Global LNG supplies are tightening ahead of winter as new production outside Qatar and the UAE only partially offsets Middle East supply losses. With European gas inventories unusually low, Europe is absorbing more US cargoes while Chinese buyers resume discussions for long-term supply.
An analysis published in the South China Morning Post examines geopolitical pressures facing major Gulf aviation hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. Passenger traffic at Dubai International dropped 31.3 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026 following strikes, airspace closures, and heightened operating risks. The author questions whether the region's dominant hub-and-spoke transit model connecting the West and Asia can maintain its pre-conflict market share.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that elevated energy prices will likely persist even after Gulf conflict subsides, with Strait of Hormuz navigation risks hitting Asian and Chinese supplies. Concurrently, senior transaction bankers reported that energy security and AI infrastructure expansion are driving higher working capital requirements and shifting trade finance patterns across Asia.
The UAE Federal Tax Authority has issued a new guide regarding scope and registration for the Top-up Tax on multinational enterprises. The document supports multinational enterprise groups in understanding obligations under the Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax regime and OECD/G20 Pillar Two framework. It details in-scope criteria, registration timelines, and reporting requirements ensuring an effective tax rate of at least 15%.
Policy updates, China–UAE business news and industry insights, delivered to your inbox.
Membership
Tell us about your experience and connection to UAE–China business. UECN assesses your application and offers the right membership category — fees are shared privately with your offer.
We send you a one-time sign-in link — your answers are saved as you go.
