Good morning from The National on September 24, 2026. Here are the latest developments in the Emirates:
The UAE Central Bank has barred Bank Melli Iran from conducting any financial transactions between its UAE branches and Iran after investigations found the Tehran-based lender had failed to comply with anti-money laundering regulations.
The ban, announced on Wednesday as part of the regulator's “strict enforcement” measures, covers trade finance and fund transfers to and from Iran.
Bank Melli Iran is the country's biggest lender. It has eight branches in the UAE, including a regional office, according to its website.
The decision was made “as a result of violations related to non-compliance with the regulations, laws and supervisory decisions in force in the UAE” covering money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing, the Central Bank said.
Read the full story here
Firefighting from the sky: UAE firm starts high-altitude monitoring mission in Spain
A solar-powered aircraft operated by a UAE space technology company has launched a wildfire-monitoring mission in Spain, transmitting live images during a 29-hour flight over the Canary Islands.
The ApusNeo18 high-altitude platform took off from the Canarias Stratoport on Fuerteventura, an airfield for pseudo-satellites, and reached a height of 4,875 metres during the first flight of the campaign.
Equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors, it delivered live, high-resolution video and images that can help authorities detect fires and monitor how they spread.
Mira Aerospace, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based Space 42, said the flight set two European records for high-altitude platform systems – for duration in the air and highest altitude.
More flights are planned next month in partnership with space services company, Telespazio Iberica. The plan is that the aircraft will gradually fly higher and farther, with the eventual aim of reaching Gran Canaria.
Read the full report here
'I told you before my family': Indian shop worker in Abu Dhabi dreams of new life after winning $1 million
A shop worker in Abu Dhabi, who left Chennai 17 years ago to support his family, won $1 million (Dh3.67 million) in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire draw on Wednesday.
Saravanan Malairaj, 36, said the windfall would help him to provide a better future for his twins, a boy and a girl aged four, and let him spend more time with them.
Dubai Duty Free informed him of his win at 12.15pm but out of nervousness and disbelief, he had not informed his family in India before speaking to The National.
“I have participated in raffle draws but never won anything. This comes as a big surprise,” Mr Malairaj told The National.
The jackpot winner said life had been difficult in Chennai and that he sold family land to help pay for his sister's marriage before leaving India in 2009 in search of better opportunities in the UAE.
Ajanta Paul has more here
Fact of the day
UAE shooters Saif bin Futtais and Mohammed Ahmed missed out on places in the final of the men's individual skeet competition at the Asian Games on Wednesday. Bin Futtais shot 117 across five rounds of qualifying, with Ahmed firing 113. Read the full story from Steve Luckings here
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