Middle East

China–UAE News

Gulf Tourism Rebounds as Dubai Targets Chinese Visitors and Industry Partnerships

More than 2,800 exhibitors participated in the Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai, where the "Nihao! China" pavilion facilitated business negotiations between Chinese and foreign tourism entities. Data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism shows Dubai welcomed 6.97 million international overnight visitors in the first eight months of 2026, with August recording 869,000 visitors. Dubai tourism officials are strengthening partnerships with Chinese digital platforms, including Ctrip, Xiaohongshu, and Meituan, to encourage the return of Chinese travelers.

Middle East Travel Alerts

Flydubai Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight Diverts to Saudi Arabia Following Cockpit Attack

A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted safely to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a pilot stabbed the captain and attempted to sabotage the aircraft mid-air. Passengers and crew subdued the attacker before the plane landed, and Saudi authorities placed the suspect under arrest. Flydubai confirmed all passengers were safe, while the Israel Airports Authority set up an information center for families.

Industry News

Abu Dhabi Invests Billions in Zero Hormuz Strategy to Safeguard Trade

Abu Dhabi is preparing to deploy tens of billions of dollars into ports, pipelines, and logistics to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Sovereign wealth fund L'imad is anchoring the effort alongside ADNOC and DP World to develop trade infrastructure around Fujairah. The initiative includes plans to privatise Abu Dhabi Ports Co. at an estimated $9 billion valuation.

China–UAE News

Robbyant and Arab Federation for Digital Economy Sign Middle East AI Robotics MoU

Shanghai Robbyant Technology has signed a framework cooperation memorandum with the Arab Federation for Digital Economy at the Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou. The agreement establishes a mechanism to advance full-stack embodied artificial intelligence and robotics deployment across the UAE, GCC, and Middle East. Planned commercial applications span logistics, hospitality, retail, real estate, healthcare, and smart cities.