🇦🇪 UAE — Today's Top Stories

US congressional delegation presses Lebanon on Hezbollah disarmament

US congressional staff from both parties met Lebanon's political and military leadership in Beirut last week, seeking a first-hand assessment of the c…

US oil reserves slump to lowest level since 1982

Stocks of crude oil in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by about 5.3 million barrels last week to 293.4 million barrels, the lowest level since…

Use of words 'terrorist' and 'terrorism' will be limited in Pan Am Lockerbie trial

Use of the word “terrorism” will be limited during the trial of Abu Agila Mohammad Masud, who is accused of making the bomb that brought down Pan Am f…

Seven Syrian security personnel arrested over detainee's death shortly after release

Syrian authorities have arrested seven security personnel in connection with the death of a man who died shortly after being released from police cust…

Snakes on a plate: Reptiles eaten by foragers in the Levant for 3,000 years

Lizards and snakes were commonly eaten by foragers in the Levant across three millennia, using methods passed down the generations, a study has found.…

High tobacco taxes and light penalties for smugglers fuel global illicit cigarette trade

High taxes and relatively light penalties for smugglers are fuelling the global illicit tobacco trade, experts have said, after Dubai Customs seized m…

Drunk Abu Dhabi driver jailed for six months and fined Dh100,000 for driving on wrong side of road

A driver in Abu Dhabi has been sentenced to six months in jail and fined Dh100,000 for driving on the wrong side of the road, the Abu Dhabi Judicial D…

Hormuz traffic falls to single digits as 60-day deadline for US-Iran MoU expires

Vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen 64 per cent from its post-MoU peak and collapsed into single digits, with only three vessels tr…

US awards Raytheon $22.9bn Tomahawk production deal as concerns mount over dwindling munitions

The US on Monday said it had awarded RTX's Raytheon unit a $22.9 billion contract to boost Tomahawk missile production as the Pentagon rushes to rebui…

Dubai airports to be directly connected with proposed Airport Express Link

Dubai's airports are preparing for a new era of connectivity after the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced six bidders for its tender to des…

Iran and Oman near Strait of Hormuz deal as Trump warns Omani government

Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on a route map for ships in the Strait of Hormuz but are still working to finalise a joint announcement, t…

Israel agrees to working groups on disarmament and sanitation in Gaza after Kushner-Netanyahu meeting

Israel and the US-backed Board of Peace have agreed to establish two working groups on Gaza after what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s off…

Saudi wealth fund PIF’s profit doubles on higher revenue

The Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund’s profit more than doubled last year, as revenue rose on the back of strong contributions from maturing portfo…

Master storytellers Trump and Farage are facing twists in their tales

What happens to populist politicians when they are not so popular? Perhaps we are about to find out on both sides of the Atlantic.Politics in the US a…

Art fairs worth travelling to in 2026, from Venice and Paris to Seoul and Istanbul

For collectors, curators and art-focused travellers, it pays to plan ahead. The art fair calendar is filled with major and emerging events that offer …

Queen Rania shares first photos of newborn twin granddaughters Talia and Rania

Queen Rania of Jordan has shared the first photos of her newborn granddaughters, days after her daughter Iman welcomed twin girls with her husband, Ja…

Schools praise UAE traffic campaign that rewards safe driving

UAE schools and traffic experts have welcomed a new road safety campaign that offers drivers the chance to have four black points removed from their l…

President Sheikh Mohamed discusses regional security and UAE-Oman ties as Sultan Haitham visits Abu Dhabi

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sultan Haitham of Oman discussed regional security and strengthening economic ties between the two countries during talks…

Masdar completes foundation installation of one of world’s largest offshore wind farms

Abu Dhabi clean energy company Masdar and ScottishPower have completed a major construction stage at a £4 billion ($5.42 billion) offshore wind farm p…

Ceuta threatens legal action over migrant crisis pitting Italy against Spain

The Spanish government has 30 days to resolve the migrant crisis in Ceuta or face the courts, the city's mayor-president has warned, after new attempt…

UAE launches satellite to help environmental protection work

The United Arab Emirates University has launched a satellite to support environmental protection work.The SEO satellite was launched on Sunday aboard …

UK's reputation for rising crime 'at odds with reality'

The perception of crime in the UK is wrong on almost every level, a study suggests.Research from King’s College London shows that people believe crime…

Israel's Ben-Gvir calls for killing of '30 to 40' Gazans each night

Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has called for the killing of 30 to 40 residents of Gaza each night and advocated mass…

The UFC owes Abu Dhabi a show — Volkanovski and Yan can deliver it

The UFC returns to Abu Dhabi in October, and the headline bouts announced over the weekend are certainly ones to whet the appetite.Alexander Volkanovs…

Egypt erupts in fury over Ethiopia's plans for three more Nile dams

Egypt has erupted in fury over Ethiopia's declared plans to build three more Nile dams, with official media in Cairo strongly suggesting military acti…

Scratch that itch: Why focusing on inflammation can reduce symptoms

Taking your mind off a pain or itch may seem the best way to deal with them but a new study suggests that attention can influence the body’s reactions…

UAE approves new use of drug to treat vitiligo

The UAE has approved the use of a new treatment for non-segmental vitiligo.The Emirates Drug Establishment announced on Monday that the UAE is the fir…

