European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2, via Reuters.
Morning. Steve Moore here. Satellite images dated 24 October show that the oil spill off the UAE’s northern coast has widened, Reuters reported on Monday. UAE authorities have not named the tanker or said what caused the spill, the report said.
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Beaches remain closed
Reuters says images from the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites show dark oil layers at sea and along Umm Al Quwain’s coastline. Experts told the news agency the oil came from the tanker Gem No. 2.
Closures announced on Friday and Saturday cover beaches and coastal areas in Umm Al Quwain, Al Hamriyah Beach in Sharjah and all beaches in Ras Al Khaimah. Gulf News reported on Monday that Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah had not announced reopening dates.
Cairo gives El Sisi authority to act
Egypt’s parliament has authorised President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia. El Sisi has said Egypt will act only if Riyadh asks, and The National reported on Monday that no formal Saudi request had been announced.
Parliament said a two-thirds majority approved the mandate to defend Saudi territory, sovereignty and holy sites against external aggression, following coordination with Riyadh. It did not publish an exact tally from the closed-door vote.
The Egyptian government has not specified the size or form of any deployment. El Sisi said last week that the mission would defend Saudi territory and would not include an attack on Yemen, Agence France-Presse reports.
The opposition Egyptian Social Democratic Party abstained after asking for clearer objectives, a defined scope and duration, and an assessment of the risks to troops. The authorisation leaves the timing of any deployment to El Sisi.
Tehran talks end with a promise to keep talking
Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met Iranian officials on Monday. Their three countries signed the Mecca mutual defence pact in August; Egypt is not a signatory.
The four countries agreed to continue security consultations, according to a joint statement The New Arab reported. The statement announced no specific security agreement or new joint mechanism.
The Houthis meanwhile claimed fresh attacks on Riyadh airport and pumping stations on Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline. Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia did not immediately confirm those claims.
Riyadh’s flight cancellations reach 86%
Reuters reported that Cirium data show 4,071 of 4,736 scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport were cancelled between 8 and 25 October, or about 86%. Across Saudi Arabia, 45% of scheduled departures were cancelled during the same period.
Saudi authorities partially reopened Riyadh’s airport on Sunday, allowing domestic services from Terminal 1 and international services by national carriers from Terminal 2. Check your airline’s own flight status before travelling.
Hormuz traffic continues under threat
Brent closed at $114.96 a barrel on Monday, down from $116.72 on Friday. US Central Command says more than 3,000 commercial vessels have passed through Hormuz with its support over the past six months. Separately, UK Maritime Trade Operations reported on Monday that an outbound tanker was struck by an unknown projectile and disabled in the strait on Friday; CBS News said its crew were safe.
DP World signs Churchill trade agreement
The Dubai port operator’s Canadian business has signed an MOU with Arctic Gateway Group and CentrePort Canada to explore trade and transport opportunities through the Port of Churchill in Manitoba. The agreement covers port operations, logistics and a possible corridor connecting Churchill, the Hudson Bay Railway, CentrePort’s inland port and DP World’s global network.
Arctic Gateway owns and operates the port and railway. The announcement gives no investment sum or construction timetable for the proposed corridor.
The signing coincides with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed’s two-day Ottawa visit, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Canada’s government has listed defence, energy, critical minerals and infrastructure among the subjects for his talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Dubai raises its artificial intelligence targets
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has approved targets for Dubai AI Campus to attract more than 1,000 artificial intelligence companies and create over 5,000 highly skilled jobs by 2030. The Dubai Media Office says the campus, part of the Dubai International Financial Centre, has already attracted more than 500 companies and helped create over 2,000 specialised technology jobs.
In Abu Dhabi, Alpha Dhabi Holding has agreed to commit $1 billion to Alpha Wave III, a fund managed by Alpha Wave Global that expects to invest in artificial intelligence and other high-growth businesses. The commitment is subject to applicable approvals, and the company will pay the money over time as the fund calls for capital.
The Abu Dhabi company plans to use distributions from its earlier Alpha Wave Ventures II investment and existing resources to fund the commitment. That earlier fund gave it indirect exposure to SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic.
Loan-transfer restrictions remain a proposal
Emarat Al Youm reports that banks are preparing controls that would require borrowers to stay with their lender for a set period and pay a minimum number of instalments before transferring a loan. Its report relies on an unnamed banking source and identifies 1 January 2027 as the proposed start date.
The newspaper says the waiting period, number of instalments, scope and final start date remain subject to an official announcement. If you are considering a transfer, ask your bank for its current written terms.
Dubai closes lanes for self-driving taxi tests
The Roads and Transport Authority has announced daily closures from 9 am to 4 pm through Saturday 31 October on three lanes of Emirates Road, opposite Al Maktoum International Airport. The airport tunnel is also closed in both directions during those hours for highway testing by autonomous taxi companies. The authority advises drivers to plan ahead and follow directional signs.
What I am watching
I am watching for an official assessment of the spill’s extent and any notices about reopening the beach. I will also look for Ottawa readouts, details of the next Tehran meeting, and any Saudi request for Egyptian support.
Please share this briefing with someone living on the northern coast or following the UAE’s business abroad. Thank you for reading, and send stories, tips or perspectives to steve@emirateswire.co.uk.
If you work in shipping or export from Canada, I would welcome your view on Churchill as a trade route. What would it take to make it useful to your business?
Steve
Emirates Wire uses AI tools to assist with research, early drafting, fact-checking and copy-editing. Steve Moore reviews, edits and personally approves every sentence before publication.