’s nuclear programme, rather than other aspects of its destabilising regional behaviour. This creates a familiar concern in Gulf capitals; it is all too similar to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

A reasonable Gulf demand would be that Tehran agree to limit its missile and drone programmes. The recent war illustrated that the nuclear issue, while important, is tomorrow’s problem; Iran’s drone and missiles remain a clear and present danger. Mitigating this threat would insulate not just the Gulf states but also the entire global economy from any future Iranian attacks.

The recent war illustrated that the nuclear issue, while important, is tomorrow’s problem

As with the nuclear file, these should be subject to external monitoring and verification. US President Donald Trump’s recent declaration that “missiles aren’t the problem” demonstrates why there is a need to push this position in the ongoing talks. After all, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz with drones and missiles.

Arab states are justified in demanding that Iran moderate its armed regional proxies. The war demonstrated that what happens in Lebanon does not stay in Lebanon. An escalation there, or in Iraq or Yemen, could throw the region back into chaos.

Iran will probably not give up support for its proxies. But a comprehensive deal should secure guarantees that Tehran will tone down its support and encourage these groups to include themselves within their respective countries’ political processes as responsible actors, not spoilers. In practical terms, this means testing whether the regime is willing to give up some of its leverage for legitimacy. This will be the ultimate litmus test for a post-war Iran – it can have regional integration, or it can maintain the status quo with its so-called Axis of Resistance. It cannot have both.

This is not a new wish list. Some sceptics may even question whether diplomacy can ever induce a behavioural change from Tehran – and with good reason. Before the war, the Gulf states pursued a detente with Tehran and believed that their relationship with the regime could, at worst, be managed and, at best, help bring it in from the cold. That assumption was unable to deter intensive Iranian aggression – albeit in response to US and Israeli military force – seeing as it spanned more than 7,000 projectiles that did not discriminate between military and civilian targets or between Gulf states.

And yet the Gulf states were right to exercise restraint during the conflict, and to advocate diplomacy and a framework agreement over a continuation of the war. The agreement, however imperfect, is the Gulf’s first big post-war win in that it brings order to chaos.

Their next challenge is harder. First, Gulf states would be right to keep pushing for a comprehensive deal that delivers lasting regional calm. Second, they could consider a pan-GCC understanding with Iran to plug any gaps that Washington leaves open. Third, it would be prudent to pursue both tracks in parallel, because excessive concessions to Iran on one front could strengthen it on the other.

Considering the Gulf states’ understandable lack of trust in Iran today, this would no doubt be a tricky process. But diplomacy could achieve what the war sought but failed to induce: a permanent, systemic change in Iran’s grand strategy.

We also look at why Gulf states are not expected to begin reconciliation talks with Iran any time soon. Diplomats tell The National that rebuilding trust after the conflict will take time, despite US efforts to reassure regional allies.

Lebanon and Israel extend their latest round of US-mediated negotiations, but significant disagreements remain over Israeli troop withdrawals, proposed pilot zones and future security arrangements in southern Lebanon.

In the UAE, officials unveil Dar Al Funoon Abu Dhabi, a Frank Gehry-designed performing arts centre scheduled to open on Saadiyat Island in 2030 as part of the emirate’s long-term cultural strategy.

And the Emirates expands its visa-on-arrival programme to six more countries, a move aimed at boosting tourism, strengthening economic ties and making travel to the country easier.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

The Netherlands won Group F after beating Tunisia 3-1 in Kansas City, with two goals inside seven minutes setting the tone. Tunisia finish with three defeats, 12 goals conceded and the worst defensive record of any team at the tournament. Japan and Sweden both progressed from the same group after drawing 1-1.

In Group E, Ivory Coast reached the knockouts for the first time in their history with a 2-0 win over Curacao, and Australia secured second place in Group D with a goalless draw against Paraguay.

Morocco now know their last 32 opponent. They face the Netherlands in Monterrey, Mexico, on Monday in one of the most culturally charged ties of the round, with about 433,000 people of Moroccan descent living in the Netherlands.

Early tomorrow, Saudi Arabia face Cape Verde in Houston in a must-win match. Victory keeps the Saudi players alive for the last 32, though they would also need Uruguay to fail to beat Spain. Iraq face Senegal in Toronto tonight, with both teams still without a point. Egypt then face Iran in Seattle, with Mohamed Salah's side able to secure top spot in Group G.

Mina Rzouki presents Trending Middle East's World Cup round-up, a daily bonus series from The National for the duration of the tournament.

Created by Christopher Storer, the series has won 21 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, acting wins for White, Edebiri, Moss-Bachrach and Liza Colón-Zayas (who plays Tina, the cook), as well as a record-breaking 11 Emmy wins in a single year for a comedy series.

Air date: June 25

New teasers have also offered the first look at Ba Sing Se, the capital of the Earth Kingdom. Returning cast members include Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, Dallas Liu, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Elizabeth Yu and Daniel Dae Kim.

Air date: June 25

Matt Damon leads an all-star cast that includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong’o. Shot using Imax film cameras, the mythological adventure has been billed as Nolan’s biggest production to date and one of the most anticipated films of the year.

Air date: July 17

House of the Dragon is based on George R R Martin’s book Fire & Blood, and set about 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Returning cast members include Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke and Rhys Ifans. Following the premiere on June 22, episodes will be released weekly.

Air date: June 22

Season three picks up after the dramatic events of last year’s finale and promises long-awaited answers about the origins of the silos and the catastrophe that forced humanity underground. Based on Hugh Howey’s bestselling novels, the new season also expands the story beyond a single silo.

Air date: July 3

Oil was loaded on to two very large crude carriers at ⁠the terminal, while another waited nearby, ​the ⁠data showed. ‌Each vessel is capable of carrying ​two million barrels of oil. Saudi Aramco could not be immediately reached for comment outside office hours.

Ras Tanura, on Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast, hosts one of the world’s largest oil export terminals and a major refining facility. The port handles a significant share of Saudi crude exports, with cargoes typically heading to markets in Europe and Asia, including China, Japan and South Korea.

Operations at the refinery were briefly halted after a fire broke out following a drone attack in early March.

Aramco last loaded cargo from Ras Tanura as part of a shipment to be sent to China on March 8, the LSEG data showed. The kingdom had to divert all exports to the Red ​Sea port of ‌Yanbu after Iran blocked the ​Strait of Hormuz during ​its ‌war with the US and Israel, ⁠preventing ships from leaving or entering the Gulf.

Cumulative oil supply losses from producers in the Middle East exceeded 1.3 billion barrels owing to the closure of the strait, the International Energy Agency estimated in a report this week. Hydrocarbon flows through the waterway dropped from about 20 million barrels per day before the conflict to an average of 2.7 million bpd in March, April and May.

But many producers in the Gulf used alternatives to skirt the blocked strait and continue to meet their export commitments to clients, predominantly in the Asian markets. Saudi Arabia, Opec’s largest oil producer and the biggest Arab economy, increased crude oil flows through its East-West pipeline for export using its Yanbu port.

The kingdom’s oil exports from Yanbu increased from two million bpd before the outbreak of the war to more than five million bpd in early June. "Saudi Arabia also boosted deliveries from stocks held overseas,” the IEA said.

Middle ⁠Eastern producers are now rapidly increasing output and exports after the US and Iran agreed to an ​interim deal to halt the war. While talks between Tehran and Washington continue “the situation nonetheless remains highly unpredictable, with major strains in large parts of the market and uncertainty over how the peace talks will play out”, the IEA analysts said.

A cargo ship was attacked as it attempted to pass through the strait close to the Omani coast on Thursday, UK Maritime Trade Operations said. An operation to escort ships through the strait was paused after the attack, reigniting concerns about whether the preliminary deal will hold.

Two US officials told Reuters that Iran fired on the ship, while Iranian officials said vessels that refuse to sail on routes Tehran has set would not be guaranteed safe passage.

Thousands of fans have poured into the Canadian city from across North America and the long odds for both teams have done nothing to dampen their supporters' mood ahead of the must-win match.

“It's just amazing to see our team in the World Cup,” said Valair, an Iraqi who left his country when he was 14 and now lives in Tennessee in the US.

“We got a goal … and I was there for it,” he added, referring to last week's match in Boston, when Aymen Hussein scored with a header against Norway. Valair said the moment was so euphoric that he partially blacked out.

He felt it would be an "absolute miracle” if Iraq made it through, but “just seeing my flag with all these other flags and just being involved … that in itself is an achievement for me".

Valair was among the Iraq fans who gathered on Thursday night at a park near Toronto's city centre. A steady stream of cars decorated with Iraqi flags honked their horns as they passed.

Adwia Aziz, an Iraq fan from Sterling Heights, Michigan, said she was excited for the Senegal showdown. Come what may, her main feeling was one of pride after her country qualified for the World Cup for the first time in four decades.

“We waited 40 years for this moment,” she said, an Iraq flag wrapped around her shoulders. “They are playing very well … we're so proud of them.”

On Friday, thousands of Iraq fans are expected to march to Toronto Stadium. Online prediction platforms give Iraq only about an 8 per cent chance of winning against Senegal, a powerhouse of African football. Like Iraq, Senegal lost to Norway and France.

But because Iraq have only scored one goal compared with Senegal's three, Iraq are bottom of Group I.

Thanks to this year's expanded 48-team World Cup, eight third-place teams will advance to the knockout rounds. But for either Iraq or Senegal to progress, they would need a win with a big goal tally and for teams in other groups to perform badly.

Lions of Teranga

Friday's game is also a huge moment for Senegal fans, whose national team is nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, a reference to the country's courage and spirit of hospitality.

Thanks to US President Donald Trump's travel ban, it was almost impossible for Senegalese supporters to travel to the US to watch the previous two group games.

Christoph Boucar Diouf, a Senegalese immigrant who runs a construction company in Montreal, said that at the Norway game in New Jersey, Senegalese fans were lost amid a sea of Norwegian red, with the imbalance making it feel as though the Scandinavians had an extra player.

He is confident things will be different for Senegal's players on Friday.

“They're going to feel the ambience, they'll feel the sound of the tam-tams, they will hear the voice, their language, like they are at home,” he told The National at PendAfrica, a Senegalese restaurant in the city.

Mr Diouf said the Senegalese government had provided tickets for supporters to attend the do-or-die match.

Kick-off is at 3pm Toronto time (11pm GST).

Germany, who had already qualified as group winners, took an early lead at MetLife Stadium through Leroy Sane before Nilson Angulo fired Ecuador level after just nine minutes.

Germany had a penalty at the start of the second half overturned following a VAR review for a foul in the build-up before Gonzalo Plata stabbed home the winner with 13 minutes remaining, leaving the South Americans on four points and top of the third-place rankings.

Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece, who had been under pressure following his side's disappointing first two results, reflected on the achievement.

“It is not about what it means to me, this is for the people,” he told Fifa's official website. “The players have given them this qualification. Let them celebrate and enjoy it.”

Match-winner Plata added: “It is a learning experience for us, and now we will go into the next round even more hungry for glory. This team believes strongly in itself. We have 26 players who will give their all for Ecuador.”

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann felt his side had made things difficult for themselves.

“We have to learn that after a good start and an early lead, we can play with more composure instead of suddenly switching positions too much. There was too much freestyle,” he told German broadcaster ARD.

🎬 ملخص مباراة الإكوادور وألمانيا | دور المجموعات - كأس العالم FIFA 2026™#كأس_العالم2026 | #مونديال2026 | #كأس_العالم#beINWC26 | #FIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/7rEljUdRpP

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 25, 2026

“We just need to be more patient and stay a bit more structured in our positions, and if, on top of that, we are giving the ball away too often, at some point it becomes difficult.”

Germany will play a third-place team next, while Ecuador will face a group winner. The games will be confirmed once the eight best third-placed teams have been finalised.

Ivory Coast into knockouts for first time

Nicolas Pepe scored twice as Ivory Coast reached the World Cup knockout stages for the first time ever thanks to a 2-0 victory over tournament debutants Curacao.

Arsenal's former record signing gave his country a seventh-minute lead in Philadelphia, slotting home from close range following Yan Diomande's cutback from the left.

Pepe, who plays for Spanish side Villarreal, collected a pass from Ibrahim Sangare to double his tally in the 64th minute.

Ivory Coast progress as Group E runners-up behind Germany and will face either France or Norway in the last 32.

Best of the World Cup - in pictures

USA beaten by Turkey

The Group D finale had less riding on it, but still produced one surprising and one very unsurprising result.

Group winners USA saw their momentum checked as they lost 3-2 to already-eliminated Turkey.

Austin Trusty gave the US an early lead, but Arda Guler and Burak Yilmaz struck to put Turkey 2-1 ahead.

Sebastian Berhalter looked to have earned the US a point, only for Kaan Ayhan to score in injury time and seal a 3-2 victory for the Turks.

Elsewhere, Australia and Paraguay knew a draw would likely see both teams progress, and they played out a goalless stalemate at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

The US will face Bosnia in the last 32 on July 2. Australia and Paraguay will have to wait to find out their opposition.

The Dutch wrapped up top spot in Group F with a 3-1 win over Tunisia on Thursday night in Kansas City. That means they now take on Morocco, the Group C runners-up, in a knockout tie in Mexico.

Koeman immediately looked to put pressure on the North Africans by suggesting his side will be the underdogs at the Monterrey Stadium next Tuesday.

"I'm not sure if we are the favourite in the match against Morocco," Koeman told reporters after the win over Tunisia.

"We need to prepare for Morocco, because it'll be a big game. It's a good team with a lot of quality, and they can score easily."

Koeman, 63, played down questions of any ambitions beyond the last 32, saying: "I don't think we're in a situation yet to think about that. We're going towards our real test, and that's what we're going to prepare for."

