State-owned Qatar Airways has appointed Hamad al-Khater as the group’s chief executive officer, effective December 7, replacing Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, the airline announced on Sunday.

Al-Meer had taken over the role in October 2023 following the retirement of long-serving chief Akbar Al Baker, who led the carrier for nearly three decades and became one of the most influential figures in global aviation.

Hamad al-Khater previously served as chief operating officer at Hamad International Airport and has held senior positions at QatarEnergy, bringing cross-sector operational experience to the national carrier as it continues its global expansion and fleet modernisation plans.

Shares of India’s IndiGo INGL.NS fell 7.5 per cent on Monday, poised for their worst session in more than a year, after a staffing crisis at the country’s top airline triggered mass flight cancellations and fuelled concerns about spiralling costs.

The stock dropped to 4,974 rupees, its lowest level since May 9.

IndiGo is reeling from its worst operational crisis after a pilot shortage last week, compounded by inadequate planning for new rules on crew working hours, triggered thousands of flight cancellations, stranded passengers and forced the government to intervene to curb a spike in air fares.

On Sunday, the civil aviation watchdog gave the firm 24 hours to explain why it should not face regulatory action.

Analysts at Jefferies warned that the ongoing disruptions will inflate IndiGo‘s non-fuel costs and potentially add penalties if there is any regulatory action, while a weaker rupee pushes up dollar-linked expenses such as leases, maintenance and fuel.

IndiGo‘s expenses rose 18.5 per cent to $2.45bn in the quarter ended September 30, eclipsing revenue of $2.06bn, with forex costs accounting for 13.1 per cent of total costs.

Meanwhile, shares of rival SpiceJet SPJT.BO jumped 13.9 per cent on Monday.

IndiGo shares slumped 9 per cent last week, marking their steepest weekly drop since June 2022, when a surge in COVID-19 cases hit air travel demand.

The UAE is entering a week defined by elevated humidity, recurring fog risks and a generally steady atmospheric pattern, according to forecasts issued by the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM). With a combination of surface and upper-air low-pressure systems influencing the region, conditions are expected to remain fair to partly cloudy through the end of the week, offering businesses and residents a clear picture of what lies ahead.

Meteorologists report that the country is currently under the impact of an extended surface low-pressure system advancing from the East.

Read more-Fog, dust and humidity: NCM warns of shifting conditions in UAE

This system, paired with an upper-air low-pressure trough, is supporting a stable but moisture-rich environment across the UAE. These conditions are creating early-morning fog and mist risks, especially in coastal and internal western areas, prompting warnings for motorists and transportation operators, a WAM report said.

Throughout the week, skies are expected to transition between fair and partly cloudy, with cloud cover becoming more noticeable over western regions early in the week and shifting toward eastern areas by mid-week.

Moderate winds and calm seas support maritime stability

Wind patterns will remain light to moderate, blowing from the southeast to the northeast at 10–20 km/hr and occasionally strengthening to 30 km/hr. These gentle wind conditions, combined with slight sea states in both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea, provide a stable backdrop for maritime industries, including shipping, fishing and offshore operations.

Temperature fluctuations will be pronounced across different landscapes. Coastal and island areas will see highs of around 31°C, dipping to 16°C overnight. Internal regions may reach up to 32°C by day, with nighttime temperatures dropping significantly to 11°C. Mountainous zones will remain the coolest, with daytime temperatures ranging from 16°C to 22°C conditions that could influence outdoor activity planning and tourism in elevated regions.

Four-day outlook: Weekend fog remains a possibility

The NCM’s four-day outlook signals continued stability, with fair to partly cloudy weather dominating through Friday. Humidity is anticipated to rise again toward the end of the week, increasing the likelihood of fog or mist formation during early morning hours on Saturday. Cloud cover is also expected to intensify by Friday night over islands and western offshore areas, adding a layer of variability as the weekend approaches.

With visibility potentially dropping during peak fog hours, the NCM continues to urge caution on the roads, particularly for early commuters and logistics operators.

In this interview with Gulf Business, Jameel Motors chief commercial officer – Mobility – Youssef Hussein details the strategic launch of Farizon’s electric commercial vehicle lineup in the UAE, a move directly aligned with the nation’s ambitious ‘Net Zero by 2050’ policy. He explains how Jameel Motors is creating an integrated ecosystem of service, financing, and partnerships to ensure a smooth, cost-effective transition for commercial fleets.

Can you share Jameel Motors’ strategy for entering the UAE market and how it fits into your broader international expansion plans?

Jameel Motors’ entry into the UAE market represents a key phase in their international expansion strategy. The UAE is witnessing a rapid transition toward sustainable mobility, driven by ambitious government initiatives such as the Net Zero by 2050 strategic plan and the National Electric Fleet Vehicles Policy, which targets electric and hybrid vehicles comprising 50 per cent of all UAE road vehicles by 2050.

Farizon’s comprehensive lineup of electric commercial vehicles, ranging from light-duty vans to heavy-duty trucks are designed to meet the diverse operational demands of fleets across the UAE. These vehicles are built to deliver efficiency, reliability, and performance for a wide range of commercial applications, supporting the UAE’s broader shift toward sustainable transportation.

Our approach in the UAE reflects Jameel Motors’ wider international strategy of building integrated mobility ecosystems that go beyond vehicle sales to include financing, service infrastructure, and partnerships. This model, which we are scaling across multiple global markets, ensures a smooth and cost-efficient transition for commercial operators toward electrification.

