Ports, shipping, aviation cargo, warehousing and trade
Ship-to-ship crude oil transfers in the Gulf of Oman have reached full capacity following the rerouting of Saudi crude through the Strait of Hormuz. Tanker charter rates for Middle East-China routes surged to a record $1.27 million daily, driven by the need for dozens of additional supertankers.
Commercial flights operated by Iraqi Airways between Iranian airports and Najaf resumed on September 28, 2026. Operations had been halted after foreign ground-handling companies refused aircraft servicing over concerns regarding U.S. sanctions. The resumption follows intervention by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi after protests at Najaf International Airport.
Mohamed Juma Al Musharrkh, CEO of the Sharjah FDI Office (Invest in Sharjah), outlined the emirate's strategy focusing on foreign direct investment, artificial intelligence, and economic diversification. Sharjah attracted 142 FDI projects worth AED 7.74 billion ($2.1 billion) in 2025, with around 75 percent already operational. The agency is targeting quality investments across technology, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and logistics, while expanding outreach across Asian and global markets.
A recent joint crackdown in Dubai seizing 17 tankers has brought renewed attention to UAE environmental penalties ranging from Dh500 to Dh10 million. Federal and local frameworks penalise improper industrial and hazardous waste disposal with fines up to Dh1 million, rising to Dh10 million for serious nuclear-related violations. In Dubai, specific municipal regulations impose penalties up to Dh500,000 for waste infractions and Dh100,000 for illegal wastewater discharge.
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