Brobbey on target again

The Netherlands boast a 100 per cent record so far after they chalked up a comfortable 3-1 victory over Tunisia in Kansas City.

The Dutch started at a red-hot pace, taking just seven minutes to establish a 2-0 lead. Koeman’s side went ahead in the third minute courtesy of an Ellyes Skhiri own goal, after he lashed out at a cross and inadvertently tipped the ball into the back of his own net.

GOAL!

Brian Brobbey doubles the Netherlands' advantage with an early finish from a free-kick! ⚽

🇹🇳 Tunisia 0-2 Netherlands 🇳🇱#FIFAWorldCup | #beINWC26 | #Netherlands pic.twitter.com/BnHEuoIZxo

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) June 25, 2026

Brian Brobbey doubled the advantage minutes later, turning home Virgil van Dijk’s headed knockdown from a free-kick. The Dutch looked comfortable holding on to their advantage, but were snapped awake early in the second half when a Tunisia corner found Hazem Mastouri, who headed into the bottom-left corner.

The response from the Dutch was almost immediate, Jan Paul van Hecke restoring their advantage with a headed goal of his own.

Tunisia had some sporadic chances from there, but were ultimately unable to trouble the Dutch any further as they headed out without a point and the Oranje cruised into the last 32.

Japan set up clash against Brazil

Brazil might be World Cup royalty, but Japan will not be pushovers when the sides meet in Houston on June 29 in a last-32 clash, said coach Hajime Moriyasu after his side finished runners-up in Group F.

Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden on Thursday night to finish behind the Netherlands in their qualifying section. Daizen Maeda gave them the lead before Anthony Elanga claimed a point for the Swedes.

Moriyasu argued that a 3-2 comeback win over Brazil in Tokyo last October showed that his side are capable of causing an upset.

"Last time we proved to Brazil that we aren’t a pushover," Moriyasu said. "That is great progress for us. The Brazilian team is a top team in the world and we greatly respect them.

"In the match we don’t know what is going to happen. We will have a chance to win as well."

Sweden went through as a best third-placed team. Their last-32 opponents are not yet known, but as it stands, they will play France on Tuesday.

Best of 2026 World Cup - in pictures

“For a major chokepoint used for oil, gas and container traffic, even a modest charge could increase freight, insurance and compliance costs, which may eventually make goods and oil more expensive for end users,” said Ana Subasic, trade risk analyst at Kpler. “The larger concern is that such a fee could create uncertainty and encourage similar charges in other strategic waterways.”

Iran has not yet specified what fees it plans to impose on ships, but a Foreign Ministry official said last month that vessels would be required to pay for navigation, security and environmental services under a planned Iran-Oman mechanism governing the strait.

Tehran also set up an authority to regulate shipping traffic in the waterway, with a requirement for vessels to obtain permission from the authority before transiting.

The strait, between Iran and Oman, was key for the transport of more than 20 per cent of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the war began in February. Gulf states also depend heavily on the waterway for imports of food and other goods to support their economies.

The narrow channel was closed by Iran after the conflict broke out, with only a few vessels transiting it each day, compared with more than 100 before the regional war began.

Shipping traffic surged after a preliminary agreement was announced between Iran and the US. Oil prices subsided from record highs in March as more vessels exited the strait carrying crude and other refined products to global markets.

Any imposition of tolls or fees in international waters is illegal under UN regulations and no country has the authority to levy charges, analysts said. Other global chokepoints, such as the Suez and Panama canals, collect fees from ships as they are built for navigation and are not international waters like the Strait of Hormuz. The Suez and Panama canals also cross directly through their countries' territories, justifying the imposition of fees, analysts added.

“The closest might be the Dardanelles [Strait] in Turkey, where Turkey imposes fees,” said Ryan Bohl, senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at RANE. But that waterway is entirely in Turkish territorial waters, he added. “It also has the Montreux Treaty, which governs its wartime usage.”

The Dardanelles is a narrow strait in north-western Turkey that connects the Sea of Marmara with the Aegean and the Mediterranean. Turkey charges $6.70 per net tonne for ships crossing the Dardanelles, while Suez and Panama canal collect fees based on the size of the vessel.

Are shipping firms willing to pay?

Shipping companies are expected to resist paying service fees or tolls across the Strait of Hormuz, but might pay if it becomes unavoidable. They are then likely to pass the cost on to cargo owners.

Companies might instead choose to use Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports or the UAE’s eastern ports of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan for loading and unloading cargo. “Some would pay, particularly if the fee is not onerous and if there is clarity that paying such a fee would not result in US sanctions or penalties,” Mr Bohl said. “Some companies might route around Hormuz permanently if the fee is more costly than routing through Saudi Arabia's Red Sea ports or around Africa.”

The UAE has opened new trade corridors with Oman as it looks to bypass the strait to carry out trade. The Emirates is also planning a major expansion of its Dibba, Fujairah and Khor Fakkan ports, all of which are on the Gulf of Oman, to boost its logistics sector and reduce its dependence on the strait to "zero", Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, told Bloomberg this month.

Farzin Nadimi, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, also said shipping companies would strongly oppose the imposition of a fee and would look into taking an alternative route if demand is not met.

“Many likely to resist, reroute via the Cape of Good Hope, or reduce volumes rather than comply – though short-term payments by some operators remain possible due to security pressures,” he said. Such a move would raise transport costs as well as prices of energy and goods, leading to broader inflationary and supply-chain effects as rerouting adds time, fuel, and emissions, he added.

Shipping risks

Although shipping traffic has increased across the strait following the US-Iran deal, vessels still face the risk of renewed hostilities while they are in transit, said Andrew Cook, of the International Federation of Shipmaster’s Association.

Kpler shows 70 ship crossings on June 24, the highest recorded daily total since March 1.

“I think everybody's going to look at this very closely over the next couple of days and see what happens,” he said. “If I was on board a ship, if I was responsible, if I worked in a shipping company and was responsible for a ship, I would be nervous that things would go downhill very quickly during your ship's transit.”

He added that ships needed to return to the internationally recognised route through the strait for safety reasons. “We’re hopeful that we can get back to normal," he said. "We support what’s happening but we’re also watching it very carefully.”

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Thursday that only Tehran-approved routes were valid for commercial shipping through the strait, defying an Omani-backed plan to establish a safe corridor for vessels.

However, another diplomatic track has been quietly unfolding in Washington, and it is one that deserves more attention than it has received. Weeks of direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials have often been viewed with scepticism for their limited ability to halt the violence sparked by Israel’s invasion. Nevertheless, some modest but tangible progress may be taking shape in the form of a so-called pilot withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Lebanon, to be replaced by Lebanese troops.

This is not a sweeping breakthrough, nor does it resolve deeper tensions. In an interview with The National this week, former Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Herzog struck a worrying tone when he said the restraint forced on his country by the terms of America’s agreement with Iran was “very painful”. Nevertheless, the Washington talks represent something significant – elected Lebanese representatives acting on behalf of their people. Progress that is rooted Lebanon’s national institutions, even if incremental, should not be discounted.

This stands in contrast to a parallel dynamic that threatens to undercut this fragile process. Tehran’s approach, which treats Beirut as a lever in its dealings with Washington and Israel, reflects a long-standing pattern of proxy politics that has repeatedly undercut Lebanese sovereignty. Iran’s claim to represent Lebanese interests in negotiations with the US risks reducing Beirut to a bargaining chip in a broader geopolitical contest.

Negotiations about Lebanon without Lebanese representatives are diplomatically unsound and strategically flawed. They ignore the harsh realities facing Lebanon, such as a deepening displacement crisis, an economy in freefall, aggressive foreign forces on its soil and the state-within-a-state presence of Iran-backed Hezbollah. These are not abstract concerns about sovereignty but urgent, practical challenges that require accountable governance and locally grounded solutions. Stability imposed from outside has rarely proven sustainable in modern Lebanon.

If there is to be meaningful progress, it must come through Lebanon's government

This is not to suggest that international actors do not have a role to play. Countries such as France, along with other regional stakeholders, can contribute constructively to Lebanon’s search for stability. But support and substitution are not the same thing. External engagement must reinforce, not replace, Lebanese agency.

Critically, those who maintain armed proxies within Lebanon cannot credibly position themselves as neutral brokers of peace. Any framework that overlooks this reality risks perpetuating the dynamics it seeks to resolve.

If there is to be meaningful progress, it must come through Lebanon's government. The current talks, limited as they may be, should remind us that even in this fractured political landscape, Lebanese institutions retain a role that cannot be outsourced and should not be ignored. The challenge for the international community is not to speak for Lebanon, but to ensure it is heard.

I write in reference to the article Etihad Rail’s first passenger journeys in huge demand as tickets sell out fast (June 24): a heartfelt appreciation to the President of the UAE for the successful launching of Etihad Rail. This remarkable achievement reflects innovation, partnership and the continued growth and progress of the UAE. Congratulations on this great milestone, and thank you for your leadership and vision in supporting initiatives that bring global recognition and opportunities. – Alimamy Kamara, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Greater crowd awareness needed

I write in reference to the article One dead and eight injured in crush in Amman after Jordan’s World Cup loss to Algeria (June 23): this news item was very sad to read. Large crowds at sports events can sometimes become dangerous when people panic or rush without caution. It is important for spectators to remain calm, follow safety instructions and move carefully in crowded areas. This unfortunate incident is a reminder of the need for greater crowd awareness and responsible behaviour. My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased, and I wish a speedy recovery to all those who were injured. – K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India

The UAE is bouncing back

I write in reference to Sarmad Khan’s article UAE oil exports rebound to 85% of prewar levels despite Strait of Hormuz closure, IEA says (June 24): I’m glad I never left. The pipeline to Fujairah and the Mandous storage complex are ready when it mattered. The UAE always bounces back harder. – Ryan Fuller, Dubai

The US has conceded to Iran

I write in reference to David Vujanovic’s article Vance says Iran nuclear talks to start this week after ‘good progress’ in opening negotiations (June 22): negotiations are still ongoing, yet on day one a blanket licence was issued covering Iranian-origin crude oil, petrochemicals and petroleum products across production, sale, transport and unloading. This is not a win – it’s a concession. – Name withheld upon request

Trump’s biggest failure

I write in reference to the video of Donald Trump warning Iran to stop ‘proxies’ in Lebanon from ‘causing trouble’ (June 22): this deal is Trump’s biggest failure yet. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are playing him, and now they’re much stronger than before. The US’s Central Intelligence Agency knows Iran won’t abandon nuclear weapons. This is a complete humiliation and a dangerous gift to Iran’s clerics. Only regime change works. – Baharan B, Australia

Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Cultural District was already well advanced on its own path when the Canada-born American architect was announced as the designer of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2006.

Expected to open later this year, the venue will be located near an enviable cluster of cultural institutions that include the already operational Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi and Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi.

Gehry, who died in December 2025, aged 96, will leave a mark extending beyond the museum’s walls and into live performance through Dar Al Funoon Abu Dhabi, which translates to house of the arts, another of his Saadiyat Island cultural landmarks, which is due to open in 2030.

Developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, the complex will host opera, ballet, theatre, orchestral concerts, musicals, festivals and cultural events.

Viewed as one of Gehry's final works, it could provide a fitting sign-off from an architect who changed how cultural institutions could look and be experienced, from museums to concert halls, through the curved forms and gleaming metal exteriors that make his structures instantly recognisable.

Here are six of Gehry’s notable cultural buildings that could offer hints of what may emerge on Saadiyat Island.

1. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi

Expected to open later in the year, the modern art museum in Saadiyat Island is designed as a cluster of galleries, courtyards and distinctive cones already visible on the skyline.

More than a visual feature, the large cones will contain entrances and spaces for art installations, while shaded courtyards will sit between the waterfront and air-conditioned galleries.

2. Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles

The permanent home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the concert hall opened in 2003 and quickly became a cultural landmark in an area of the city undergoing redevelopment at the time.

Its curved stainless steel panels rise above the street like sails, reflecting the changing Los Angeles light across the building and the surfaces below.

The hall is slightly larger than the planned main venue at Dar Al Funoon Abu Dhabi, with 2,265 seats surrounding the musicians and the orchestra placed near the centre.

3. Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Chicago

The open-air amphitheatre opened in Chicago’s Millennium Park in 2004 with 4,000 fixed seats and space for thousands more on the lawn.

The curved stainless steel ribbons framing the stage are both a signature of Gehry’s work and a hallmark of the outdoor performance space. Speakers are placed on an overhead steel framework so listeners lounging at the back can also hear the eclectic programme, ranging from classical music to jazz.

With Dar Al Funoon also boasting an outdoor amphitheatre, it will be interesting to see how Gehry’s Abu Dhabi design develops ideas from this venue.

4. Richard B Fisher Centre for the Performing Arts, New York

Opened in 2003, the venue has two theatres serving productions of different sizes.

Its curved steel exterior is covered in thousands of stainless steel shingles that make the building glimmer from a distance.

The Fisher Centre became the home of the annual Bard Music Festival and SummerScape programme, bringing ambitious opera and performing arts productions to the college.

5. New World Centre, Miami Beach

Home to the New World Symphony, an academy that prepares young musicians for orchestral careers, the New World Centre brought Gehry on to the project through his personal connection with the orchestral academy's co-founder and artistic director, Michael Tilson Thomas.

They worked together on a building where musicians could rehearse, perform, record and test new concert formats.

The 756-seat main hall is adaptable for different programmes, with performances staged on platforms around the audience.

Some concerts are also projected on to a large wall facing SoundScape Park, allowing thousands of people to watch free “Wallcast performances” from the lawn.

6. Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin

The concert hall opened in 2017 inside the Barenboim-Said Akademie, an institution founded by conductor Daniel Barenboim in the spirit of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Barenboim established the orchestra with Palestinian academic Edward Said to bring together young Arab and Israeli musicians.

