Good morning from London. Qatar has called for Gulf governments to work together to help secure a settlement between Washington and Tehran, ahead of prospective talks with Donald Trump in New York this week. Iran, meanwhile, has threatened retaliation against American bases and countries supporting another US attack. For anyone travelling through the Gulf, the US mission’s immediate advice is to watch for disruption.
What to look out for
New York: Confirmation of the proposed Trump meeting with Gulf leaders and senior officials, including who will attend and what they will discuss.
Saudi oil exports: An Aramco update on the East-West pipeline repairs and October supplies to European customers.
Travel: Airline and airport notices following the US warning about possible cancellations and airspace closures.
Qatar calls for a joint Gulf approach
Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said on Sunday that Gulf states must work together to restore stability and help settle the US–Iran conflict, telling Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain at the Qatar Economic Forum in New York: “We have to act together responsibly as a region”. He said messages were passing between Washington and Tehran, confirming that communication continues without announcing a breakthrough.
Trump is expected to meet Gulf leaders and senior officials on Tuesday during the United Nations General Assembly, Reuters reported, citing Axios; the White House had not confirmed the arrangement. Trump also said on Sunday that he would “probably be open” to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. But he told Fox News he was in “deciding mode” over Iran, with further military action and a negotiated deal among the options.
For the UAE and its neighbours, the question is whether Qatar’s appeal produces a common negotiating position. A confirmed meeting and an agreed agenda would give us something more concrete to assess this week.
Iran threatens countries backing another US attack
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command said on Sunday that another US attack would bring retaliation against American bases and interests throughout the region, and warned that countries supporting the operation would be treated as participants. It claimed unnamed regional governments had backed renewed American action at a meeting in Europe, without supplying evidence that could independently establish the allegation.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also said Hormuz would remain closed until Washington fulfilled commitments under the June agreement. Washington and Tehran gave conflicting accounts of traffic through the strait: US Central Command said cargo movements had increased, while Iran rejected its account. Ghalibaf’s statement should therefore be read as Tehran’s negotiating position, not evidence that all shipping has stopped.
Saudi Arabia reports interceptions after Houthi attacks
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh at dawn on Saturday and thwarted attacks on other locations, including Yanbu. The Houthis claimed attacks on “sensitive” sites in the capital and an Aramco facility in Yanbu, using missiles and drones.
Reuters footage showed flames and black smoke near Riyadh’s main airport, but the reporting did not establish the cause or identify what was damaged. The US subsequently cited Houthi hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports, in its regional travel warning.
US mission shares warning for Gulf travellers
The US Mission to the UAE shared a regional notice on Sunday urging Americans already in the Middle East to stay vigilant and prepare for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruption. Americans outside the region were advised to “seriously reconsider travel to and through” it, with travellers told to monitor airport and airline information.
The post does not announce UAE airport closures or instruct Americans to leave the country. If you have a booking, check the airline’s operating notice before changing plans; a regional warning does not determine the status of an individual flight.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office also advises British nationals in the region to prepare for possible cancellations and periodic airspace closures. Its UAE advice tells travellers to follow local authorities’ instructions and keep departure plans under review.
Aramco customers face an October supply gap
Saudi Arabia’s damaged export infrastructure is also affecting deliveries beyond the Gulf: Aramco has told at least two European refining customers that they will receive no crude in October, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters carried the report but said it could not independently verify it, and Aramco had not responded to its request for comment.
The disruption follows the attack on the East-West pipeline, which carries crude to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Bloomberg reported last week that Aramco was working towards a partial restart within days and full capacity within six weeks, citing a person familiar with the work; the report did not confirm that flows had resumed.
UAE source challenges account of Netanyahu warning
Separately, an Emirati response has added to the dispute over whether President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed personally warned Benjamin Netanyahu before the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023. An unnamed UAE official source told The National that the country discusses security matters through the relevant entities and “does not discuss such details at the level of national leaders”.
Haaretz had reported a warning during a telephone conversation about ten days before the attack; Netanyahu’s office denied the account. The latest response challenges the claimed leadership channel, while the UAE’s earlier statement said relevant intelligence was exchanged between agencies.
Check the date your mortgage resets
Back to household finances: three-month EIBOR, the Emirates Interbank Offered Rate, reached 4.36% on Friday, according to Central Bank data carried by Trading Economics. The UAE’s Base Rate is now 3.9%, following last week’s increase.
An EIBOR-linked mortgage changes according to its contractual reset terms, so a higher daily benchmark does not necessarily mean a higher instalment immediately. Borrowers still within a fixed-rate period generally keep their agreed rate until that period ends. If yours is approaching, ask the bank to confirm the new pricing formula and your next reset date.
Ras Al Khaimah plans an aircraft test zone
Elsewhere in the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah has agreed to develop an advanced-air-mobility test zone with Aridge, the Chinese company affiliated with XPeng. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi witnessed the agreement between the company, the emirate’s transport authority and its civil aviation department on Friday.
Aridge will provide aircraft and a specialist team for phased testing of safety, airspace requirements and operating procedures. Potential uses include transport and emergency response, but future operations remain subject to regulatory approval and readiness; the announcement does not establish a passenger service or launch date.
Real Madrid take the trophy on Yas Island
On Yas Island, Real Madrid beat Olympiacos 93–89 at Etihad Arena on Saturday to win the inaugural European Basketball SuperCup. Fenerbahçe finished third after defeating Dubai Basketball 85–77 in the other game at the two-day tournament.
The week ahead
The first question for New York is whether Gulf governments can turn Qatar’s appeal into a proposal they are prepared to pursue together. I will look for a confirmed meeting and a clear account of what follows, while watching for practical notices that affect journeys and deliveries.
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If you’re travelling through the Gulf this week, I hope you hear more boarding calls than security alerts. Have a good Monday.