Good morning from London. Saudi Arabia has restarted its East-West oil pipeline at a reduced rate, Reuters reports, while an Iranian official says the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within seven days if Washington eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. The proposed reopening remains conditional; the Iranian official’s account does not establish an agreement with Washington.
In Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid attended funeral prayers for his brother Sheikh Ahmed at Grand Zabeel Mosque on Tuesday. Sheikh Ahmed was laid to rest at Umm Hurair Cemetery as the emirate’s ten-day mourning period continued, with flags at half-mast.
Watch today
New York: Confirmed accounts of US–Gulf talks, any agreed next steps on Iran and further UAE statements at the UN.
Saudi exports: Evidence of cargoes loading at Yanbu and the pace of the pipeline’s return to normal operations.
Iranian airlines: Airport and airline notices as Washington’s sanctions deadline arrives.
Saudi oil returns to the East-West pipeline
Three sources briefed on the operation told Reuters that the pipeline restarted on Tuesday, following damage from drone attacks earlier this month. Two said it was pumping at a low rate, while another said Aramco was seeking to restore flows to four million barrels a day.
The line carries crude across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, providing an export route that bypasses Hormuz. One China-bound cargo was scheduled to load on Tuesday, but the report did not confirm it had loaded; Aramco had not immediately responded to a request for comment.
Separately, the senior Iranian official who spoke to Reuters said Tehran could reopen Hormuz within seven days if the US reduced military pressure and lifted the port blockade. The unnamed official said Iran’s delegation in New York had authority to revive diplomacy, with details of an agreement to end hostilities open to discussion through mediators.
UAE takes its priorities to the UN
In New York, the UAE attended Tuesday’s opening of the UN General Assembly’s General Debate. Industry Minister Sultan Al Jaber, Climate Change and Environment Minister Amna Al Dahak, and Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar represented the country, the UAE mission said.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed leads the wider delegation, whose stated priorities include conflict resolution, UN reform, responsible use of artificial intelligence, climate action and sustainable water supplies. He also held bilateral meetings with foreign ministers including those of Canada, South Korea and Portugal.
On Gaza, the UAE joined seven other countries in calling on Israel to fulfil its commitments under the peace plan, allow humanitarian aid and help restore essential infrastructure. Their foreign ministers met on Monday and called for the ceasefire to be preserved and for sustained US involvement in implementing the plan.
Saudi Arabia has also been asking Washington to authorise direct strikes against the Houthis. The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing administration officials, that President Donald Trump had ordered preparations for air strikes after an appeal from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, then decided against proceeding for the time being.
Firas Maksad, sharing comments he gave to the Financial Times, argued that the strain could accelerate Riyadh’s search for additional security partners while it seeks an accommodation with Tehran. Reuters has reported that Washington offered intelligence-sharing and targeting assistance, even as Trump declined direct strikes.
This edition is published at 5 am UK time. We’ll update our coverage as further details emerge from the meetings with President Trump and the UN General Assembly. If there are significant developments, we’ll publish a mid-morning follow-up with analysis and commentary.
Iranian airlines face US sanctions pressure
Alongside the diplomacy, Washington is pressing companies that keep Iranian aircraft flying. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that all Iranian commercial airlines would be “shut down around the world” from 23 September through the threat of sanctions on their service providers.
He warned that companies providing fuel, landing services or ticket sales risked exclusion from the US dollar system. His statement sets out the intended pressure; it does not establish that every Iranian carrier has stopped operating.
For readers with a booking, the useful check is the operating airline’s latest notice and the departure airport’s flight information. Do not assume that a warning about Iranian carriers establishes the status of a particular UAE flight.
Teaching children how AI works
Back in UAE classrooms, Education Minister Sarah Al Amiri is explaining how children can learn about artificial intelligence without using screens. In an interview published by Tes on Tuesday, she described a simple lesson: an AI system trained only on pictures of red apples might fail to recognise a green one.
The example teaches children how training data can shape a system’s answers. Al Amiri said pupils would learn how AI tools are developed, where bias enters and how to assess their responses.
Tes reports that the national AI literacy framework became mandatory in state schools this September, following a pilot during the previous academic year. Al Amiri said international schools could adapt it to their curricula, and that about 22,000 teachers would receive AI training by the end of the year.
The programme accompanies restrictions on classroom devices: public-school Year 6 pupils are to have screen-free English, Arabic, maths and science lessons. Abu Dhabi also has a separate AI literacy programme across more than 170 private schools, beginning with screen-free activities for younger children before progressing to AI tools.
Eagle Hills agrees terms for Maldives development
Abu Dhabi-based Eagle Hills has signed commercial terms with the Maldives government for a waterfront and marina development at Ras Malé. The project is planned to include hotels, homes and a marina, with residential leases of up to 99 years.
Reports differ on the proposed investment: The National’s updated account gives about $12 billion, while Maldivian outlet Sun reports $20 billion. Eagle Hills has yet to disclose its direct equity commitment and construction timetable, according to The National.
Abu Dhabi targets more visitors from India
While Eagle Hills plans accommodation overseas, Abu Dhabi’s tourism department is working to bring more visitors to the emirate. The Department of Culture and Tourism signed or renewed 21 agreements at last week’s Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, including partnerships covering travel distribution, hotels and destination marketing.
Nine marketing agreements with Indian travel companies target 75,500 additional visitors over 12- to 18-month terms. MakeMyTrip accounts for the largest individual target, 37,500 visitors over 18 months; these are partnership objectives, not arrivals already recorded.
What follows
I’ll be looking for a clear account of the New York talks, confirmed cargo loadings at Yanbu and the first operating notices from airlines affected by Washington’s deadline. Those developments will determine whether we return with a mid-morning update.
If you teach in the UAE, or have children at school there, I’d be interested to hear how the AI lessons and screen rules are working in practice. Reply to this email, or send a note to steve@emirateswire.co.uk.
If you’re on the school run, I hope the traffic is kind. Have a good Wednesday.
Steve
AI tools helped gather and check sources, draft the text and edit this edition. I reviewed and approved the copy and take responsibility for what Emirates Wire publishes.