Gehry donated his design work to the project.

Seats surround the central performance area on two levels, with curved balconies bringing listeners close to the musicians below.

The hall presents chamber music, contemporary composition, jazz and programmes exploring musical traditions from the Arab world.

A total of 328 minors have been reported, the youngest aged only 14, since Sharjah Police launched a campaign to encourage families to seek support for loved ones struggling with addiction, Brig Majid Al Assam, director of the anti-narcotics prevention and control department at the force, said on Thursday.

The numbers represent a significant shift from previous years, when parents were reluctant to report their own children in drug-related cases, he added.

A major reason for the change of attitude is that families have been reassured that their children will receive help, rather than punishment, Brig Al Assam said.

“[Young addicts] are not punished by law, and help will be provided by offering a treatment plan in rehabilitation centres across the UAE,” he added.

“Until a couple of years ago, there were very few parents who reported their addicted children, but today more parents are calling us asking for help. It is important for parents to take the lead for the good of their children.”

Raising awareness

On Wednesday, a nationwide campaign titled “United as One to Eradicate the Threat” was launched to raise public awareness about the threat illegal drugs pose to children.

Under UAE law, people struggling with addiction can avoid criminal prosecution entirely if they or their family members seek help.

Brig Al Assam said some parents think they can treat their children themselves, but in reality, addiction often requires special care.

“It is better to report your addicted family member earlier, when they are in the first steps of addiction and treatment is easier than later,” he added.

“Parents should monitor specific signs showed by their children, like sudden behavioural changes, sleep habits, staying alone, where they go and a decline in academic marks. These signs can tell them if their teenager has started abusing narcotics.”

He urged parents to contact the police helpline at 800 4654.

Tackling crime

Brig Al Assam said Sharjah Police had blocked 3,160 websites and accounts promoting drugs between 2022 and the end of last year.

“We have our officers checking websites round the clock and using AI to identify websites selling drugs inside the country. We won’t stand still and will foil any attempt to ruin our youth and society,” he added.

Sharjah Police said they had recorded 3,632 drug cases in the past three years, and arrested 4,757 suspects. Officers seized 3.3 tonnes of drugs and more than 11.5 million illegal painkillers, with a total value of Dh392.8 million ($107 million).

The latest case was in April this year, when officers arrested a suspected drug dealer accused of selling vape cartridges filled with illegal substances. The suspect was caught in possession of 481 cartridges, and was allegedly planning to sell them in industrial areas of the emirate.

While large wall-mounted screens display maritime traffic and naval movements around the globe, particular attention is focused on the Strait of Hormuz, where two Italian vessels could soon be deployed to clear mines laid by Iran.

The Crotone and Rimini are currently stationed in Djibouti, about 6,000km from their home base in La Spezia and roughly 3,000km from the Strait of Hormuz, awaiting orders for what could become one of the Italian Navy's most significant operations in decades.

“We are confident in our ability to complete the mission,” said one commander inside the operations room, which is accessible only through multiple heavily fortified doors and coded entry systems. The National was granted exclusive access to the base to gain a deeper understanding of the Italian Navy's readiness and the mission details.

The operation carries significance far beyond the region, with the Strait of Hormuz being one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints. By effectively holding the narrow passage hostage, Iran unsettled economies stretching to Italy and beyond.

However, the mission holds major risks, from Iran reportedly losing track of some of the mines it had planted to the vast area that must be searched. The shipping corridor is about 167km long and 10km wide, with depths ranging from 60 to 100 metres and reaching 200 metres near some Iranian islands.

The minehunters, in service for more than 30 years, left La Spezia in mid-May and reached Djibouti via the Suez Canal. Italy has eight minehunters, all belonging to the 5th Naval Squadron, which comprises around 800 personnel.

Weather-dependent

The two vessels are currently part of the EU's Aspides mission, which monitors security in the Red Sea and could have its mandate extended to the Strait of Hormuz. Germany has also moved its minesweeper Fulda and support ship Mosel towards Djibouti.

Once the US-Iran truce has been consolidated, the international mission has been formally established, and parliamentary approval has been secured, the Italian vessels will sail for Hormuz. They are expected to be joined by the logistical support ship ITS Atlante and the multi-role air-defence escort ITS Raimondo Montecuccoli.

It would take the vessels between one and two weeks to reach the strait. One commander explained that even if the green light is given, sailors must first assess the conditions, as the monsoon season has begun in the area.

There is also the challenge of gathering sufficient intelligence about the security situation, first in the Red Sea – where Yemen's Houthi rebels remain a threat – and then near Iranian waters, to ensure the Italian vessels do not become targets.

“It is primarily an intelligence-driven and weather-dependent mission,” the Italian commander said during a briefing.

After arrival, it could take one to two weeks to locate the mines, followed by several months of work to neutralise them. By contrast, mines are relatively easy to deploy using small vessels, roughly the size of fishing boats, each capable of carrying two to four mines.

Delicate operation

Commanders at the Rome naval base said the Crotone and Rimini are minehunters rather than minesweepers.

Instead of blindly sweeping an area, they first locate and identify each mine individually using sonar, underwater cameras and other sensors. These systems are often deployed via remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles or towed sonar arrays. Once a mine is identified and confirmed, the vessel deploys the ROV or explosive charge to neutralise it.

“It's a very delicate operation,” said a commander.

Mines are equipped with pressure, magnetic or acoustic triggers. The most common are influence mines, which are often invisible to the naked eye and may rest on the seabed or remain anchored at depths of around 50 to 60 metres.

Admiral Cristiano Salvatore Traetta, head of the naval division responsible for the deployment, said the Italian vessels possess unique characteristics against the mines. “Our vessels are built from resin rather than steel, unlike most other naval units, making them effectively invisible to magnetic mines. They are also designed to minimise vibration and underwater noise,” he told local media.

Even the smallest magnetic signature generated by metallic components is cancelled through a degaussing system, which creates an opposing magnetic field. The ships also feature auxiliary propulsion systems, allowing them to maintain position against wind and currents while analysing potentially dangerous objects.

As they await further instructions, the crews, all trained to operate in mine fields, have continued exercises in the Red Sea, while naval personnel near Rome continue monitoring maritime activity across the globe.

“Everything we do is to protect Italy's interests,” one commander said.

One of his first moves was to arrest the deputy oil minister for alleged embezzlement, and to seize millions of dollars in cash as part of the investigation.

Iraq’s political institutions have been plagued by allegations of bribery and kickbacks, with oil sector contracts often the targets of corruption investigations. The country has reportedly lost billions of dollars to embezzlement since the American invasion of 2003.

The new government has responded to increasing US pressure to tackle corruption. The other demand is to disarm militant groups. Mr Al Zaidi has prioritised both, but will also have to balance his relationship with Iran, Iraq’s other key ally.

In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher discusses the significance of Mr Al Zaidi's actions and the challenges he faces. We hear from Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House, and Sinan Mahmoud, The National’s Iraq correspondent.

The consortium began with only a handful of countries several months ago, but membership has grown to include Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, the EU, Finland, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, the Philippines, the UAE, the US and the UK.

Jacob Helberg, US undersecretary of state for economic affairs, described it as a shared commitment on AI for the years ahead.

"The declaration reflects a simple but important idea that governments should not approach AI primarily through the lens of restriction. We should approach it through the lens of opportunity," he said.

The endeavour has been described by some as a way to blunt China’s potential dominance of the technology supply chain amid the race for AI dominance.

Although large language models often receive the most attention from users when it comes to AI, the sector has been made possible by increasingly powerful semiconductors, critical minerals and high levels of energy.

The importance of all of those elements have increased focus on global suppliers in recent years.

In tandem with that focus, Mr Trump has sought to distance himself from his predecessor, Joe Biden, by taking a less regulatory approach and placing more trust in the private sector.

"Innovation, entrepreneurship, investment and technological leadership remain the surest path to broad-based prosperity," Mr Helberg said at the Pax Silica event.

Pax Pass

He said the consortium would soon be starting a new project for "Pax partners that ship high-value AI supply chain products through Panama", called Pax Pass.

Mr Helberg described it as a platform that will "transform how trusted partners move critical goods that power the AI economy" by using pre-approved expedited processing, cargo verification and AI risk assessment to "reduce friction" in shipping tech goods.

The Iran war resulted in ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz coming to a halt for several weeks, putting supply chains all over the world at risk.

In March, when announcing another Pax Silica endeavour, the Pax Silica Investor Consortium, Mr Helberg addressed the issues in the Strait of Hormuz and said that it had provided a learning moment for AI.

“It's about what happens when the physical infrastructure of civilisation, the chokepoints, corridors, cables and ports, become the battlefield,” he said.

More specifically, he highlighted that the US was working closely with the UAE for what has been called the AI Acceleration Partnership.

“In light of current events, the work of that group is even more meaningful,” Mr Helberg said in response to a question from The National. “We are going to reaffirm how much we value our bilateral relationship with the UAE and the courage that they've demonstrated throughout this incredibly trying time.”

The UAE was present at Thursday's event with Mr Helberg as well, represented by Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State.

The US first announced Pax Silica in 2025 with officials describing it as a way to unite nations that are home to the world’s most advanced technology companies, and help to “unleash the economic potential of the new AI age”.

These include ensuring “reliable” supply chains for economic security, developing trustworthy systems and driving economic value.

According to the US State Department, Pax Silica also seeks to harness the “historic” opportunity and demand for energy, critical minerals, manufacturing, technological hardware, infrastructure and markets not yet invented.

Anthropic woes

Despite its avowed commitment to deregulation, the White House under US President Donald Trump has not hesitated to take a regulatory approach to AI company Anthropic.

The company refused to bow to pressure to remove protection on its technology. In response, Mr Trump called the AI firm, which is led by chief executive Dario Amodei, a “radical left” and “woke” company, and ordered its use to be banned by federal agencies.

This month, the Department of Commerce forced Anthropic to disable access to its latest AI models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, for "any foreign national, whether inside the US or outside".

Anthropic, which had claimed that those models were finely tuned to reduce the risk of misuse that the company had warned about for several months, said the Commerce Department had spoken of a risk that the models could be compromised and fall into the wrong hands.

On the Anthropic restrictions, a State Department representative said that "ensuring American technology dominance and protecting critical technologies are not mutually exclusive", adding that the Pax Silica coalition is "built exactly on that understanding".

Mr Helberg did not respond to The National's inquiries about Anthropic during Thursday's Pax Silica event, although he touched on the potential dangers of AI briefly.

"We view danger in a practical way, through the prism of threats to our critical infrastructure and cyber security," he said.

Those worries led the US to have a "very careful, deliberate approach to managing the release of our most advanced models to make sure that we didn't have friends and partners around the world get attacked or compromised in unintended ways".

"We will not be making any decisions or commitments that in any way undermine the prosperity, stability or security of our Gulf partners," Mr Rubio told reporters after a meeting with Gulf foreign ministers in Bahrain.

"So every step of the way, we'll create a system where we are always in communication with them and they're not reading about it in the media.

"They really should be hearing directly from us and engaged as much as possible in this process as we move forward. And that was something that we talked about today."

The meeting in Bahrain was the culmination of Mr Rubio's three-day trip to the region to reassure allies, days after the US and Iran held their first round of talks under a 14-point framework they signed last week.

The Gulf foreign ministers welcomed the signing of the preliminary agreement in a joint statement issued after the meeting, but also stressed the need to "maintain the momentum and unity of the negotiations in order to achieve a lasting end to hostilities and the shared objective of preventing Iran from developing or acquiring a nuclear weapon in any form".

Ensuring a lasting peace in the region "requires addressing all forms of Iranian threats, including its ballistic missiles, drones and support for proxies in the region", they said.

Curtailing Iran's missile programme and its use of armed proxies to exert influence in the region was among the objectives listed by US President Donald Trump when the US and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28. However, they were not mentioned in the agreement signed by Washington and Tehran last week.

The ministers also stressed the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, saying unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation was essential for regional and global security, while rejecting "the imposition of any fees, taxes or attempts to exert control over the strait".

Marine traffic through the strait, effectively blockaded by Iranian attacks on shipping after the war began, has increased since last week but uncertainty remains over its operation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy on Thursday appeared to reject Oman's opening of a navigation channel for the evacuation of more than 11,000 seafarers stranded by the blockade.

The IRGC navy said vessels could safely transit the Strait of Hormuz only through routes it has announced, according to a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.

A vessel off the coast of Oman was struck by a projectile on Thursday evening, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said. No casualties were reported.

The ship ​hit ‌was the Singapore-flagged container Ever Lovely, Reuters reported, quoting the British maritime risk management ⁠group Vanguard and security sources.

The incident was deemed to be an attack ⁠based on initial assessments, British maritime security company Ambrey said.

The UN's International Maritime Organisation said the evacuation effort, which it announced on Wednesday, had been suspended after the attack.

Since the start of Mr Rubio's tour in the UAE on Tuesday, he has repeatedly voiced US opposition to any tolls or charges being imposed in the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. In Bahrain, he also addressed Iran's repeated warnings to ships to follow its directives to ensure safe passage.

"They’re going to have people going on their TV, on their official media and making all kinds of pronouncements. But what we're interested in is not their press conferences. What we're interested in is whether or not ships are moving," he said.

"If ships are moving as they should be moving, then that's what we're going to judge and that's what we're going to react to. If, on the other hand, this rhetoric is backed up by actual ships being threatened and ships are not moving, that's a violation of the agreement. And we're going to have a problem with it."

“We will not be making any decisions or commitments that in any way undermine the prosperity, stability or security of our Gulf partners,” Mr Rubio said after meeting Gulf officials and foreign ministers in Bahrain on Thursday.

