Apple has only just unveiled its iPhone 18 Pro models, but speculation around the company’s next major milestone device is already gathering pace. The so-called iPhone 20, expected in September 2027, could bring one of the most significant redesigns to Apple’s flagship smartphone in a decade.

The timing is particularly important. The iPhone will turn 20 next year, marking two decades since Steve Jobs introduced the original device in 2007. Apple used the 10th anniversary in 2017 to launch the iPhone X, a product that fundamentally changed the design of its smartphone lineup. Reports suggest the company could be preparing a similar moment for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple is developing a special anniversary model with “curved glass around all corners and edges” and slimmer bezels. According to Gurman’s reporting, the device would represent the biggest redesign of Apple’s current iPhone Pro line since the iPhone X.

Read: Apple unveils iPhone 18 Pro and first foldable iPhone Duo: UAE prices, pre-order dates

A radical new look could be coming

The biggest change could be visible the moment users pick up the phone.

Reports indicate that Apple is exploring a quad-curved, all-glass design in which the display curves around all four sides, concealing much of the metal frame. MacRumors, citing information from Apple’s supply chain and other reports, says Apple is working with Samsung on an “equal-depth quad-curved” display to achieve the effect.

Read more: Want to buy the iPhone 18? Here’s when it could be available

If the technology makes it into the final product, the iPhone 20 could have a more uninterrupted glass appearance than current models. Rather than simply refining the existing design, Apple would be changing the basic visual architecture of its flagship phone.

The display itself could also be thinner and brighter. Apple is reportedly considering Samsung OLED panels using Colour Filter on Encapsulation, or COE, technology. The approach can reduce the thickness of the display stack while improving light transmission, potentially allowing for higher brightness without requiring a corresponding increase in power consumption.

Apple could finally hide Face ID and the camera

One of the longest-running iPhone rumors could also become reality in 2027.

Apple is reportedly continuing to work on under-display Face ID and camera technology. The goal would be to move the necessary sensors beneath the screen, eliminating the visible cutout that has remained part of the iPhone’s front design.

That would allow the display to occupy more of the front surface and potentially deliver the uninterrupted screen Apple has been working toward for years.

But this remains one of the biggest question marks surrounding the iPhone 20. Apple has reportedly been developing under-display Face ID for several years, with previous expectations repeatedly pushed back. Even if the technology is being tested internally, there is no guarantee it will be ready for a commercial launch in 2027.

The familiar buttons could become a thing of the past

Apple could also rethink the physical controls on the iPhone 20.

According to reports cited by MacRumors, Apple is testing solid-state replacements for the Side, Volume, Action and Camera Control buttons. Instead of physically moving when pressed, the controls would use haptic feedback to give users the sensation of pressing a button.

The approach could help Apple create a more seamless frame while reducing the number of moving components in the device.

It would also fit with the larger design direction reportedly being considered for the anniversary iPhone: fewer visible breaks in the exterior and a greater emphasis on a continuous glass-and-metal structure.

Apple could take greater control of the components

The changes may not stop with the exterior.

Apple has been working to reduce its reliance on outside suppliers for critical components, and the iPhone 20 could become an important showcase for that strategy.

Apple’s own modem technology has already begun appearing in lower-cost and newer devices through the C1 and C1X chips. Reports suggest that an Apple-designed modem could eventually reach the company’s premium iPhones in the United States, potentially giving Apple greater control over an important part of the phone’s hardware.

The camera system could undergo a similar shift. Apple is reportedly developing a custom stacked image sensor that could eventually replace Sony sensors used in its iPhones. According to reports, Apple has already produced a working prototype.

The sensor is said to use LOFIC technology, which could allow individual pixels to handle different amounts of light and potentially deliver significantly greater dynamic range. Whether those capabilities translate into a noticeable improvement in real-world photography will depend on the final hardware and Apple’s image-processing software.

A21 chip and new battery technology could boost performance

The anniversary iPhone is also expected to receive a new generation of Apple’s custom silicon.

If Apple’s naming cycle continues, the iPhone 20 could be powered by an A21 chip built using second-generation 2-nanometer technology. The A20 is expected to arrive with the iPhone 18 generation, making the A21 the logical successor for the 2027 flagship.

Apple is also reportedly evaluating mobile high-bandwidth memory using vertically stacked DRAM. Such a system could increase memory bandwidth, an increasingly important consideration as Apple pushes more artificial intelligence processing directly onto its devices.

Battery technology could receive an overhaul as well. Apple is reportedly investigating silicon-anode batteries, which can store more lithium ions per gram than traditional graphite-based designs. If commercialized, the technology could provide additional battery capacity without requiring a larger battery.

Two familiar sizes could remain

Despite the potential changes, Apple is not expected to completely rethink the iPhone’s physical dimensions.

The anniversary models are reportedly expected to come in sizes broadly comparable with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with displays of approximately 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches.

