Trending Middle East

In today's episode of Trending Middle East, the Houthis have claimed missile and drone attacks on airports and military sites in Saudi Arabia and Yemen this morning. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted ballistic missiles near Riyadh and Khamis Mushait, but authorities have not confirmed the claims about the airports.

Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara has met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh during an official visit to the kingdom, whether the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the region.

UAE businesses are raising their prices at the fastest rate in more than 15 years, pointing to higher inflation across the country.

Qatar and Turkey are among seven countries bidding to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.

And UAE food producer Al Ain Farms is taking its camel milk brand global, with plans to turn it into a superfood in China and Europe.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, Yemeni government forces secure control of the Bab Al Mandeb strait and the strategic port city of Mokha as their offensive against the Houthis expands.

The Saudi-led coalition is providing air support, while Yemeni forces have also begun what they call a “strategic offensive” on Sanaa.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed and Jordan’s King Abdullah attend the ground-breaking of a $2.3 billion railway linking the Port of Aqaba with major mining centres.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi-based Eagle Hills signs an agreement for two major developments in Syria that are expected to create more than 40,000 jobs.

Dubai launches a new accelerator to expand the use of agentic AI across government services, bringing together 33 government entities in its first phase. And schools in Dubai remind parents not to photograph or film other children or staff without their consent.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, Yemen’s internationally recognised government announces the start of military operations to retake territory held by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, as fighting intensifies around Taiz.

Egypt says it remains committed to a diplomatic and political solution to its dispute with Ethiopia over its Nile dam, despite a new escalation in tensions between the countries.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon says all US bombers stationed at RAF Fairford in England have returned to America.

In the UAE, the first commercial satellite built entirely in the country has been launched into orbit, marking the start of a planned constellation of 10 AI-powered satellites. The UAE has also secured another Asian Games medal, as Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi claimed individual silver in the equestrian competition.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, the US is sending a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East as President Donald Trump weighs further military action against Iran. The USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group are heading to the region, where two other US aircraft carriers are already deployed.

The UAE Attorney General has ordered an investigation into the mid-flight altercation aboard a flydubai aircraft that was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Iraq says it is confident it will meet a June 2027 deadline to bring weapons held by armed groups under state control.

Abu Dhabi’s new Mid-Island Parkway is expected to cut the journey time from Saadiyat Island to Reem Island and Abu Dhabi’s main island from 25 minutes to 10 minutes. And Dubai is preparing new guidelines for the use of AI in schools, which are expected to come into effect next year.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans

Today on Trending Middle East, Indian flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar has been hailed as a hero for helping avert a potential disaster during a security incident on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

In Iraq, the government has approved a controversial bill that could further establish the Popular Mobilisation Forces as a permanent national security institution. It comes as US forces formally have formally ended their military mission in the country.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says there are “strong indications” that Iran was involved in an incident near RAF Fairford over the weekend, but that investigations are ongoing.

Syrian security forces say they have arrested three members of a Hezbollah-linked cell and dismantled rocket launchers in the south of the country.

And UAE telecom e& has launched a new mobile network that it says will help accelerate the country’s transition towards 6G technology.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today's episode of Trending Middle East, the US is withdrawing its last troops from Iraq, officially ending its anti-ISIS mission, Operation Inherent Resolve, after 12 years. Baghdad now plans to shift towards bilateral security co-operation with Washington.

The UAE strongly condemns the storming of Al Aqsa Mosque compound by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, accompanied by hundreds of settlers.

In Morocco, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri is set to become the country's first female prime minister.

Dubai’s Etihad Rail passenger service completes its historic first journey to Abu Dhabi. The inaugural train left Al Yalayis Station on Wednesday morning.

And an Iranian court rejects an appeal by a singer against a sentence of 74 lashes and a ban on work and travel. Parastoo Ahmadi was convicted over an online concert in which she performed without a headscarf and sang solo.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, five people arrested on suspicion of a terrorism plot near the UK's Fairford airbase are released on bail, after experts find no traces of explosives. Authorities say the suspects remain under investigation, while Iran denies any involvement.

Israel condemns the Netherlands' ban on imports of goods from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, while the US repeats that it opposes any Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank.

The UAE uses its UN General Assembly address to call for de-escalation and diplomacy, urging countries to “build rather than destroy”.

President Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, attend the launch of Etihad Rail’s new station in Dubai. The President travelled on the Etihad train from Abu Dhabi before the service’s official launch.

And Egypt football coach Hossam Hassan walks back several comments that sparked criticism after the Pharaohs’ goalless draw with Angola, amid Mohamed Salah’s departure from the national team camp.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, US President Donald Trump expects American negotiators to hold further talks with Iran this week, with regional sources saying another round of indirect dialogue could take place as early as Monday.

British police arrest five men near RAF Fairford after explosives are discovered, with a possible Iranian link among the lines of inquiry.

Meanwhile, schools in Riyadh tell parents that classes will move online for the rest of the week, after Saudi forces intercepted Houthi drones heading towards the capital.

The UAE calls for stronger international judicial co-operation, with Justice Minister Abdullah Al Nuaimi highlighting the extradition to Ireland of alleged crime boss Daniel Kinahan.

And Sharjah’s Al Dhaid is set to join the Etihad Rail passenger network on Wednesday, connecting the historic oasis town to the national network.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In today’s episode of Trending Middle East, Iran hardens its position on the Strait of Hormuz, insisting Washington must meet its conditions before formal negotiations can resume. Diplomacy at the UN General Assembly has yet to produce a breakthrough, while about 80 countries have backed a call for the urgent reopening of the waterway.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey arrange an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to discuss support for the kingdom, as Saudi forces intercept six ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi rebels.

US President Donald Trump welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House for a state visit, with technology, trade, Taiwan and the Iran war among the key issues.

The UAE suspends all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country until further notice. And Hacks star Hannah Einbinder and Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon are detained during a pro-Palestine protest outside the UN as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the General Assembly.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans

Today on Trending Middle East, Iran has presented the US with a proposed road map to end the war. Sources told The National that it includes a region-wide ceasefire of up to 60 days, the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to the US blockade of Iran.

The US-backed Board of Peace has proposed a six-month, $2.45 billion plan to begin rebuilding Gaza and restoring basic services.

The UAE Central Bank has barred Bank Melli Iran from carrying out financial transactions between its branches in the Emirates and in Iran, after investigations found the lender failed to comply with the UAE's anti-money laundering regulations.

In Syria, visitor numbers more than doubled in the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2025, as tourism picks up.

And on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Emirates Foundation has partnered with the Responsible AI Future Foundation to use artificial intelligence for social good in the UAE and around the world.

Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.