“At every step of the way, we’ll create a system where we are always in communication with them and they are not reading about it in the media. They really should be hearing directly from us and engaged as much as possible in this process as we move forwards.”

The meeting came at the end of Mr Rubio’s three-day tour of the region, which began days after the first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland under a 14-point framework agreement.

The Gulf ministers welcomed the signing of the framework agreement, but stressed the need to “maintain the momentum and unity of the negotiations in order to achieve a lasting end to hostilities and the shared objective of preventing Iran from developing or acquiring a nuclear weapon”.

Ensuring a lasting peace in the region “requires addressing all forms of Iranian threats, including its ballistic missiles, drones and support for proxies in the region”, they added.

The ministers also emphasised the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and said unrestricted freedom of navigation was essential for regional and global security. They voiced strong opposition to “any fees, taxes or attempts to exert control over the strait”.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Thursday rejected Oman’s move to open a corridor to evacuate more than 11,000 sailors trapped in the Arabian Gulf. It said ships could safely cross the strait only through IRGC-approved routes.

A ship was struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman on Thursday evening, the UK Maritime Trade Organisation said. No casualties were reported.

The station is in Mohamed bin Zayed City, about 30km from Abu Dhabi city centre. Passengers can expect a seamless experience from the moment they set foot inside.

From the outside, the station looks futuristic, with a white-panelled facade. On entering the atrium, one of the first things passengers will see is Emirates Sands, a stylised 3D map of the planned rail network made up of sand from each of the seven emirates.

The station's design makes perfect use of natural light, while guiding lines on the floor ensure first-time visitors know where to find their platforms.

The atrium hosts restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as a dedicated lounge for holders of premium class tickets. WH Smith, Chicking, Shot and Starbucks are among the retailers confirmed to be opening branches inside the station.

Rail tickets can be purchased from conveniently placed machines, as can Hafilat bus passes, with the station having been integrated into Abu Dhabi's bus network. Etihad Rail has also set up a shuttle service to ferry passengers to and from Reem Mall, Adnoc headquarters and Adnec, with tickets available for Dh10.

The station's two platforms are connected by an underpass. Ample parking spaces are available, and cyclists can make use of dedicated bike lanes to travel between the station and the nearby Shabiya district.

Soaring demand

Adhraa Almansoori, executive director at Etihad Rail Mobility, said demand for tickets had been even higher than anticipated, with more than 5,000 bookings recorded within two days.

Tickets can be booked on Etihad Rail's website and app, which has become the UAE's most-downloaded free app since it was launched.

“I want people to make the train a part of their daily life,” Ms Almansoori said. “Passenger rail represents the moment when the railway stops being something people see in the distance and becomes something they experience for themselves through everyday journeys, family visits and new opportunities.”

The Mohamed bin Zayed City station, as well as the one in Al Hilal City in Fujairah, begin operations on Tuesday. They will be followed on September 30 by stations at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai and Al Dhaid in Sharjah.

Five stations in Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi – in Al Sila, Al Dhannah, Mirfa, Madinat Zayed and Liwa – will open on December 30, and Sharjah's University City station will begin operations on March 30 next year.

Ready for launch

Abu Dhabi-Fujairah was chosen as the initial route for its operational and engineering complexity. Etihad Rail's trains carry passengers from the sands around the capital through the mountains of the Northern Emirates using a series of bridges and tunnels.

Etihad Rail emphasised that those who want a quick, safe and convenient way to travel should not hesitate to board the train.

“The biggest value a train can give you is to give you back your time,” Ms Almansoori said.

In terms of future network expansion, she said Etihad Rail would monitor passenger demand before determining where new routes are most needed.

Etihad Rail anticipates that the passenger rail network will generate economic and social benefits worth about Dh91 billion ($24.7 billion) over the next 50 years, out of the Dh200 billion it forecasts will be created by the UAE railway system as a whole.

“The possibilities are endless – this is just a start,” Ms Almansoori said. “We are ready. I think it is going to be a celebration.”

In the UAE, the latest MacBook Air with the M5 chip now starts at Dh5,499, up from Dh4,599.

The M5 MacBook Pro, which at launch had a starting price of Dh6,899, is now at Dh8,499.

The recently launched MacBook Neo now starts at Dh2,999, up from the launch offering of Dh2,599.

Apple's M4 iPad Air, which was introduced at Dh2,499, is now going for Dh2,999, while the starting price of the M5 iPad Pro has been increased from Dh4,199 to Dh4,999.

Apple indicated to The National on Thursday that it was left with no choice, saying it "reached a point where we need to begin raising prices on a number of products".

It added that the consumer electronics industry "is facing an unprecedented challenge", pointing to the spectacular rise of artificial intelligence, its infrastructure demands and the seemingly endless applications the technology is being used for.

“The rapid expansion of AI data centres has created an extraordinary surge in demand for memory and storage. We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly,” Apple said.

"We know this is not welcome news, and we are working tirelessly to find solutions.”

Apple has, for the most part, been able to maintain the prices of its products in recent years, despite adding new features.

The rise of AI applications, however, has created unprecedented demand for chips, causing shortages and raising their costs.

The development and building of data centres, which house these AI-intensive operations, also adds to the pressure.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook, who is stepping down on September 1, earlier this month hinted at the California-based company's plans to raise prices, the Wall Street Journal reported.

At the time, he did not disclose which products would be affected and when the price increases would be implemented.

“There's less ​supply at a time when consumers want devices and the ​memory guys ‌are passing along huge price increases,” Mr Cook said.

“We definitely need memory pricing and ⁠supply to return to reasonable levels for consumer products. That's the ⁠bottom line.”

Shares of Apple retreated by as much as 5 per cent after the announcement.

The company is expected to unveil its new iPhones in September, with the industry anticipating the company's first foldable flagship device.

In a 6-3 ruling, the conservative-leaning court overturned decisions by federal judges in New York and Washington that had halted the termination of TPS for more than 6,100 people from Syria and 350,000 people from Haiti.

TPS provides protection from deportation, as well as the ability to work in the US, to citizens of countries facing conflict or other crises. It is possible for a person to have more than one status that could allow them to stay in the US.

The Trump administration has pushed to end the designation for several countries, including Afghanistan and Yemen. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito, who ‌wrote the ruling, said that courts cannot review the administration's decisions concerning TPS, a decision that could doom legal challenges going forward.

The US first provided TPS to Syrians when the country was plunged into civil war in 2011. The Trump administration announced its intent to end the programme in September last year, with the Department of Homeland Security saying “conditions in Syria no longer prevent their nationals from returning home ... it is contrary to our national interest to allow Syrians to remain in our country".

Groups of Syrian and Haitian TPS holders filed class-action lawsuits separately to challenge the administration's moves. They said the actions and the pattern of ending humanitarian designations for various countries show that the decisions were a preordained effort to eliminate the TPS programme.

Mr Trump has sought to end temporary legal status for hundreds of thousands of migrants in the US, including some who have lived and worked in the country legally for decades.

The dispute has carried potentially wide implications, affecting 1.3 million immigrants from all 17 countries currently designated for TPS. The ​Trump administration has said such protections were always meant to be temporary.

Critics of the Trump administration slammed the decision.

“It’s horrific and lawless," said Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. “The Supreme Court is letting the president ignore the laws set by Congress and terminate protections for up to 1.3 million TPS workers and their families across the country.”

Krikor Der-Hagopian, 49, was an adviser on international relations to former prime minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani and has close ties with current Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi.

He will replace veteran diplomat Nizar Al Khairallah, who served as deputy foreign minister before being posted to Washington. Baghdad has submitted Mr Der-Hagopian's papers to Washington and “we are awaiting the response from the American side”, an Iraqi official told The National.

Mr Der-Hagopian served as head of the Directorate of International Relations under Mr Al Sudani’s government from 2022 to 2026. He has built relationships with the majority of Iraq’s political actors and has extensive knowledge of the country's diverse groups.

He is a “competent and able person, and the new prime minister has no prejudices and has Iraq’s interest in mind”, the Iraqi official said.

It is not clear when the new ambassador will assume his post. “It is in the hands of the American side now as to how soon they give him the go-ahead,” the official said.

Iraq is facing mounting pressure from the US to strengthen ties with Washington while distancing itself from Iran and acting against Tehran-aligned Iraqi armed factions.

Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at London's Chatham House, told The National that Mr Der-Hagopian is seen as a key interlocutor between Baghdad and Washington.

Iraq-US relations are at a particularly fragile moment, with recent sanctions and threats contributing to what officials fear could be one of its lowest points. Mr Al Zaidi's choice of ambassador could be seen as a way to “please the US”, Mr Mansour said.

Mr Der-Hagopian has held senior roles in Iraq’s presidency and prime minister’s office and worked on US relations during Mr Al Sudani's administration, providing continuity as the new Prime Minister navigates complex external pressures, he said.

The Armenian community is one of the smallest in Iraq. Armenians began arriving from Iran several centuries ago and settled between Baghdad and Mosul.

There are no reliable statistics, but about 25,000 Armenians were believed to be living in Iraq before the US-led invasion of 2003. Since then, many have sought safety in Europe, with some returning to Armenia.

Iraq's Armenian community tends to keep a low profile. Culturally, they consider themselves part of Iraq but maintain ties with Armenia.

“With the withdrawal of the final US troops from Iraq on September 30, the relationship with the US will transition from military to economic,” Mr Al Zaidi said. Under a 2024 deal between Baghdad and Washington, coalition forces exited federal Iraq by September last year, relocating to the Kurdistan region, and are supposed to fully withdraw from the country by September this year.

However, the role of US troops is expected to continue in an advisory capacity, especially to help fight against ISIS in neighbouring Syria. Most US troops from Syria relocated to Erbil earlier this year.

Iran-aligned militia groups inside Iraq have also tied their own disarmament process to the September withdrawal date. Rather than a permanent exit, the transition is expected to lead to bilateral security partnerships between Washington and Baghdad.

“In the future, US companies will receive top priority if they want to do business in Iraq," the official said, while the country's ministries of oil, electricity and communications have all been directed to prioritise reputable US companies, focusing heavily on energy, telecoms, technology and development.

“The Ministerial Council for the Economy has approved major oil projects with international companies, including Chevron, Halliburton and HKN,” he told The National. Iraq’s telecoms sector is in talks with Starlink.

Speaking from his office in Baghdad, Mr Al Zaidi detailed plans for a joint energy and development fund with the US, financed through the equivalent of 500,000 barrels per day, with funds to be deployed across a range of investments, including electricity and infrastructure projects. He also said that 500,000 bpd would go towards helping to refill the US strategic petroleum reserve.

“We will discuss with the US side the energy and development project, beginning with 500,000 barrels per day and potentially expanding to two million barrels per day,” Mr Al Zaidi explained, with the numbers dependent on "economic and production conditions, and possibly going beyond the Opec quota" limitations.

“We are working to secure a fair production quota for Iraq that reflects the country’s capabilities,” Mr Al Zaidi stated. “Over the next three years, we aim to increase Iraq’s oil production to seven million barrels per day and we have communicated this vision to American companies."

While he denied Iraq has any plans to leave Opec, he raised the possibility of suspending Iraq’s membership if the country is blocked from increasing capacity. “Our pursuit of a strong economic partnership with the US is driven exclusively by Iraq’s national interests and is not directed against any other country,” Mr Al Zaidi said. “We are preparing an international sovereignty conference reaffirming that Iraq’s decisions belong solely to Iraqis and promoting an Iraq free of foreign forces and armed groups operating outside state authority.”

Iraq's Oil Ministry also said on Thursday that the country does not intend to leave Opec, but it will consider doing so if demands for a higher production quota are not met. Iraq, which relies on oil for the bulk of its income, has a quota of 4.3 million bpd for July. It pumped 1.48 million bpd in May, according to Opec data, down from almost 4.2 million bpd in February before Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz.

The new government has already begun the process of disarming militias inside Iraq, with the Prime Minister emphasising that the deadline for doing so will coincide with the planned departure of American forces in September.

Armed groups in Iraq grew out of a spirit of resistance, Mr Al Zaidi said. But after September 30, the country will enter a new phase. “Once US troops withdraw, there will be no justification for any resistance or armed factions."

While investigations have found "no evidence" that recent attacks against Saudi Arabia during the Iran war originated from Iraq, Mr Al Zaidi also told The National that he plans to hold state security forces responsible for any attacks launched from Iraqi soil going forward.

The divide between factions backing integration and those aligned with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the main sticking point, given Baghdad's limited influence over them.

In recent weeks, two powerful militias announced their willingness to integrate into the state. One group, Saraya Al Salam, is led by Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr. The other, Asaib Ahl Al Haq, is led by Qais Al Khazali, a long-time Tehran supporter. He has shifted his focus to domestic politics with an eye on a cabinet position.

Meanwhile, the government has begun confronting corruption. Mr Al Zaidi described it as a "systemic phenomenon" that he plans to suffocate.

On Tuesday, Iraq’s Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court announced the arrest of a former official and said a detained senior oil official confessed in a graft case. Total funds recovered in the case now exceed 98 billion dinars ($74 million) and $11 million, the court said.

Iraq ranks 136th out of 181 on Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, with oil sector contracts a frequent target of graft investigations. Corruption has been rife under successive governments elected after the US-led invasion of 2003, which toppled Saddam Hussein. Billions of dollars given to the government for reconstruction were misused by authorities.

The widespread corruption has crippled the country’s efforts to overcome the effects of war and UN-imposed economic sanctions. In 2021, Iraq's president at the time, Barham Salih, estimated that the country had lost $150 billion to embezzlement since 2003.

“I’ve begun measures in every ministry and directorate to choke off any avenue for it,” Mr Al Zaidi said, adding that future government contracts would be posted online in an open and transparent way.