'What’s the point of working any more?': Iranians in survival mode as food prices soar 400 per cent

Nima, a cryptocurrency trader, thought he had figured out how to survive Iran’s unpredictable economy. His foreign currency income shielded him from t…

Drone attack strikes Kurdistan Prime Minister's office in Erbil

Iran fired two drones on Monday into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, aimed at the office of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the home of a senior loca…

Nakheel starts handover of 892 homes at redeveloped Jebel Ali Village

Dubai developer Nakheel has started handing over 892 villas and town houses at the redeveloped Jebel Ali Village near Ibn Battuta Mall, more than four…

Iranian parliament approves bill criminalising interviews with US and Israeli media

Iran's parliament has approved in principle a bill that would make it illegal to conduct interviews and have any other communications with US and Isra…

Ferrari’s first electric car sells for record $40 million

Defying criticism, Ferrari NV’s first all-electric vehicle became the most expensive new car ever sold at auction, going for $40 million.The Sotheby’s…

Arab nations back Gaza peace plan, Hormuz shipping slows, and Iraq corruption crackdown continues

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, the UAE joins seven other Arab and Islamic nations in condemning Israel for rejecting renewed efforts to i…

After missing out on Rodri, who will Real Madrid turn their attention to next?

Real Madrid will be seething after seeing bitter rivals Barcelona hijack their bid to sign Rodri from Manchester City.Madrid had made their interest i…

Iran war latest: Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it ‘gets in the way’ of US efforts involving Iran

L'imad announces intention to acquire 100% shares of AD Ports Group

Abu Dhabi sovereign fund L'imad is making a bid to acquire 100 per cent shares of AD Ports Group which it already does not own as it looks to expand i…

Heroes star Hayden ​Panettiere dies aged 36

American actress ​Hayden ​Panettiere, ​known for ⁠her roles in ⁠TV shows ​such as Nashville ⁠and Heroes, has died at the age of 36.“It is ​with profou…

UAE Pro League: Pirlo's rude awakening, Sharjah shine and Al Ain's dramatic comeback

UAE champions Al Ain fought back from 2-0 down against Baniyas to win 4-2 and salvage their long unbeaten record on Sunday night. Al Ain went undefeat…

Rodri set for Barcelona move after Man City accept bid

Manchester City captain Rodri looks set to complete his move to Barcelona in the coming days after the English club accepted a bid of around £65 milli…

Inside Playgrounds, Abu Dhabi’s community-led celebration of collector culture

Playgrounds was built around a simple idea: to give collectors and fans a place to meet, trade and share the things they care about.Presented by Sands…

Iran's high-seas intimidation must stop

In a little more than a week, five vessels of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company have been attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This brings…

Iran war’s final victim could be the Gulf’s fragile environment

It is said the first casualty of war is the truth; the final victim is often the environment. At the end of the First Gulf War, Saddam Hussein caused …

What's in an Onam sadhya? From avial to payasam, all the dishes explained

Few meals celebrate abundance quite like an Onam sadhya.The elaborate vegetarian feast is one of the culinary highlights of Onam, Kerala's annual harv…

Cartoon for August 17, 2026

Israel condemned for obstructing peace effort in Gaza

The UAE joined seven other Arab and Islamic nations in condemning Israel for rejecting renewed efforts to implement US President Donald Trump’s peace …

Stalemate on the strait as deadline for US-Iran agreement expires

The 60-day deadline that the US and Iran had set to reach a longer-term peace deal has expired with neither side giving ground on the big issues nor w…

Dominant Arsenal sweep aside Manchester City to lift Community Shield

Premier League champions Arsenal laid down a marker ahead of the new season by dominating Manchester City and lifting the Community Shield with a 3-0 …

Cristiano Ronaldo says 'this is probably my last year' as he hints at retirement

Cristiano Ronaldo says this season is "probably" his last and that he expects to retire from football when his Al Nassr contract expires next summer.T…

Gulf markets climb despite Iran impasse and Hormuz disruption

Most Gulf stock markets advanced on Sunday, with Saudi Arabia leading gains despite a lack of progress in efforts to end the Iran conflict and continu…

At 60, Kyle Chandler looked at an ‘ageing-out superhero’ and saw himself

Kyle Chandler was hesitant about doing a superhero series. Then he read the first script for Lanterns, DC’s new HBO drama, and saw himself on the page…

Palestinian Alaa Shehada wins second consecutive Fringe First with new one-man show

Palestinian actor Alaa Shehada has won a Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for The Bridge, a one-man show that turns an arduous jour…

UAE sends another 683 tonnes of aid to Gaza in latest humanitarian mission

The UAE has sent a convoy of 67 lorries carrying 683 tonnes of aid for Gaza to give much-needed respite to Palestinian communities.The relief packages…

Iran reroutes oil flow as loading resumes at Kharg Island terminal

Iran has resumed loading crude at Kharg Island’s western terminal after a 25-day shutdown, as the country expands alternative maritime routes to offse…

A Syrian town's battle to rebuild after Hezbollah's scorched-earth campaign

The railway from Beirut to Damascus was conceived in the 19th century when the two capitals were not yet divided by national borders. The route was ab…