Commercial dry bulk congestion across 29 Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman ports reached 265 vessels as of late October 2026. The UAE's Port of Fujairah accounted for 74 waiting ships, representing 28 percent of the regional idle fleet.
DP World Group CEO Yuvraj Narayan outlined rising challenges in Middle East container shipping, citing substantial rate increases on China-Gulf corridors. Data from Xeneta showed spot rates for a 40-foot container surged 214 percent to Jeddah and 442 percent to Khor Fakkan. Narayan noted that rerouting away from primary maritime gateways lowers efficiency for major hubs like Jebel Ali.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi met with Chinese Ambassador Zeng Jixin and Consul-General Ou Boqian in Ras Al Khaimah. The discussions reviewed a recent friendship agreement with Fujian Province and explored expanding ties with Guangdong Province.
Ras Al Khaimah has launched an autonomous mobility framework and an Autonomous Vehicle Testing Zone Initiative organized by RAKTA and RAK Properties. The launch event was attended by RAK Ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi alongside Chinese Ambassador Zeng Jixin and Consul-General Ou Boqian. The authority signed 10 partnership agreements with specialized companies and academic institutions to develop and test autonomous mobility systems.
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