That would allow Apple to introduce a dramatically different design without forcing customers to adjust to an entirely new size category.

Apple’s product ambitions go well beyond the iPhone

The iPhone 20 is only one part of a much larger hardware roadmap reportedly taking shape at Apple.

Bloomberg’s reporting on Apple’s longer-term product plans indicates that the company is exploring a tabletop robotic version of its smart home hub for 2028. The device could have a roughly 9-inch screen and a robotic arm that moves the display to interact with users and assist with activities such as FaceTime calls.

Apple is also reportedly working toward a more powerful Mac Studio using an M7 Ultra chip, while a lighter redesign of the Vision Pro headset could arrive around late 2028 or early 2029.

Another more experimental project involves a potential AI pendant equipped with a camera. The device could be worn around the neck or clipped to clothing and would reportedly use the iPhone as part of its broader computing system. The concept would give Apple another way to deliver AI features without requiring users to wear glasses or earbuds.

Foldable devices remain another major possibility. Bloomberg has reported that Apple is discussing a larger third-generation foldable iPhone for 2028. The company has also previously explored a foldable iPad with a display approaching 20 inches, although that project has faced manufacturing, pricing and practicality problems.

A milestone device — if Apple can deliver

MacRumors’ latest reporting on the iPhone 20 points to a collection of technologies that, taken together, could make the anniversary model far more than a routine annual upgrade.

The list includes a quad-curved glass design, thinner bezels, potentially hidden Face ID and camera hardware, solid-state buttons, a new OLED display, an Apple-designed modem, a custom image sensor, a next-generation A21 processor, new battery technology and faster memory.

But there is still a significant amount of time between Apple’s current development work and a September 2027 launch. Features can be delayed, redesigned or abandoned before they reach production, particularly when they involve technologies as complicated as under-display sensors and new display architectures.

MacRumors itself cautions that Apple’s plans can change and that some ambitious features have a history of slipping by a year or more.

Still, the direction is clear. If even a substantial portion of these reported technologies makes it into the final product, the iPhone 20 could become Apple’s most ambitious smartphone redesign since the iPhone X.

For a company that has spent much of the past 15 years refining established product categories while building recurring revenue through services, the anniversary iPhone could offer a chance to make a much bigger statement about where its flagship hardware is headed next.

Dubai’s hotel occupancy rose to 66 per cent in August, as international visitor numbers continued to rise, the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) said in a statement.

Occupancy in August reached 89 per cent of the level recorded in the same month last year and was up from 36 per cent in March, according to figures released by DET on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026.

Dubai welcomed about 869,000 international overnight visitors in August, its highest monthly total since February, taking international arrivals in the first eight months of 2026 to 6.97 million, DET said.

Hotels recorded 21.61 million occupied room nights between January and August, while the city’s hotel inventory approached 149,000 rooms by the end of August.

Western Europe remained Dubai’s largest visitor source region in the first eight months of the year, accounting for 20 per cent of arrivals, followed by South Asia at 17 per cent, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at 16 per cent, and the Commonwealth of Independent States and Eastern Europe at 14 per cent.

“The results so far this year reflect the continued efforts of everyone who contributes to Dubai’s visitor economy, from our global hospitality and tourism partners to the people across the city who co-create the experience visitors come here to enjoy,” Issam Kazim, chief executive of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said in a statement.

Dubai continues to welcome rising number of international visitors: DET

Kazim said Dubai continued to welcome international visitors at significant scale, supported by a diverse source-market mix, hospitality infrastructure and an evolving tourism offering.

Dubai said tourism, hospitality and entertainment businesses had benefited from government support measures that formed part of Dhs2.5bn in economic incentives introduced earlier this year following regional disruption that affected travel and business activity.

The recent DET-driven ‘A Dubai Invite’ also encouraged Dubai residents from almost 200 nationalities to invite family and friends to experience the city, with over 90,000 residents applying for benefits through the programme.

DET said Emirates had restored 97 per cent of its global network, while load factors at Dubai International Airport were approaching 2025 levels as international connectivity continued to recover.

The department is participating in ATM with more than 115 co-exhibitors from across Dubai’s tourism ecosystem, including hotel groups, attractions, destination management companies, aviation partners and government entities.

DET is also hosting more than 300 international travel trade professionals from over 40 countries through its ATM Hosted Buyers Programme.

The 33rd edition of Arabian Travel Market runs from September 14 to September 17 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Read: DXB traffic recovery gathers pace as passenger volumes climb through Q2

OpenAI will not go public in 2026, chief executive Sam Altman said in remarks published on Saturday, citing safety concerns over artificial intelligence that render “unacceptable” even a 10 per cent risk that AI could cause human extinction by decade’s end.

The comments come as more US lawmakers urge new rules to govern AI systems after dire warnings from two researchers from OpenAI rival Anthropic that rapidly progressing AI could lead to the extinction of the human race ‌in the not-too-distant future.

