The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority announced an immediate suspension of all passenger and cargo flights operated by Iranian carriers on September 24, 2026. The move follows newly implemented U.S. sanctions targeting third-party companies that service Iranian aircraft. The suspension has disrupted major transit routes connecting Asia, Europe, and the Arabian Peninsula.
The Saudi Central Bank confirmed on September 22, 2026, that it has ended its formal participation in the mBridge cross-border digital currency platform. The initiative continues to operate with central banks from mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Macau. Analysts cited by the South China Morning Post noted that the exit removes the Gulf's largest economy from direct membership.
Chinese technology firm Alibaba announced plans to enlarge its data centre facilities in the United Arab Emirates alongside several other international markets over the next 12 months. The expansion is part of a plan to surpass 20 gigawatts of global data centre capacity by 2032 to support artificial intelligence workloads. The company also introduced a new AI chip called Zhenwu V900.
Chinese direct investment across the MENA region doubled to $4.8 billion in 2025, driven largely by capital inflows into the UAE. Net direct investment in the UAE grew 237.7% to $2.6 billion, raising China's total investment stock in the country to $12.47 billion. The UAE now holds more than 40% of China's investment stock in the MENA region and receives over 50% of its new capital flows.
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