Credit: Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court, via WAM
Morning. Steve Moore here. In Abu Dhabi, Emmanuel Macron’s visit produced a strategic defence framework and agreements on energy and artificial intelligence (AI). In Doha, US envoy Tom Barrack said regional governments could no longer expect America to solve all their problems. He also said the US was not leaving.
For the UAE, the unanswered question is what help its partners will provide in a crisis. The public accounts of the French agreements do not spell that out.
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Barrack calls for greater regional responsibility
The Wall Street Journal reports that Barrack urged governments to build regional security partnerships as America’s role changes. Barrack is the US ambassador to Turkey and President Donald Trump’s envoy for Syria and Iraq.
Speaking at the Global Security Forum, he said: “Everybody is saying: OK, I can’t rely on America to solve all my problems.” He said Trump would provide Saudi Arabia with logistical backing, but questioned further American ground intervention.
“America getting involved in a ground kinetic battle somewhere else seems fruitless,” he said, according to Jewish Insider’s account. “We’re not leaving,” he said. Al Jazeera also reported that Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman said negotiations between Washington and Tehran were continuing.
France and the UAE expand defence cooperation
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Macron witnessed the exchange of a Strategic Defence Partnership Framework and an agreement covering defence-industry cooperation.
The National reports an agreement to cooperate on the future F5 version of the Rafale fighter jet. It also reports plans to reduce reliance on other countries for defence capabilities. The report gives no quantity or price for a new aircraft order.
Diesel for France, industrial agreements for the UAE
France has an immediate interest in the relationship: fuel supplies. The Elysée says the UAE has committed to provide about 100,000 tonnes of additional diesel a month. AFP’s report gives no price or end date.
ADNOC Refining, part of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company group, signed two contracts with Technip Energies at the UAE–France Business Dialogue at Qasr Al Watan, covering refining capacity and sustainable aviation fuel. ADNOC Gas and Schneider Electric signed a preliminary agreement to assess technology that could improve energy-system performance.
French company AMI Labs also signed separate agreements with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, G42 and Analogue. Their work covers AI research, cloud computing, and robotics applications.
Houthi claims, Gulf coordination and a Konarak follow-up
The Houthis said on Monday that they had attacked an Aramco site in Yanbu, the Shaybah oilfield and airports in Riyadh and Abha. Reuters said Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the claims and that it could not independently verify them.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed condemned Houthi attacks on civilian sites and called for closer consultation within the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Egypt’s parliament is due to resume considering military support for Saudi Arabia on 26 October. That date marks the parliamentary process, not confirmation that Egypt will deploy troops.
Shafaq News reported on Monday that a US official had denied American forces attacked Iran’s Konarak naval base. Our earlier account carried Iran’s allegation, explicitly unverified, but did not include that denial. The attack and its attribution remain unverified by Emirates Wire.
Maven plans New York closure, citing Dubai opportunities
Bloomberg reports that Maven Investment Partners, which trades its own capital, is closing its New York office and sees its greatest growth potential in Dubai. The firm recently opened an office there.
A person familiar with the decision told Bloomberg that Maven’s leadership sees Dubai as a base for trading in Europe and Asia. Maven has about 20 employees in New York, but Bloomberg says it is unclear how many will be affected.
The firm declined to comment. Maven also has an office in Chicago.
Arada’s Saudi project
UAE developer Arada has established Arada KSA with Saudi partner XTOPIA. Its first project is a residential development in Riyadh’s Al Rimal district, with an estimated 3,500 villas and townhouses. The company’s announcement puts the project at 14 billion Saudi riyals, with construction and sales scheduled to begin in 2027.
Police reassure residents over unexplained odour
Closer to home, residents in parts of Sharjah, Dubai and Ajman have reported a strong smell resembling fuel or gas. Sharjah’s police chief said on Tuesday that the situation was “safe and stable” and posed no threat.
Lt Gen Abdullah bin Amer told the Direct Line radio programme that federal authorities were investigating and that they would provide further information. Sharjah Police did not identify the cause when The National asked.
Riyadh flights: the tentative restart has slipped
Tuesday’s edition listed tentative Emirates restart dates based on flight-tracking data reported by The National. Those dates have been superseded.
Flightradar24 now lists EK815, EK817 and EK819 from Dubai to Riyadh as cancelled on both 20 and 21 October. The tracker lists some later departures as scheduled, but that doesn't confirm they will operate.
Etihad’s own notice continues to list all Riyadh and Dammam flights as cancelled through Saturday 24 October, together with Jeddah services EY601, EY602, EY603 and EY604.
Check your flight status directly with the airline before travelling to the airport. Riyadh Airport’s reopening does not mean every carrier has resumed service.
Correction: Monday’s oil close
Monday’s Brent close was $109.55 a barrel, not the $110.09 given in Tuesday’s edition. Our statement that it had risen from Friday’s close was also wrong.
What I am watching
I am watching for the terms of the French defence agreements and further details of the diesel commitment. I also want to see the authorities’ explanation for the odour.
Please share this briefing with someone following the UAE’s security partnerships or planning a journey in the Gulf. Thank you for reading, and send stories, tips or perspectives to steve@emirateswire.co.uk.
If these new agreements affect your work, I would be interested to hear what they change in practice.
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.