GDP was upwardly revised to a 2.1 per cent annualised rate last quarter, ⁠the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis said. Growth was previously reported to have advanced at a 1.6 per cent pace, according to Reuters.

The personal consumption expenditures price index rose 4.1 per cent from a year earlier, the most since April 2023, Bureau of Economic Analysis data showed. Excluding food and energy, prices were up 3.4 per cent from a year earlier.

Inflation-adjusted consumer spending rose 0.3 per cent last month after stalling in April.

A closely watched metric of services inflation that excludes energy and housing advanced 0.5 per cent, the most since January. Financial services prices rose by the most in almost a year, while transportation services and health care also posted strong increases.

When measured from the income side, the economy grew at a 1.2 per cent rate in the January-March quarter. Gross domestic income was previously estimated to have increased at a 0.9 per cent rate. It grew at a 1.6 per cent pace in the fourth quarter.

The numbers are likely to keep pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year. Despite the recent peace negotiations between the US and Iran that have sent oil prices tumbling, economists expect the costs of an array of products to continue rising as the initial energy shock works its way through supply chains.

Looking ahead, the recent pullback in petrol prices could offer consumers some reprieve, though prices at the pump are still almost $1 a gallon higher on average than before the war started.

Higher-than-usual tax refunds have helped bolster consumers in recent months, while a reaccelerating labour market and rising stock prices are also supporting spending. Even so, workers across sectors have seen pay gains fail to keep up with inflation, which has many saving less or turning to credit cards to maintain consumption habits.

There was good news on that front in Thursday’s figures: personal income, a metric which is not adjusted for inflation, rose 0.7 per cent, while wages and salaries advanced 0.4 per cent.

Beyond the war’s direct impact on energy prices, categories in both goods and services saw firm price increases in the May report.

Overall economic activity is mostly being driven by artificial intelligence-related spending, with business investment in equipment increasing at a 15.8 per cent rate. Prices of computer software and accessories rose a record 14.5 per cent from a year earlier, in part reflecting strong demand from the data centre buildout.

-With agencies

Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Al Shibani discussed regional developments in the Middle East and reviewed co-operation in sectors including development and the economy, state news agency Wam reported.

They also looked at ways to boost the prosperity and well-being of their countries' citizens.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, adviser to the President.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, also received Mr Al Shibani on Thursday. During the meeting they discussed developments in Syria and Lebanon.

The evacuation plan announced by Oman yesterday proposes two new corridors for crossing the channel: a northern route along the Iranian coast, and the southern route flanking Oman.

About 11,000 seafarers who remain stranded in the Gulf are expected to use these routes to return home.

This temporarily replaces the internationally recognised corridor through the strait, established as a traffic separation scheme in 1968, which is now deemed too dangerous to cross due to the risk of sea mines.

The TSS was chosen as the safest route for large ships because of its depth, and sailors will expect to go back to it, according to Capt Andrew Cook, secretary general of the International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations.

“The co-ordinates of the TSS are not political co-ordinates, they are there for safety of navigation. The TSS was put in place where the water is deep enough for the bigger ships to get through,” he said.

Earlier US reports have suggested it could take six months to clear the strait of reported mines, and that this can only be done once the threat of war is cleared.

Risk of attack

Ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz under the new evacuation framework still face a “residual risk” of Iranian attack, as it seeks to impose a toll system on the strip.

Insiders believe that shipping companies whose governments are friendly to Iran will be able to cross that northern route – but that the majority will proceed along the coast of Oman.

But Iran’s aim to have ships pay to cross the strait means it still has incentives to block the alternatives.

“There is a residual risk that because Iran wants you to pay them to use their route, Iran could attack shipping using this southern route,” said Capt Chris O’Flaherty, a naval mines expert from the Nautical Institute.

“If you’ve co-ordinated to go through the Iranian route, then you’ve co-ordinated with Iran. There is a very high probability Iran is going to leave you alone,” he told The National.

Whether or not decides to prevent ships from crossing the southern route will be a "huge test of international politics and diplomacy".

“That is why the navigation area [notice to seafarers] makes it crystal clear that it's up to every ship and every master to do their own risk assessment before they transit,” he said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ navy - which is seperate from Iran's conventional navy - has already begun pushing back against the southern corridor, warning on Thursday that ships would need to continue co-ordinating with the force to pass through the waterway. “Safe passage is only possible via routes announced by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement carried by the Tasnim state news agency said.

A representative of the IMO said the “evacuation is being implemented as planned” and that the guidance on its website has not changed, in response to the IRGC statement.

Two ships operated by the shipping giant Maersk sailed through the strait overnight on Wednesday, the company said. The Maersk Baltimore and a vessel time-chartered to Maersk exited the Arabian Gulf in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The transits were completed in “close co-ordination with our security partners and followed thorough security assessments”, with no issues reported, Maersk said.

Fundamental changes

There are concerns that the corridor in and out of the strait has been fundamentally changed by the conflict - with Iran emboldened by the knowledge that it can blockade the corridor again in the future.

While the Omani-issued notice to ships states that no tolls will be imposed for the duration of the evacuation, Iran is expected to proceed with its plans to charge ships for crossing the strait once that phase is complete.bThe routes outlined by Oman are likely to be based on the emergency corridors that emerged in April in response to the crisis.

To reduce the risk of mines, the Omani route was likely to follow a road paved by the US navy’s silent convoys, that has escorted dozens of ships out of the strait since April. “Every ship is a mine sweeper once. Every single time a ship safely transits along that track, then realistically you are proving that there are no mines there,” Capt O’Flaherty said.

“The Omanis will most definitely have coordinated with those partners, if the US have had multiple ships going along a set track."

The route flanking Oman could turn it to a “single track country lane”, requiring ships to request slot transits that resemble those in the Suez Canal.

“There will be a single-track country lane and the Omanis have said we're quite happy to coordinate traffic along it. Very soon I think you'll probably shift to a model where you ask I have a slot transit?” he said.

“I've been through the Suez Canal quite a few times, and as soon as you know when you want to transit, you then contact the Egyptian Suez Canal Authority, and you literally book your slot. The more notice you give them, the higher your probability of getting your day of choice."

The conference aims to attract investment in the country's economy and businesses. For the first time, several billion euros are expected to be raised for Ukraine's security and defence sectors. European leaders and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte are expected to attend.

Ukraine ⁠expects to ⁠sign more than ​160 agreements ⁠worth more than €10 billion euros ($11.3 billion), Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. She added that ​the ‌first €⁠3.2 ​billion ​tranche from ‌the EU's €90 billion loan ⁠would be announced today.

In a speech, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Ukraine's outlook had improved from last year's conference. “One year ago … the situation for Ukraine was dark,” Ms von der Leyen said.

“Today, the outlook is different. Ukraine has made progress on the battlefield, we have strengthened Ukraine’s economic foundations, we have advanced its European path and we have created new opportunities for investment and growth.”

The EU will also be transferring a €6 billion support package for drone production in the coming days. European states stepped up their aid to Ukraine last year as the US halted its own support under President Donald Trump.

But Mr Zelenskyy's absence shifted the focus away from helping Polish businesses to win contracts in Ukraine to smoothing over bilateral relations.

Ms Svyrydenko stood in for Mr Zelenskyy in an effort to avert tensions in Poland after the Ukrainian President named a Ukrainian military unit after a nationalist unit that is said to have massacred Poles during the Second World War.

Ms Svyrydenko laid out her intentions before the conference. “Our delegation has a clear mission: to secure concrete agreements that ​will strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities and resilience while expanding economic co-operation with our partners,” she said.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki last week stripped Mr Zelenskyy of the order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state honour. This was described as a “strategic error” by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Poland represents Ukraine's biggest ally in the EU as well as a being in a strategic position for humanitarian and military support.

Speaking before the conference, Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Bildt compared Ukraine's economic potential to Poland's. “If you look at the long-term potential of Ukraine, it is clearly to be another Poland in terms of the economic development. In certain areas, Ukraine has even better potential than Poland had,” he said.

Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute released its quarterly Global AI Diffusion Report – the first of this year – tracking how widely generative AI has penetrated societies and economies worldwide. The UAE ranked first globally, with 70.1 per cent of its working-age population actively using generative AI – up from 64 per cent just a quarter earlier, which was also the first globally, and from 59.4 per cent a year ago.

Not only did the UAE top the table, the 6.1 percentage-point quarterly gain was among the largest of any leading nation. For context, second-placed Singapore sits at 63.4 per cent, Norway, Ireland and France – third, fourth and fifth – cluster about 48 per cent, while the US, widely assumed to be an AI superpower, languishes at 31.3 per cent and in 21st place, having crept up only three spots in a quarter. The global average is 17.8 per cent.

Reaching the top of a league table is one thing. Widening the gap once you are there is another. This did not happen by accident, nor by infrastructure alone.

Everyone knows that the UAE was ahead of the curve and appointed the world’s first Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence in 2017 – before most governments had started grappling with the question of how AI could affect all aspects of life. Soon after that, a comprehensive national strategy followed, and we started seeing eye-watering investments in digital infrastructure, cloud capacity, data ecosystems and research institutions sustained over nearly a decade. The difference between the UAE and most of its peers is not resources – it is sequencing, speed and a clear vision of the future.

In the new age of competitive advantage of nations, the UAE is now in prime position as history offers a useful lesson. Technological revolutions rarely reward those who invent a technology first. They reward those who diffuse it fastest. Britain invented the railway; America built a continent with it. Europe shaped the internet’s architecture; Silicon Valley colonised its economics. The country that leads in AI adoption – not merely AI research – will compound advantages across productivity, health care, education, government efficiency and economic growth. The UAE has grasped this with unusual clarity.

Elsewhere, the report reveals a story with two distinct subplots.

The first is Asia’s emergence as a new growth engine. Twelve of the 15 fastest-growing economies since last June are Asian. South Korea leads the surge with a 43 per cent increase in AI users over that period, now at 37.1 per cent adoption – a jump that lifted it from 18th to 16th in the global rankings. Thailand is up 36 per cent, Japan 34 per cent.

The driver is not demographics or wealth alone, but something more specific: rapidly improving multilingual AI capability. As models close the gap between English and local-language performance – Japanese professional exam accuracy has risen from about 51 per cent on early GPT models to more than 90 per cent on recent systems – adoption follows almost mechanically. Language was the lock; better models are the key.

The second subplot is less encouraging. The gap between the Global North and Global South is not merely persisting – it is accelerating. In the first quarter of this year, the Global North reached 27.5 per cent AI adoption; the Global South, 15.4 per cent. A year ago, the gap was 9.8 percentage points. It is now 12.1.

The culprits are familiar: unreliable electricity, limited internet penetration, weak digital skills. The Global South has 88.9 per cent electricity access compared to 98.1 per cent in the North; internet access stands at 65.7 per cent versus 90.1 per cent. Until those foundations are addressed, AI’s gains will remain as unevenly distributed as the infrastructure that carries them.

The report also illuminates something happening at the productive frontier of the AI economy: a step-change in how software gets built. Git pushes – the measure of code uploaded to GitHub – rose 78 per cent year over year globally in the first quarter of this year, reaching 380 million. New repositories grew 45 per cent. More striking still, GitHub pull requests associated with AI coding agents grew 28-fold in just 10 months.

The alarm about AI destroying software jobs has, for now, proved premature: American software developer employment hit a record 2.2 million last year, up 8.5 per cent year on year, with early data from this year showing a further 4 per cent gain. When AI cuts the cost of building software, it appears organisations respond by building vastly more of it, and hiring more people to do that.

There is a caveat worth noting. Diffusion statistics measure usage, not sophistication. A population using generative AI to draft emails and summarise documents is meaningfully different from one producing AI-enabled medical breakthroughs or sovereign foundation models. The UAE remains a buyer and deployer of frontier technology. Turning adoption into indigenous innovation – closing the implementation-invention gap – is the critical challenge ahead.

Most economic value over the next decade will accrue not from building models but from deploying them at scale across industries and governments. On that measure, Abu Dhabi is lapping the field.

For policymakers elsewhere, the data should prompt discomfort rather than dismissal. Countries that continue to debate AI while others embed it are not being prudent, they are falling behind – and the gap, as this report makes plain, will get harder to close.

Major debuts include Michael Rider's first menswear collection for Celine and Sarah Burton's inaugural menswear outing for Givenchy.

There have also been notable departures from the traditional runway format. Zegna unveiled its collection weeks ahead of schedule on a pier in Malibu, while Gucci presented its latest menswear looks as part of its co-ed Cruise show in New York's Times Square in May.

Kenzo went further still, abandoning the runway entirely in favour of La Fete de Kenzo, a week-long programme running until June 28 across Paris, in venues including a flower shop, showroom, pop-up, market and coffee shop.

Still, there are plenty of design cues to be taken from the runway shows. Here are the highlights.

Dior

Blending 18th-century aristocratic bohemia with the hedonism of Studio 54, creative director Jonathan Anderson created something exquisitely elegant yet artfully dishevelled.

Loose shirts with oversized cuffs, sweeping tailored coats, shredded knitwear, flamboyant brooches and metallic trousers combined to evoke a vision of elegantly wasted glamour for the modern age.

Louis Vuitton

On one of Paris' hottest day on record, Louis Vuitton menswear creative director Pharrell Williams transformed the campus of the Cite Internationale Universitaire into a sand-covered beach, complete with a towering curved wave from behind which models emerged in surf-inspired looks.

Monogrammed wetsuits, Hawaiian-print shirts and LV-branded surfboards signalled a wardrobe that can carry the Vuitton man effortlessly from office to beach.

Saint Laurent

With a front row that included Rami Malek, Austin Butler and Queen of Pop Madonna, this was never going to be an ordinary show.

