Good morning from The National on June 25, 2026.
Here are the latest developments in the Emirates:
President Sheikh Mohamed received US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the UAE leg of a three-day visit to the Gulf.
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Rubio stressed the need to focus on security, stability and lasting peace throughout the region.
Mr Rubio said he will tell Gulf allies at a meeting of foreign ministers in Bahrain on Thursday that his country does not support tolls or fees in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The whole world will be against any mechanism that charges money to use an international waterway. It's that simple. The President already said it. That's not going to happen. When we mean open the strait, we mean open the strait, free. So we'll express that tomorrow,” he told reporters in Kuwait.
Read more on Mr Rubio's UAE visit here and the latest on the US-Iran peace effort in our live blog here
UAE opens largest aluminium recycling plant after production halted by Iranian attacks
The official opening of the UAE's largest aluminium recycling plant is a major step in a journey to transform the nation into a "global hub for green development", the country's Minister of Climate Change and Environment Dr Amna Al Dahak has said.
Al Taweelah recycling plant, established by Emirates Global Aluminium, began to produce recycled aluminium in February, but final commissioning work was put on hold after Iranian missile and drone strikes on Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Economic Zone on March 28.
EGA confirmed at the time that Al Taweelah site sustained "significant damage" and some of its employees were injured.
“Recycling is the cornerstone of the UAE’s Circular Economy Policy, which aims to transform the nation into a global hub for green development by shifting from linear to circular production and consumption, enhancing resource efficiency, and minimising waste," said Dr Al Dahak, who attended the inauguration of the plant on Wednesday.
Read the full story here
Etihad Rail's first passenger journeys in huge demand as tickets sell out fast
Etihad Rail's first passenger journeys between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah will begin next week – and tickets are being snapped up fast.
The national train operator's website shows only a limited number of seats are available for the inaugural cross-emirate trips on Tuesday. The service will take passengers from Abu Dhabi's Mohamed bin Zayed City station to the Fujairah station in Al Hilal City.
Tickets went on sale on Etihad Rail's website and app on Tuesday after the long-awaited launch of passenger services was confirmed. Fares on the Abu Dhabi-Fujairah route are initially available for Dh55 ($15) for Comfort Class – a 50 per cent discount for the launch – and Dh120 for Premium Class.
Read all about it here
Fact of the day
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. Read the full story here
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