Morning. Steve Moore here. Donald Trump says the US will not attack Iran before the American midterm elections on 3 November, citing what he calls “productive discussions” with Tehran. The US naval blockade will remain in place.
His statement came on Thursday as shipping data showed fewer commodity vessels crossing Hormuz and Saudi Arabia reported three deaths in attacks on two airports. The pledge offers no guarantee of safe passage for crews or an end to the fighting in Yemen.
At home, Dubai has set out where shared housing can operate and how existing properties must comply. It has also announced a timetable for new area signs and house-number plates.
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Trump’s election deadline
“We will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the Midterm Elections to be held in the United States on November 3rd,” the president wrote on Truth Social. He said discussions were productive but gave no details of an agreement, while keeping the blockade of Iranian ports in force.
Trump’s announcement follows reports that he was considering strikes before the vote, Bloomberg says. His new statement sets a limit on US action before polling day; it does not establish a settlement or say what will happen afterwards.
The enrichment dispute remains unresolved. Earlier this week, Vice President JD Vance called for meaningful action to reduce Iran’s enrichment capacity and questioned why it needed fuel enriched to 60%. An unnamed senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran’s right to enrichment was a “red line” it would never surrender.
Those statements leave an important question unanswered: would Tehran accept limits while retaining enrichment at lower levels? Refusing to abandon enrichment does not, by itself, rule out reducing its scale.
Fewer ships through Hormuz
Reuters reports that shipping analytics firm Kpler tracked seven commodity vessels crossing Hormuz on Tuesday, the lowest count since 23 July. The number rose to 10 on Wednesday, after more than 20 crossed on Sunday and Monday.
These are tracked commodity vessels, not a complete count of every ship. Kpler excludes crossings made with location transponders switched off, while a separate measure from data provider LSEG recorded eight vessels on Tuesday.
The danger extends well inside the Gulf. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a tanker was struck by multiple projectiles on Wednesday, 51 nautical miles north of Madinat ash Shamal in Qatar. Casualties were reported, but the account gave no number.
The Irish Examiner, carrying Guardian reporting, says security sources recorded at least 12 attacks on oil and gas tankers around Hormuz in the week to 5 October. That period is distinct from the subsequent Qatar incident.
Exporters are using other outlets to compensate. Reuters says crude exports from the Gulf of Oman coast and Red Sea ports reached 6.7 million barrels a day, more than twice their pre-conflict level, helping keep overall Middle Eastern crude exports at their pre-conflict level. Those regional totals include routes outside Hormuz and should not be read as evidence that the strait is safe.
Saudi airports report casualties
On land, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said attacks on Abha and Riyadh’s King Khalid airports on Tuesday and Wednesday killed three people and wounded 36. An Egyptian and an Algerian national died at Abha, and a Sudanese national died at King Khalid, according to the authority’s account reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The Houthis claimed attacks on both airports, and the Saudi-led coalition blamed the group and promised retaliation. The authority’s casualty statement did not allocate each death to a particular day.
Riyadh heard explosions again on Thursday. Diplomats told AFP they had been instructed to shelter in their embassies, while residents said international schools were taking precautions; at least one school moved children into a basement. AFP said no official statement about that morning’s incident, or text warning to residents, had been issued at the time of its report.
Brent’s evening position
Brent was quoted at $103.34 a barrel at 9.25 pm London on Thursday, up $3.14 on the previous session. This is a timestamped evening quote, not a confirmed settlement price.
Where Dubai permits shared housing
For Dubai residents sharing a home, the municipality’s new guide sets out requirements under Law No. 4 of 2026. More than 44 areas have been approved, including Al Souq Al Kabeer, Al Ras, Al Warqa 1, Al Barsha 1, Al Muraqqabat and Al Rigga, with further areas to be announced.
The restrictions concern shared accommodation. Gulf News and Khaleej Times report that properties on Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Road, Al Wasl Road and Baniyas Road must be family-shared, excluding individual shared housing.
Permits and occupancy standards matter, as does location. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) says each existing building must be allocated to individual or family accommodation, bedrooms must provide at least five square metres per person, and each family must have a separate bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.
The law took effect on 8 September 2026. Existing operators have a year from that date to comply, but the grace period does not excuse unsafe alterations, building violations or unauthorised changes of use, according to the municipality’s announcement carried by WAM.
Article 29 sets fines from Dh500 to Dh500,000. Repeating the same violation within a year doubles the fine, subject to a Dh1 million ceiling; the maximum is not the automatic penalty for every breach.
New signs, starting this year
Dubai is also changing how people navigate its neighbourhoods. The Supreme Committee for Urban Planning, working with the Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Municipality, has announced an addressing programme covering 186 areas across 19 sectors, with a phased rollout from the final quarter of 2026 through 2030.
The first phase covers Za’abeel 1, Za’abeel 2, Nad Al Sheba, Al Khawaneej 1 and Nazwa, with more than 2,000 signs installed or replaced. Five colours will reflect the character of different areas, including blue near the sea and gold in desert settings.
House-number plates will include each property’s Makani location number and a QR code. The aim is to make addresses easier to identify; the programme includes area signs, internal street-name signs, and plates.
Also in the UAE
WAM reported on Thursday that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa discussed expanding economic and development cooperation by phone. They also discussed regional security; the report said they reached no new agreement.
Mosques across the UAE have been directed to hold rain prayers today, 9 October, half an hour before the usual Friday prayers. The prayer is known in Arabic as Salaat Al Istisqaa.
What to watch today
Diplomacy: Whether Tehran responds to Trump’s pledge and whether either side gives details of the discussions.
Shipping: Further information on the tanker struck north of Qatar, including the crew’s condition.
Saudi Arabia: Official updates on airport operations and safety instructions for residents.
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I write and edit Emirates Wire, and welcome your questions, corrections and first-hand accounts. Reply to this email, leave a comment or write to steve@emirateswire.co.uk.
If you rent or manage shared accommodation in Dubai, I’d like to hear what the new requirements mean in practice. Have a good weekend.
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.
Thank you, Steve. The distinction you highlight between Trump’s pre-election strike moratorium and an actual diplomatic settlement is crucial for reading the markets correctly right now.