How is Jameel Motors building the ecosystem to support commercial electric fleets, from charging infrastructure and fleet management to partnerships and service networks?

Our market approach is designed to make commercial EV adoption both practical and sustainable. We’ve established a dedicated authorised service centre in Dubai, with expansion plans across the emirates, ensuring comprehensive parts availability, and efficient solutions for our customers.

Beyond service infrastructure, we’re working closely with key partners across the ecosystem – including leasing companies, banks, insurance providers, roadside assistance teams, and charging infrastructure developers to provide the financial accessibility and operational support that fleets need to electrify confidently.

This collaborative model reduces risk, spreads investment across stakeholders, and ensures a smooth operational experience from the point of acquisition to long-term maintenance.

What sets Jameel Motors apart from other players in the UAE’s commercial EV space, and how are you creating a competitive advantage?

Our competitive edge lies in our ability to deliver end-to-end fleet electrification solutions rather than standalone products. Through our strategic leasing partners, we are working collaboratively to provide the best solutions to customers.

Through these measures we’ve built an ecosystem that supports fleet operators throughout their transition journey, offering tailored solutions that balance cost, uptime, and performance.

Our product range, powered by Farizon’s technology, covers every fleet category (light, medium, and heavy-duty), ensuring customers have access to vehicles suited to their specific business models and operational environments.

With commercial EV adoption projected to grow rapidly in the UAE, what are the key opportunities and challenges you see in scaling these fleets?

The UAE’s commercial EV sector is positioned for exponential growth, with the commercial vehicle market projected to expand from $2.6bn in 2025 to $3.95bn by 2030, and the electric segment growing at nearly 35 per cent annually.

The main opportunity lies in lowering the total cost of ownership. Electric vehicles deliver long-term operational savings through reduced maintenance costs, lower energy expenses, and higher efficiency. The challenge today lies in ensuring the availability of commercial-scale charging infrastructure, particularly for heavy-duty and long-haul applications.

With transport authorities across the emirates outlining roadmaps for network expansion and partnerships with private providers already underway, we are confident that infrastructure readiness will continue to strengthen in parallel with market demand.

How are government initiatives, such as the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 plan and the National Electric Fleet Vehicles Policy, shaping your approach to the market?

Government policy has been central to shaping our strategy in the UAE. The Net Zero by 2050 plan and the National Electric Fleet Vehicles Policy (2023) have set clear direction for the industry, targeting EVs and hybrids to make up half of all vehicles on UAE roads by mid-century.

These policies provide both the framework and the confidence for companies like ours to invest heavily in local infrastructure and partnerships. They also reinforce the growing alignment between sustainability goals and commercial viability, encouraging businesses to electrify with long-term certainty.

As infrastructure expands and emission standards tighten (particularly with Euro 6 regulations expected to increase ICE vehicle costs), we anticipate a significant acceleration in electric fleet adoption supported by both government leadership and market readiness.

Looking ahead, what trends in mobility, technology, or logistics do you think will have the biggest impact on commercial electric fleets in the region?

The coming years will see strong convergence between electrification, digitalization, and infrastructure development. As battery technology advances and ranges extend, electric vehicles will become increasingly viable for a wider range of fleet applications.

At the same time, data-driven fleet management will play a greater role in optimizing routes, monitoring vehicle performance, and reducing downtime (all key to maximising fleet uptime and profitability).

We also foresee greater collaboration among ecosystem players – from banks and charging providers to logistics operators, creating shared investment models that make electrification more accessible.

Supported by government-driven infrastructure development and a strong ecosystem of partners, the UAE is well-positioned to become a regional leader in commercial electric mobility.

DP World has signed an agreement with the Government of Afghanistan to develop and operate the country’s key land border facilities at Torkham and Hairatan, state news agency, WAM, reported.

The partnership marks a move to modernise Afghanistan’s main trade gateways and strengthen its role as a strategic transit corridor connecting Central and South Asia.

Torkham and Hairatan handle substantial commercial flows.

Public trade data show that several billion dollars of goods move across Afghanistan’s borders annually, with Pakistan alone accounting for more than $1.6bn in bilateral trade in 2024.

Limited infrastructure and manual procedures, however, have constrained the efficiency of these crossings.

Under a public–private partnership (PPP), DP World will conduct a comprehensive technical and financial feasibility study before finalising the concession.

The project is expected to include infrastructure upgrades, advanced cargo-handling systems, and digitalisation of border processes to improve efficiency, security and reliability.

The agreement was signed by Alhaj Mufti Abdul Mateen Saeed, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Revenue and Customs, and Nasser Al Neyadi, EVP of DP World.

DP World aims to build stronger links with Afghanistan and support growth

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and group CEO of DP World, said: “Efficient trade corridors are fundamental to economic resilience, and Afghanistan is uniquely positioned to benefit from stronger links with its neighbours. These gateways already support significant trade flows, and modernising them will help unlock far greater potential across the region. We believe that smarter, well-managed border infrastructure can create pathways to stability and opportunity, and we are committed to supporting Afghanistan as it builds a more connected and prosperous future.”

The project will prioritise local employment, skills development, and collaboration with national partners. The Afghan government will continue to oversee sovereign border functions, including customs, immigration, security and regulation, working alongside DP World to ensure seamless and secure operations.