Walking along a smoke-filled runway punctuated by artist Fujiko Nakaya's Cloud #07156 installation, models wore slim-cut suits, second-skin V-neck knits and neon, broad-shouldered tops that felt both rakish and sensual. The standout piece? Elongated, transparent shoes.

Thom Browne

For his Milan Fashion Week debut, New York designer Thom Browne turned to an unlikely source of inspiration: the 1998 Disney film A Bugs Life.

The brand's signature tailoring came scattered with insects crawling across torsos and legs, while dotted patterns resembled an army of ants. As his models walked in veiled beekeeper hats, Browne donned an insect mask for his own bow.

Prada

With newly appointed brand ambassador Saint Levant seated front row, Prada's spring/summer 2027 menswear show was, in the words of Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, “an exercise in clarity”.

Stripped of anything superfluous, it centred on a pared-back, almost shrunken silhouette that refined menswear essentials such as the T-shirt, jacket and jeans. Lifted by flashes of vivid colour, the result was disciplined, confident and quietly compelling.

Dolce & Gabbana

Showing in Milan, Dolce & Gabbana looked to the homeland of Domenico Dolce for a collection titled Vacanze Siciliane (Sicilian Holidays), celebrating the island's history and traditions.

Silk swimwear, lightweight cotton and crochet knitwear set an effortless tone, while woven suede and deconstructed tailoring elevated a relaxed new elegance. Prints and embellishments nodded to Sicily's layered past – from the Ancient Greeks and Romans to the Byzantines, Arabs, French and Spaniards – through citrus motifs, cutwork, coral details and glossy charms. The collection closed with a series of all-white looks, a tribute to la dolce vita.

The UAE Medical Centre, opened as part of the Emirates' Operation Gallant Knight 3 aid campaign, is designed to strengthen the capacity of Gaza's healthcare system, providing both primary and therapeutic care to patients amid the severe challenges facing the sector, state news agency Wam reported.

A number of clinics and medical specialities will be available, helping to meet patients' needs, added Wam.

The centre's opening reflects the broader humanitarian objectives of the UAE's humanitarian campaign in Gaza, established after the start of the war on October 7, 2023.

The centre is the second to be established in Gaza under Gallant Knight 3, after December's launch of one in Khan Younis. Together, the two centres form part of a wider plan to ensure that medical care reaches as many people as possible across the enclave.

The UAE has offered steadfast support to Gaza, even when the Emirates was under attack by Iran.

It has provided billions of dirhams' worth of aid, set up a field hospital in the enclave and established another in Egypt. Thousands of Gazans have also been flown to the Emirates to receive urgent medical care.

Reports emerged on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia is expected to host Gulf-Iran reconciliation talks in Riyadh, although no date was specified. However, Gulf diplomats, speaking to The National on condition of anonymity, said such discussions remain premature.

“Gulf states have shown good faith in pursuing peace and continue to rely on diplomacy to resolve the conflict,” said one diplomat. Rebuilding trust with Iran remains a key challenge, the diplomat added.

Many Gulf countries are wary of Tehran despite the framework agreement reached between the US and Iran. Several officials have publicly stressed that confidence must be restored after a war in which countries across the region came under a barrage of Iranian missile attacks that resulted in civilian deaths.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure Gulf partners on Thursday that any agreement with Iran would take their interests into account, as he concluded a regional tour aimed at building support for the administration of US President Donald Trump’s preliminary accord with Tehran.

At a meeting of Gulf foreign ministers and officials in Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, Mr Rubio said Washington was pursuing a durable peace with Iran that would not come at the expense of the security or prosperity of its regional allies.

“The message that I come with is that we want to ensure that in any decisions that are made throughout this negotiating process, the interests of our partners and our allies in the region are always taken into account,” he said.

Some Gulf states remain concerned that the agreement may be too accommodating towards Iran.

Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, said on Thursday that “new geopolitical realities” cannot be imposed on Gulf states through aggression.

“Imposing a fait accompli born out of aggression does not create stability; rather, it plants new seeds of discord and conflict for the future. This applies particularly to the Strait of Hormuz,” Dr Gargash wrote on X.

A former Gulf official told The National last week that trust could not be rebuilt through political declarations alone.

“Trust is earned through actions,” said the former official. “For countries in the region, that means sustained commitments, respect for sovereignty and clear evidence that the aggression witnessed during the war will not be repeated.”

While the airline has yet to reveal further details, including flight timings, it said Abu Dhabi will become its 49th destination and its 10th within the GCC.

“Abu Dhabi is a natural addition to our network, not only because of its importance as a regional business and travel hub, but also because it strengthens the connectivity ecosystem that supports both Oman and the wider GCC,” said Con Korfiatis, chief executive of Oman Air.

Oman Air already operates flights between Muscat and Dubai. On July 3, it will also launch a direct route between Dubai and Salalah, known for its pristine beaches and lush green valleys especially during khareef season.

The seasonal Salalah-Dubai route will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Abu Dhabi is the latest in a series of new destinations announced by Oman Air this year. The state-owned airline launched flights from Muscat to Taif in Saudi Arabia in January and has since added Singapore, Tashkent in Uzbekistan and Sochi in Russia to its route map.

Recent conflict in the Middle East prompted some airlines to suspend flights and adjust schedules. But as airspace restrictions ease and operations return to normal, many carriers are once again expanding their networks.

Oman Air is one of two scheduled passenger airlines in the Sultanate, alongside low-cost carrier SalamAir. Both airlines have been expanding their regional networks in response to growing demand for travel within the Gulf and beyond.

In an exclusive interview with The National, Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, said the Frank Gehry-designed venue would be “a centre of excellence”.

Dar Al Funoon, which translates to house of the arts, is the latest major cultural project to be announced in Abu Dhabi and one of Gehry’s final works before his death in December, aged 96.

“Dar Al Funoon is a place, really, for all,” Al Mubarak says. “It’s a place where we celebrate all art forms of performance, whether it’s music, whether it’s concerts, whether it’s dance, ballet, recitals, and the list goes on.”

The project brings together several strands of Abu Dhabi’s cultural strategy, from entertainment and education to job creation and the wider creative economy. Al Mubarak says the centre will not only host performances, but also help build the ecosystem around them.

“It’s a place where people will get to see themselves and get to learn the world,” he says. “So it is not just an institution that will house some of the most beautiful performances, but it’s really an educational institution that’s going to connect us as human beings with ourselves and with the rest of the world.”

Dar Al Funoon will sit alongside Abu Dhabi’s expanding cultural landscape on and around Saadiyat Island, which includes Louvre Abu Dhabi, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi and the coming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

Al Mubarak says the institutions are part of a connected vision.

“They’re all a network of understanding, of accepting and of learning,” he says. “And for us here in the United Arab Emirates and in Abu Dhabi, it’s critical to make sure that these insightful, intellectual thoughts are in every single child living in the UAE. Not just Emiratis, everybody.”

Asked what message he hoped Dar Al Funoon would send to audiences, Al Mubarak’s answer is brief: “Welcome home.

“This is home. Whether you live here or you’re visiting here, this is home, and that’s our job.”

The welcoming sentiment echoes a message UAE leaders have articulated for years, and particularly during periods of regional uncertainty: everyone living in the country, regardless of citizenship, is seen as part of its future.

“We want everybody that’s living here to be truly global, to be truly understanding and to truly take on the world,” Al Mubarak says.

He says that openness is part of the “DNA” of the country, where more than 200 nationalities live alongside one another.

“Everybody comes with their different music forms, different cultures, different heritages, and what we do here, we actually celebrate that,” he says. “It becomes a part of our DNA. So in Dar Al Funoon, you will hear some of the best Emirati voices, some of the best Arabic voices. It will create opportunities for some of the young voices.

“At the same time, you’ll see Ludovico play the piano here. You’ll see Max Richter play the piano here. You’ll see the likes of Hamilton and the Wizard of Oz play theatre there. You will have some of the best comedians from around the world here, local comedians and someone like Dave Chappelle.”

Al Mubarak did not disclose the investment figure behind the new performing arts centre, but said the project would add value to the cultural and economic life of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

“When we think of our cultural institutions, we think what value does it add to the people of the UAE?” he says. “How does it create opportunities for them? Job opportunities, intellectual opportunities, opportunities where the creative mind can flourish, because we truly believe in the creative identity of every mind.”

The UAE has set a federal goal for the creative economy to contribute 5 per cent of the country’s GDP by 2031. Al Mubarak says institutions such as Dar Al Funoon are part of that broader shift.

“Creativity and imagination are very critical to our socioeconomic growth,” he says.

He says the purpose is “to create these spaces where people can imagine, where people can be creative, and they can then make it their own”.

The announcement is also a signal to artists and those working across the performing arts that a new institution is being built around their fields. Al Mubarak reiterates the importance of education and the need for “future creators, artists, musicians, performers, curators, museographers, conservators and the list goes on”.

“Some of these jobs weren’t even in the discussion 10 years ago,” he says.

The period between now and the 2030 opening will also create work across construction, design and technical fields.

“You can imagine the number of people who are going to be working on this colossal, highly technical project from now until 2030,” Al Mubarak says. “Every single person within the workforce, this is what makes this place special, because it’s a celebration of human capabilities.”

Gehry’s name gives the project added significance. Al Mubarak speaks of the architect with warmth, having worked closely with him on Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Dar Al Funoon.

“Frank Gehry is an unbelievable architect and, God rest his soul, he left us with some mesmerising masterpieces here in Abu Dhabi,” he says. “The Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which inshallah will bring in visitors from all over the world very, very soon, and now you’ll have Dar Al Funoon – two of his last masterpieces.”

Al Mubarak says the Abu Dhabi projects brought energy to Gehry late in his career.

“I truly believe the projects he worked on here for Abu Dhabi made him, at the time, even younger, full of energy, full of spark,” he says.

That spark, Al Mubarak adds, led to “this glorious design that we all fell in love with”.

Gehry won the project after a design competition involving several architects. During his last visit to the capital, he saw Guggenheim Abu Dhabi near completion and presented the model of Dar Al Funoon to President Sheikh Mohamed and the project team.

Al Mubarak says the centre has been designed to elevate the experience of the performing arts and to share it beyond those seated inside the venue.

“Frank was a lover of music. He understood how music touches everybody’s soul,” Al Mubarak says. “And that’s the beauty of music and performances – they’re universal in their nature. And he spent quite a lot of time understanding what it means for us.”

The building’s glass exterior will allow performances to be projected outward. Al Mubarak says the idea is that people nearby, whether on the waterfront, on the beach or in surrounding homes, will also feel connected to what is happening within.

“We’re not just going to be sharing it with the visitors who are entering this beautiful Dar Al Funoon. The way it's designed, you’re going to have the acts that are happening inside being projected for all to see and for all to celebrate.

“It is truly sharing the beauty of performing arts with everybody in the city.”

The announcement comes almost two decades after Saadiyat Cultural District was unveiled. Al Mubarak says Abu Dhabi’s cultural development has shown that its long-term projects are not announcements without follow-through.

“One thing that Abu Dhabi does, and the UAE, is when we say we’re going to do something, we’re going to do something,” he says. “It’s not a gimmick on a piece of paper. It’s not a nice marketing play.”

When the district was first announced, some questioned whether its major projects would be realised. Louvre Abu Dhabi is now open, as are Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi. Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is expected to open soon.

“There were cynics all over the world,” Al Mubarak says. “Nobody thought that this was going to happen.”

Instead, he says, the district “set the stage of a cultural strategy that continuously evolves and revolutionised the way we think of culture”.

That approach, he says, is rooted in future generations and how they will understand, use and shape culture themselves.

“We’re not worried about the 30, 40 years that happened,” he says. “What we care about is the 30, 40 years that are coming, because who are going to be our visitors? Who is going to be playing in Dar Al Funoon? Yes, we’ll have the big stars, both locally and internationally, but it’s really a place for the young generation to say: ‘This is another place of opportunity.’”

Al Mubarak says the future is positive because the UAE has a young population and one that is eager to absorb culture from across the world.

“That in itself gives everybody a superpower,” he says.

Several parts of that ecosystem are already in place. Abu Dhabi’s partnership with Berklee College of Music led to the opening of Berklee Abu Dhabi in 2020 and scholarship opportunities for students from the region. The UAE National Orchestra has also completed its first season.

“The dots connect very, very quickly,” Al Mubarak says. “We really all dance together.”

DCT Abu Dhabi is already working with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and local stakeholders, including the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, on cultural curricula that include theatre, music and other art forms.

“If we all work together, which we are, the impact is far greater than a singular project,” he says.

The operating model is being developed as the project moves through construction. Groundworks have started, bringing opportunities for contractors, subcontractors and consultants before the venue opens.

DCT Abu Dhabi will operate the centre directly, similar to the way it runs its museums and other major cultural institutions. It will also work with partners across programming, technology and education.

“We will basically partner with who we feel is fit and who wants to also create a greater impact for the future,” Al Mubarak says.

Technology will be part of the venue’s development. Al Mubarak says artificial intelligence will be used to better understand visitors and improve the audience journey, from seating and parking to how families use the building.

“We’re using not just technology, but we’re also using our human common sense to understand how we cater for all that,” he says.

Another example of Dar Al Funoon’s ambitions is its work with Nagata Acoustics, the Japanese company behind some of the world’s most acclaimed concert halls. Al Mubarak says DCT Abu Dhabi convinced Dr Yasuhisa Toyota, founder of Nagata Acoustics International, to work on the project even after he had retired.

“We went with the best,” Al Mubarak says. “Unfortunately, at the time, the best was retired.”

Al Mubarak says the team’s pitch to Toyota was centred on building a venue for the future. “We want to work with you to change the game,” he says. “We’re here to build something for the future.”

