Weekender | The National

Hello and welcome to Weekender – the newsletter that guides you through all the highlights of our Weekend edition.

A historic port at the crossroads of change: The delicate task of regenerating Abu Dhabi’s Mina Zayed.

From Damascus and Erbil to Bethlehem and Beirut, what I’ve learnt from running the many marathons of the Middle East.

Postcard from industrial Aleppo: How Syria’s battered northern powerhouse is coming back to life.

First the millionaires, now the billionaires: Fears for Britain's next great exodus.

Culture

Sam Altman says parenting without AI is impossible. This technology writer was prompted to disagree.

From Stranger Things to Kate Winslet's directing debut, new movies and shows to stream.

Restaurant of the week: New York meets the Mediterranean at Dubai's Fumee Steakhouse.

UAE Property: ‘Can I be charged service fees for an off-plan unit?’

Future Beat newsletter: The stories shaping tomorrow's world.

From the darkness of a Middle East eclipse to light at the end of a Pyramid tunnel - what 2026 may bring.

Find out how well you've kept up with the news of the last twelve months in our bumper Quiz of the Year.

Plus much, much more in our latest Weekend edition.

And in case you missed it last week: Our photographers' best images of the UAE of 2025.

UAE Today: The latest news and analysis from the Emirates
The Editor's Briefing: Our Editor-in-Chief's weekly reflections and curated must-reads
Checking In: Travel updates from the past week
Energy This Week: Weekly insights into the latest trends in oil, clean energy and more
Future Beat: A weekly round-up of the stories shaping tomorrow’s world
The Middle East Today: The must-read newsletter for the region
View From London: What matters this week in the UK and around Europe
The Arts Edit: Your guide to arts and culture, from a Middle Eastern perspective
Beshara: Your weekly dose of good news
View from DC: The inside scoop from The National’s Washington bureau
The Climate Edit: Chart our changing world with the latest climate and environment news