The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: Trump plans high-level Arab talks at UNGA, Egypt seeks end to Iran war, and Dubai cuts road journey times

   In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, US President Donald Trump will meet Gulf and other Arab officials in New York during UN General Assembly Week, with Iran, its proxies and the future of the US-Iran conflict expected to be key issues. Dr Anwar Gargash, adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, also calls for a “new mindset” in relations with Iran, saying diplomacy is the way forward. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met CIA director John Ratcliffe, while sources say Cairo is passing messages between the parties and holding separate talks with them. Ed Sheeran addresses the conflict in Gaza after controversy surrounding his North American tour and Macklemore’s removal from the line-up. And Dubai has completed a major expansion of Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street aimed at cutting the average journey time from 20 minutes to five minutes. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans

   September 21, 2026·3min
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   Number 2: Iran to attend UNGA, Houthis assure US over American shipping, and UAE arrests Swedish fugitive

   In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, an Iranian delegation will be allowed to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week, while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been denied entry to the US. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to attend, while Mr Abbas will be allowed to address the gathering by video. The Houthi rebels have been communicating indirectly with US officials to assure Washington that their takeover of Yemen's Red Sea coast overlooking the Bab Al Mandeb strait will not lead to attacks on American ships, sources in Sanaa said. Meanwhile, Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to President Sheikh Mohamed, said keeping lines of communication open with Iran is important, while stressing that attacks must stop before a new future can be negotiated. The UAE has arrested a Swedish fugitive wanted by Interpol on suspicion of leading an international money-laundering network. And visitors to Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque must now pay an entry fee of Dh5 for Emirates ID holders and Dh10 for tourists, while the mosque remains free for worshippers. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans

   September 18, 2026·4min
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   Number 3: Trump's postwar plans, UAE raises interest rates and Houthi weapons experiments

   In this episode of Trending Middle East, US President Donald Trump is expected to meet Gulf leaders in New York next week during the UN General Assembly to discuss a postwar strategy for Iran, Axios has reported. The UAE Central Bank has raised interest rates after the US Federal Reserve increased its rates by 25 basis points in response to geopolitical developments. The move is intended to help control inflation by reducing spending, but makes borrowing more expensive. The Houthis are experimenting with new weapons, including so-called “loitering torpedoes” that could extend their ability to attack ships, according to new findings by Conflict Armament Research. Security chiefs in Iran accused of violent crimes during a 2022 crackdown on women's rights protests continue to consolidate their power and rise through the ranks, Amnesty International says in a new report. And Dubai has approved a new 12-lane motorway that will eventually connect Sharjah and Abu Dhabi through the emirate in an effort to ease congestion. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

   September 17, 2026·4min
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   Number 4: Iran talks in Oman postponed, Houthis suffer losses in Yemen and oil price nears $108

   In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, a meeting between Iran and Gulf states in Oman is postponed, after the sultanate said the appropriate conditions were not in place. Tehran and Muscat jointly agreed to reschedule the talks, which had been set to take place in Salalah. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels suffer heavy losses in clashes with government forces in Taiz, after making major gains along the Red Sea coast. Meanwhile, oil prices surge towards $108 a barrel after Saudi Arabia shut its East-West pipeline following attacks, removing a key route for crude exports that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. Dubai has recorded its strongest month for international tourism since the Iran war began, welcoming 869,000 overnight visitors in August. And Abu Dhabi’s new off-plan mortgage framework is expected to make financing easier for buyers and boost confidence in the emirate’s property market. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

   September 14, 2026·3min
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   Number 5: UAE-Germany investment deepens, AI used in Houthi weapons projects, and Brics summit to start

   In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, the UAE announces plans to invest 40 billion euros in Germany across sectors including industry, advanced technology, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and energy. The announcement comes as President Sheikh Mohamed meets German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin. Israel says it has blown up Hezbollah tunnels under Ali Al Taher ridge, completing what it calls a security zone in southern Lebanon. The UAE says it hopes Algeria’s decision to cut diplomatic ties will be temporary, after Algiers asked the Emirati ambassador to leave. Anthropic says it disrupted the use of its AI models in missile development projects in Houthi-held Yemen, including work on a guided rocket, a long-range ballistic missile and a proposed hypersonic glide vehicle. And Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, will lead the UAE delegation at the Brics Summit in New Delhi this weekend. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National, and curated and edited by humans

   September 11, 2026·4min
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