Rockstar Games’ next open-world blockbuster is set to be one of the biggest entertainment releases of 2026, not only because of the scale of the series but also because of how long players have been waiting for it. Grand Theft Auto 5 was released in 2013 and has since become one of the best-selling games to date, with nearly 230 million copies sold.

Its follow-up will take players back to Vice City, Rockstar’s fictionalised version of Miami, and expand beyond it into the wider state of Leonida. The game will follow two protagonists, Jason and Lucia, in what Rockstar describes as its “biggest, most immersive evolution” of the Grand Theft Auto series yet.

Here is everything we know so far.

When is GTA 6 being released?

Grand Theft Auto 6 will be released on November 19, 2026.

The game is coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro and Xbox Series X and S. A PC version has not yet been announced. This follows Rockstar’s usual pattern of launching Grand Theft Auto games on consoles before bringing them to PC.

Orders opened globally on June 25, through the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Rockstar Games Store and major retailers.

Players who order the digital version will be able to preload the game from November 12, one week before launch. Physical versions will also be available from November 12 to support preloading.

How much will GTA 6 cost?

The standard edition of Grand Theft Auto 6 is $79.99 (Dh295). The Ultimate Edition is $99.99.

That puts GTA 6 above the long-standing $69.99 price point for major blockbuster games, although fan reaction so far is more focused on the contents of the physical edition than the cost.

Will the physical edition include a disc?

No. The physical version of GTA 6 will come as a code in a box rather than on a disc.

That means players who buy a boxed copy will still need to download the game digitally. The decision has already caused some frustration among collectors, particularly those who prefer owning games on disc or reselling physical copies after playing them.

From Rockstar’s perspective, the move is more practical. A code-in-box release makes preloading easier, reduces the risk of early leaks and limits second-hand sales. It also reflects the wider direction of the gaming industry, where even many physical releases now require large downloads and online activation.

Is GTA 6 single-player only?

At launch, Rockstar described GTA 6 as a single-player experience.

The company has not announced an online-style multiplayer mode for November. That does not mean multiplayer will not come later. Grand Theft Auto Online became a major part of GTA 5’s long life, generating years of updates and revenue, and it would be surprising if Rockstar did not eventually build an online world around GTA 6.

What comes with the early-order bonus?

All orders and purchases made before November 20 will include the Vintage Vice City Pack.

The bonus leans heavily into nostalgia for the series’ past, particularly the style and excess of Vice City. It includes a 1955 Vapid Stanier sedan, which can be stored in the Shore Court personal garage near Ocean Beach. The garage includes a weapon locker and a secure place to deposit stolen goods to be fenced.

The pack also includes outfits and hairstyles for Jason and Lucia. Jason gets a pastel linen suit and vintage hairdo, while Lucia receives a red sequinned minidress and curls.

There is also a weapon pattern inspired by Tommy Vercetti’s famed palm tree shirt from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, allowing players to apply a tropical design to most guns.

What is in the Ultimate Edition?

The Ultimate Edition adds a range of exclusive in-game content spread across Jason and Lucia’s story.

The bonuses include premium vehicles such as the Grotti Cheetah, a mid-1990s sports car with retro-futuristic livery, and Jason’s safehouse vehicles, including a Dinka Enduro motorcycle and a Crest kayak.

There is also a Shitzu Squalo watercraft docked at Washington Beach, fitted with an explosives-laden weapons crate, and a 1967 Vapid Dominator Buggy designed for off-road driving around Mount Kalaga and beyond. That buggy comes with access to Paradise Garage in Watson Bay, which includes a weapon locker and a secure place to deposit stolen goods.

For weapons, the Ultimate Edition includes his-and-hers Hawk & Little Morgan revolvers with Vice City-inspired details, as well as personalised variants of Jason’s Girardi ES9 pistol and Lucia’s Klose K17 pistol.

It also includes exclusive outfits, tattoos and cosmetics, including the Vice City Style collection and Goodtime Gear, a capsule collection inspired by Macca the Gator, a character from a hit TV show within the game world.

Some shops and services appear to be exclusive to the Ultimate Edition, including Rideout Customs, Sara’s Unisex Salon, Stock 305, Electric Fang Tattoo and One-Eyed Willie’s mod shop. Electric Fang Tattoo features more than 50 designs for Jason and Lucia by artist collective Faile.

There are additional activities, including a gang-compound raid on the PTT Youngin$ Illegal Goods Store and a Classic Car Collection commission, where players track down abandoned vehicles and restore them for eccentric collector Wyman.

Will GTA 6 be available in the UAE and wider Gulf?

In the UAE, there is currently no indication that GTA 6 will face restrictions. Orders are expected to be available through major digital storefronts.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, the situation is less clear. Reports and social media posts have suggested the game may face restrictions in some GCC countries, but no official ban has been announced by Rockstar, Take-Two or regulators in those countries.

The speculation appears to come from a PlayStation FAQ for a GTA+ promotional offer, which excludes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. However, exclusion from a promotional offer is not the same as a ban on the game itself.

Still, there is context behind the concern. Previous Grand Theft Auto titles have faced restrictions or delayed releases in parts of the region because of mature content, including violence, criminal activity, drug use and explicit themes. GTA 6 has not yet received its final age rating.

Nationals from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa and family members will be able to apply for 14-day and 60-day visas.

They must hold a residence permit issued by the US, the UK, an EU member state, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or Canada.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision was aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, forging closer economic ties with the nations and expanding opportunities for their citizens to visit the Emirates.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs welcomed the move for its citizens. “The visa-on-arrival privilege extended to Filipino citizens by the UAE is in view of the excellent bilateral relations between the Philippines and the UAE,” the department said.

The UAE is home to one of the world's largest overseas Filipino communities, with an estimated 660,000 Filipinos living and working across the country.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship and Ports Security (ICP) said the 14-day visas could be extended once the visitor has arrived in the UAE.

The 60-day visa covers a single stay and is not extendable. Once the visas expire, the permit holder is required to leave the country. Overstayers face fines of Dh50 per day.

The 14-day visa costs Dh100 and the 60-day visa costs Dh250.

The letter, seen by The National, is dated June 17 and signed by senior Israelis from the security, political and cultural worlds. They include two former prime ministers, ex-heads of Israeli security agencies and a Nobel laureate. The signatories said they would go to Israel’s Supreme Court if the government did not act.

Settler violence has surged during the tenure of the current government, which contains many ministers who are themselves radical settlers. The rate of crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank accelerated after the Gaza war began in October 2023. The attacks, which take place daily, include murder, sexual assault and destruction of property.

The signatories warned that the violence in the West Bank, which some activists have described as “anarchy”, has broken international law, increased anti-Semitism abroad and damaged Israel’s international standing.

“The crimes of Jewish terrorism in the [Palestinian] territories are reminiscent of similar crimes and pogroms committed against our people by other nations in Eastern Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries,” they said.

“The [Israeli military] has a clear policy of ignoring the crimes of Jewish terrorism, and in many incidents soldiers from the regional defence units and security squads are themselves involved in the crimes of Jewish terrorism.”

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a high-profile settler, declared more than 46 hectares as state land for an Israeli outpost in the West Bank.

The current built-up area of Haroeh, near the major settlements of Eli and Shlio, covers a small part of the total land allotted, raising fears that significantly more construction is planned.

Anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now said almost all of the West Bank territory declared state land since the Oslo Accords in the 1990s had been declared since the current government took office in December 2022.

Mr Netanyahu and Mr Smotrich are “exploiting every moment in power to create more and more facts on the ground that will make it harder for Israel to reach peace”, the group said in a statement.

“Today it is clear to everyone that this conflict cannot be resolved without a political agreement that includes the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, yet the Israeli government is choosing instead to make this possibility more difficult and move us further away from peace and from ending the bloodshed.”

Israeli rights group Bimkom revealed on Wednesday that Israel issued as many “settlement jurisdiction orders” since October 2023 as in the past 22 years combined. The once “relatively obscure administrative tool [is now] a central mechanism for settlement expansions and territorial control”, it said.

When the orders take effect, making the land part of a settlement’s jurisdiction, it becomes “available for planning, infrastructure, and expansion”.

“In practice, jurisdiction orders often precede the establishment of new settlements and can shape future patterns of land use long before construction begins,” Bimkom added.

Western politicians have tried, with little success, to ban trade with Israeli settlements. On Tuesday, three prominent French MPs unveiled a draft law to prevent such trade that they hope will be adopted this year.

A move by France to sever ties with Israeli settlements would be a political bombshell in a country that has tried to take a middle line by supporting Palestinian rights while maintaining close ties with the Israeli government, which it regards as an ally.

The draft French law increases pressure on the European Union, Israel’s largest trading partner, to advance similar moves. Despite a push in recent months led by France and Sweden, the European Commission has yet to table proposals for member states to restrict trade with settlements.

Some EU states are moving forward on their own. Spain and Slovenia banned trade with settlements last year. They are set to be followed by Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands in the coming months. However, Slovenia's recently elected President Janez Jansa has said he would reverse his predecessor's pro-Palestinian decisions.

The Kansas City Star reported that the US National Weather Service (NWS) in Kansas City has issued a flood watch that begins at 1pm local time on Thursday and ends at 7am on Friday.

The forecast calls for a possible two to three inches of rain “with excessive rainfall in thunderstorms enhancing flooding concerns”.

“There's a lot we can do. There's a lot we can prepare for. But the weather isn't one of those things,” said Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman.

“Let's hope it doesn't turn out too badly – that the remaining matches can be played under good conditions and actually be completed. But then again, we can't know that for sure.”

His opposite number, Herve Renard, joked that the weather may help his side after they were thrashed in their first two games. “Maybe it won't be bad for us, because at least we will be able to wake up,” he said.

What are the rules if there is a storm?

The World Cup faced its first weather delay of the tournament on Monday when thunderstorms interrupted France's match against Iraq causing a delay of more than two hours.

Heavy downpours started in the 35th minute and France reached half-time with a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal from Kylian Mbappe. Officials then announced a half-hour delay due to storms. A tornado warning was also issued shortly after kick-off.

“A severe thunderstorm is approaching,” Lincoln Financial Field's scoreboard read, while advising fans to seek shelter.

Fans at the 2026 World Cup - in pictures

The match eventually resumed at 8pm local time, two hours and 10 minutes after the first half had ended. France went on to win 3-0.

Fifa follows the advice of the local authority – which, in that case, was the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to the rules, matches must be delayed for 30 minutes if lightning is detected within a 13km radius of a stadium. Any subsequent lightning strike resets the timer.

Which matches could be affected by weather?

Thursday's game between Germany and Ecuador at MetLife Stadium kicks off at 4pm local time (midnight Friday, UAE) and could get under way as stormy weather moves in. A thunderstorm is forecast for Thursday evening and fans will be hoping it arrives after the Group E finale is completed.

As mentioned above, heavy rain is expected around the time of the Netherlands versus Tunisia clash in Kansas City.

On Friday, France's game against Norway in Boston could also be affected. The match kicks off at 3pm local time (11pm, UAE), with rain and thunderstorms anticipated.

Dar Al Funoon Abu Dhabi, which translates to house of the arts, will be next to Saadiyat Cultural District and is being developed by the Department of Culture and Tourism as a major addition to the emirate’s cultural infrastructure.

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, witnessed the launch of the project and reviewed its plans, development phases, construction progress and technical capabilities.

The venue is designed to support a wide variety of disciplines, from opera, ballet and theatre to orchestral concerts, musicals, festivals, cultural events and more intimate performances.

It will feature a multipurpose performance hall with more than 2,000 seats, acoustics designed for major productions and an orchestra pit capable of holding up to 120 musicians. The hall will be adaptable for opera, ballet, theatre, orchestral concerts, musicals, cultural events and awards shows.

The development will also include a 3,500-seat outdoor amphitheatre for large-scale events and festivals, a 400-seat studio theatre for experimental and community productions, and a 250-seat jazz venue for intimate, genre-focused performances. Supporting facilities will include about 5,000 square metres of food and beverage and retail space, as well as a rooftop terrace for special events.

The venue will offer year-round programming and is planned as a permanent home for major live productions. It will also support long-term artistic residencies, international touring partnerships and co-productions with performing arts institutions around the world.

Authorities said the venue was intended to strengthen the emirate’s position as a centre for the performing arts and provide permanent infrastructure for its wider cultural ambitions. The project is also aligned with Abu Dhabi’s status as a Unesco Creative City of Music, which the emirate has held since 2021.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, said the project reflected Abu Dhabi’s long-term investment in artistic expression and cultural development.

“Dar Al Funoon Abu Dhabi will be a permanent home for performance, bringing together leading artists, companies and creative talent from the UAE, the region and across the world,” he said.

The building was designed by Gehry, one of the world’s most influential architects. Its design is inspired by the rhythms of the local landscape and the movement of wind and water.

Gehry, who died in December 2025 aged 96, is also the architect behind Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, another major cultural project on Saadiyat Island. His other designs include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris.

Dar Al Funoon Abu Dhabi will add a dedicated performance venue to the broader cultural landscape developing on and around Saadiyat. Louvre Abu Dhabi and Zayed National Museum are already open, while Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is expected to welcome visitors later this year.

The performing arts project is expected to broaden Abu Dhabi’s capacity to host major international productions while supporting the development of local and regional talent across the performing arts.

With those games taking place across the US, Canada and Mexico, some careful planning might be required to make sure you can watch all the games you intend to.

See below for a full World Cup fixture guide, complete with UAE kick-off times, venues and TV information for the region.

2026 World Cup fixture guide

Friday, June 26

Group I: Norway vs France, kick-off 11pm - Foxborough, USA

Group I: Senegal vs Iraq, kick-off 11pm - Toronto, Canada

Saturday, June 27

Group H: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, kick-off 4am - Houston, USA

Group H: Uruguay vs Spain, kick-off 4am - Zapopan, Mexico

Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium, kick-off 7am - Vancouver, Canada

Group G: Egypt vs Iran, kick-off 7am - Seattle, USA

App users: Click here to download the World Cup wall chart

Sunday, June 28

Group L: Panama vs England, kick-off 1am - New Jersey, USA

Group L: Croatia vs Ghana, kick-off 1am - Philadelphia, USA

Group K: Colombia vs Portugal, kick-off 3.30am - Miami, USA

Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan, kick-off 3.30am - Atlanta, USA

Group J: Algeria vs Austria, kick-off 6am - Kansas City, USA

Group J: Jordan vs Argentina, kick-off 6am - Arlington, USA

Round of 32 - Match 73: South Africa vs Canada, kick-off 11pm - Los Angeles, USA

Monday, June 29

Round of 32 - Match 76: Brazil vs Japan, kick-off 9pm - Houston, USA

Tuesday, June 30

Round of 32 - Match 74: Germany vs Group A/B/C/D/F third place, kick-off 12.30am - Foxborough, USA

Round of 32 - Match 75: Netherlands vs Morocco, kick-off 5am - Guadalupe, Mexico

Round of 32 - Match 78: Ivory Coast vs Group I runners-up, kick-off 9pm - Arlington, USA

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒄𝒖𝒏 𝒂 𝒖𝒏 𝒓𝒐̂𝒍𝒆 𝒂̀ 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒓 🇫🇷🌎

Voici nos 26 Bleus qui représenteront la France à la 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐝𝐮 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 ! 🔥#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/CqKUzJpSK0

— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) May 14, 2026

Wednesday, July 1

Round of 32 - Match 77: Group I winners vs Group C/D/F/G/H third place, kick-off 1am - New Jersey, USA

Round of 32 - Match 79: Mexico vs Group C/E/F/H/I third place, kick-off 5am - Mexico City, Mexico

Round of 32 - Match 80: Group L winners vs Group E/H/I/J/K third place, kick-off 8pm - Atlanta, USA

Thursday, July 2

Round of 32 - Match 82: Group G winners vs Group A/E/H/I/J third place, kick-off midnight - Seattle, USA

Round of 32 - Match 81: USA vs Group B/E/F/I/J third place, kick-off 4am - Santa Clara, USA

Round of 32 - Match 84: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up, kick-off 11pm - Los Angeles, USA

Friday, July 3

Round of 32 - Match 83: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up, kick-off 3am - Toronto, Canada

Round of 32 - Match 85: Switzerland vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, kick-off 7am - Vancouver, Canada

Round of 32 - Match 88: Australia vs Group G runners-up, kick-off 10pm - Arlington, USA

Saturday, July 4

Round of 32 - Match 86: Argentina vs Group H runners-up, kick-off 2am - Miami, USA

Round of 32 - Match 87: Group K winners vs Group D/E/I/J/L third place, kick-off 5.30am - Kansas City, USA

Round of 16 - Match 90: Match 73 winners vs Match 75 winners, kick-off 9pm - Houston, USA

Sunday, July 5

Round of 16 - Match 89: Match 74 winners vs Match 77 winners, kick-off 1am - Philadelphia, USA

Monday, July 6

Round of 16 - Match 91: Match 76 winners vs Match 78 winners, kick-off midnight - New Jersey, USA

Round of 16 - Match 92: Match 79 winners vs Match 80 winners, kick-off 4am - Mexico City, Mexico

Round of 16 - Match 93: Match 83 winners vs Match 84 winners, kick-off 11pm - Arlington, USA

🚨🇩🇪 OFFICIAL: Germany release full World Cup squad by Julian Nagelsmann. pic.twitter.com/qAXJ8RpL93

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 21, 2026

Tuesday, July 7

Round of 16 - Match 94: Match 81 winners vs Match 82 winners, kick-off 4am - Seattle, USA

Round of 16 - Match 95: Match 86 winners vs Match 88 winners, kick-off 8pm - Atlanta, USA

Thursday, July 9

Round of 16 - Match 96: Match 85 winners vs Match 87 winners, kick-off midnight - Vancouver, Canada

Quarter-final - Match 97: Match 89 winners vs Match 90 winners, kick-off midnight - Foxborough, USA

Friday, July 10

Quarter-final - Match 98: Match 93 winners vs Match 94 winners, kick-off 11pm - Los Angeles, USA

Sunday, July 12

Quarter-final - Match 99: Match 91 winners vs Match 92 winners, kick-off 1am - Miami, USA

Quarter-final - Match 100: Match 95 winners vs Match 96 winners, kick-off 5am - Kansas City, USA

Tuesday, July 14

Semi-final - Match 101: Match 97 winners vs Match 98 winners, kick-off 11pm - Arlington, USA

Wednesday, July 15

Semi-final - Match 102: Match 99 winners vs Match 100 winners, kick-off 11pm - Atlanta, USA

Sunday, July 19

Third Place Playoff - Match 103: Match 101 losers vs Match 102 losers, kick-off 1am - Miami, USA

Final - Match 104: Match 101 winners vs Match 102 winners, kick-off 11pm - New Jersey, USA

How to watch the 2026 World Cup in the UAE

The official broadcast rights for the Fifa World Cup in the UAE and the wider Middle East and North Africa region belong to beIN SPORTS. This network is the only place for watching every match of the tournament live, providing extensive coverage in both Arabic and English.

The two sides are far apart over the creation of pilot zones in south Lebanon, Lebanese officials said on Thursday.

"There are significant differences between the Lebanese and Israeli military delegations in the Washington talks over proposals related to the pilot zones, as the official Lebanese position rejects the conditions being put forward by Israel," said a Lebanese official.

Several officials also swiftly rejected US claims that the Israeli military had already begun withdrawing from parts of southern Lebanon.

“No one withdrew,” the senior security official told The National, referring to the swathes of territory up to 10km inside Lebanese territory that the Israeli military has occupied and largely destroyed. They were rebutting earlier US claims of a partial withdrawal, which Israel also rejected.

“They come and go,” added the source, giving the example of the village of Ain Arab in south Lebanon on Wednesday.

Continuing direct negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli delegations – including senior military figures from each side – over the pilot scheme in Washington have, however, been frosty. This is the fifth round of negotiations between the two countries in the US capital.

Israel and Lebanon have been discussing the US-backed proposal for Israeli forces to transfer some of the Lebanese territory invaded during their war with Hezbollah to Lebanon’s military through a “pilot zone scheme”.

A Lebanese political source said a number of areas had been suggested as starting points for the pilot zones. These included Kfar Tebnit near Nabatieh, which is not occupied although it has been subjected to Israeli incursions and forced displacement.

Others are the villages and areas neighbouring Beaufort castle, or the structure itself. This could include part of the Ali Al Taher ridge that Israel was unable to capture despite intense fighting with Hezbollah.

Illustrating the precariousness of the situation, at least three people were killed in an Israeli drone strike on Maifadoun, south of Nabatieh city, on Thursday afternoon.

A US State Department official earlier said the pilot zone process was aimed at ensuring the complete and verifiable destruction of Hezbollah’s weapons and infrastructure and the dismantling of non-state armed groups. The Lebanese government has also taken steps to enforce the process, starting in August 2025.

“Israel has already taken a concrete step by pulling back from a part of its buffer zone. This is a significant demonstration of good faith towards Lebanon’s legitimate government,” the State Department official told Reuters.

“The Lebanese Armed Forces ​should now move in and verifiably clear out ‌terrorist weapons and infrastructure. ⁠This model will be repeated across south Lebanon, enabling the safe return of displaced families, reconstruction ​of the ‌south, and the restoration of full Lebanese sovereignty,” the official added.

A senior Israeli ⁠defence official told Reuters that Israel's policy was clear and that ⁠the military would not be withdrawing from its “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah and its main patron, Iran, have fiercely rejected any calls for it to hand over its weapons.

"Israel wants the pilot-zone concept to subject Lebanon and its army to field tests and to create friction between the Lebanese Army, the resistance, and residents of the villages," a Hezbollah source said.

"We fear the Israeli objective is to use the Lebanese army to serve Israel's security concerns and pretexts, thereby prolonging the occupation of other areas beyond the 60-day period agreed between Iran and the United States."

Lebanese officials have insisted that direct negotiations with Israel are the only way to secure an end to the conflict, in which more than 4,000 people have been killed since early March. However, four rounds of talks have been held since April, and so far, no durable ceasefire has materialised.

President Joseph Aoun said at a cabinet meeting on Thursday that "unity and solidarity" was Lebanon's potent weapon.

This week's prayers will feature a sermon titled The Scourge of Drugs that will highlight the threat posed to the public.

The message comes after the UAE unveiled a nationwide drive to protect young people from the deadly dangers of drug addiction.

The campaign, United as One to Eradicate the Threat, was launched on Wednesday by the National Drug Enforcement Authority.

Sheikh Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan, chairman of the authority, said the initiative underlined the need for a united effort to combat drug misuse.

“The fight against drugs is not the responsibility of a single entity, but rather a shared national and civic duty that requires public awareness, solidarity and collaboration. Safeguarding our people is the foundation for any nation’s progress and stability,” Sheikh Zayed said.

His Excellency Zayed bin Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan: The UAE remains resolute in its efforts to combat drugs through a comprehensive framework of prevention, public awareness, legislation, law enforcement, treatment and rehabilitation support. pic.twitter.com/nJ3dCFf8St

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) June 24, 2026

The new campaign will focus on raising awareness among families and young people while using schools as a “key partner in educating and nurturing children, and the environment that shapes their awareness, values and behaviours”.

The address at mosques will stress that illegal drugs are a “deadly poison and a devastating affliction” and among the “gravest threats” facing the world.

“Drugs are among the most dangerous forms of poison. How astonishing it is that a person may withhold his wealth from his family and children, yet willingly spend it on that which destroys and ruins him,” the sermon will state.

“They burden his family with hardship and misery, replacing happiness with anxiety, and love with hostility and resentment.”

The sermon will be delivered as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed around the globe.

UAE's fight against drugs

The UAE established the National Strategy for Combatting Drugs in November 2024, in a major drive to step up enforcement action against criminals and to keep the public safe.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, described drugs as a “societal cancer” and a “scourge” when he announced the anti-drugs strategy.

In 2023, the UAE Cabinet announced a plan to tackle the importation and distribution of drugs.

The project included the National Council Against Drugs, headed by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

The council was created to enhance co-operation between international drug enforcement agencies, as well as strengthen ties between local authorities and federal ministries.

Providing earlier means of detection and improving the treatment of addicts were key goals.

Police across the UAE play a critical role in preventing drugs from hitting the streets and by bringing criminals to justice.

Authorities this month made a series of arrests and seized large quantities of illicit drugs after uncovering a criminal network operating across the country.

The National Anti-Narcotics Authority and Ras Al Khaimah Police took action after being alerted to a haul of drugs stored at an unspecified location in the Emirates.

The new AD-300 machinery, part of a $1.54 billion programme awarded by Adnoc Offshore in 2024 and 2025 comprising six such rigs, is aimed at boosting output capacity and automation, the biggest drilling company by rig count in the Middle East said on Thursday.

A walking rig does not need disassembly, is self-propelled and can move short distances without hydraulic systems or other moving equipment such as lorries, enabling it to drill several wells from one location. It helps cut operational costs and efforts.

AD‑300 brings together robotics, AI monitoring and automation in a next-generation platform designed for island drilling. pic.twitter.com/p5kvhUnYxL

— ADNOC Drilling (@ADNOCDrilling) June 25, 2026

The 50-metre-tall AD-300 combines advanced automation, digital systems and hybrid power capability, with the option to connect to the grid, enabling more efficient and lower-emission operations. It has systems such as automated pipe handling and AI-enabled monitoring, helping minimise personnel exposure in complex operating environments.

The first AD-300 demonstrates Adnoc's position in reinforcing the UAE's leadership in advanced energy solutions, said Abdulla Al Messabi, chief executive of Adnoc Drilling.

“The delivery of AD-300 marks a step-change in how we execute large-scale, technology-enabled energy development,” he said.

“By integrating automation, artificial intelligence and robotics at scale, we are enhancing safety, improving efficiency and delivering more consistent, predictable performance.”

The UAE has been a leader in energy and has continued to expand its reach across the globe.

Adnoc Drilling has been continually expanding its geographical footprint. The company's rig fleet stood at 170 at the end of the first quarter, including 140 rigs in Abu Dhabi.

Last year, it signed a joint venture agreement with global oilfield services company SLB for its land drilling rigs business in Kuwait and Oman.

Adnoc Drilling also teamed up with Alpha Dhabi Holding to launch Enersol, a technology-focused venture that plans to invest $1.5 billion in technology-driven companies in the oilfield services sector.

In May, the company also said it was buying an 80 per cent stake in Oman’s MB Petroleum Services, ahead of its mid-year schedule.

Adnoc Drilling's acquired business includes 22 drilling and workover rigs, production service units, and operations across the four Gulf states, in a deal valued at $204 million.

“At a time when the world needs reliable energy at scale, the UAE stands ready to supply global customers,” said Tayba Al Hashmi, chief executive of Adnoc Offshore, said on Thursday.

“AD-300 and our next-generation island rigs are accelerating our growth, expanding Adnoc's production capacity and delivering long-term value for our stakeholders and the nation.”

Last month, Adnoc Drilling reported its strongest first-quarter performance on record as the UAE's departure from Opec and a boost in domestic production drive fresh demand across both onshore and offshore drilling.

The company reported $344.8 million in net profit attributable to shareholders for the January to March period, as revenue grew by nearly 5 per cent annually to more than $1.2 billion.