“I actually think that, given everything happening with safety, right now would be an ill-advised moment to go public, and we don’t feel pressure on that,” Altman told business magazine Fortune.

Asked if there was a 10 per cent chance of AI-driven extinction, Altman said he did not know how such an estimate could be made, but warned the risk was serious enough that AI companies and governments should act as though it could not be tolerated.

“Whether it’s 10 or eight or six, the point is, we all have a tremendous amount of responsibility, and cannot let egos or incentives for profit or anything else get in the way,” Altman added.

“We need to act such that we are not taking any of those numbers of risk, and I believe we can.”

AI agents going rogue

Politicians, both Democrat and Republican, have responded with alarm and calls for more action after cases of AI agents going rogue to hack external systems and AI ​safety researchers quitting their companies out of concern at the technology risks.

In June, the New York Times said San Francisco-based OpenAI was considering whether to hold off until next year on a potentially trillion-dollar IPO.

At the time, shares in Elon Musk’s SpaceX IPO were tumbling after a surge that sent that company’s valuation to $1.8 trillion.

Asked by Fortune if an IPO date of 2026 was off the table in favor of 2027, Altman said, “I would say not 2026.

“We got a lot of stuff to do, like meeting this moment of what is going to be required for safety and alignment, and how the industry and governments can work together.”

Altman also suggested that OpenAI and other leading AI firms may be close to unveiling a pact to slow AI development and work together to tackle safety risks, Fortune said.

Call for responsible approach

On Saturday, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei urged AI companies to take a more deliberate approach to development.

“We must slow the ‌pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models,” Amodei wrote in an essay on X.

Altman later posted that he agreed with the sentiment.

“I agree with Dario that we need to pace the frontier,” Altman wrote. “This has been a primary topic of discussions we’ve had at OpenAI in recent weeks.”

Safety concerns have not slowed Anthropic’s own IPO plans. It is expected to begin marketing its initial public offering in mid-October at the earliest and complete the listing days before the U.S. midterm elections in November, people familiar with the matter told Reuters this month.

Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, adding to concerns about Iran-related threats to energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline.

The British navy-affiliated agency ‌UKMTO said it had a report of a projectile hitting a vessel as it moved through the Strait of Hormuz. The amount of damage and the status of the crew were unknown as of early Sunday, the agency said.

UKMTO’s report came the day after Saudi Arabia said it had temporarily closed its East-West pipeline as a precaution after a drone attack that both Baghdad and Riyadh said had originated in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias operate.

Read more: Saudi Arabia shuts down East-West oil pipeline after drone attack

Ongoing attacks in the widening Middle East war could send energy prices even higher after a week that saw the cost of Brent crude surge back above $100 a barrel.

The 1,200-km East-West pipeline running across the Arabian Peninsula has served as the main route out for global supplies of Middle East oil for the past six months while the Strait of Hormuz has been largely shut by war.

It has been moving 4 million to 5 million barrels per day, amounting to 4-5 per cent of global supply, sparing Saudi Arabia the brunt of the disruption that has crippled other Gulf oil and gas exporters.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strikes on the pipeline. Satellite images showed black smoke rising from an area of the pipeline south of Medina. The attack resulted in some injuries and damage that was being assessed, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said without detailing the impact on exports.

US President Donald Trump, visiting Ireland to attend a golf tournament at one of his resorts, said Iran was probably to blame.

On Saturday, the Saudi Civil Defence said in a statement that a projectile fired by the Houthis had injured two people in Jazan region, and damaged several buildings, including a mosque.

Saudi Arabia has shut down its East-West pipeline after the vital oil conduit came under aerial attack.

The world’s largest crude oil exporter temporarily closed the pipeline after a drone attack that both Baghdad and Riyadh said had originated in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias operate. Iraq dismissed a military commander on Saturday in response to the attack.

The 1,200-kilometre (745-mile) pipeline running across the Arabian Peninsula had helped Saudi Arabia to bypass a shipping logjam in the Strait of Hormuz, where tanker traffic has slowed to a trickle due to the war between the US and Iran.

The Saudi energy ministry said it had shut the pipeline as a precaution. The line has been moving 4 million to 5 million barrels per day in recent months, amounting to 4 – 5 per cent of global supply, according to ship tracking companies and analysts.

The attack comes as Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen tightened their grip in the Red Sea, which combined with the Strait of Hormuz disruptions has put an energy squeeze on both sides of the Arabian Peninsula and sent global oil prices back above $100 per barrel.

Four Yemeni government sources told Reuters that Houthis had seized the strategic island of Perim on Friday at the mouth of the Red Sea, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The East-West pipeline was hit on Thursday morning in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh and Medina regions, the Saudi energy ministry said.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the strikes. Satellite images showed black smoke rising from an area of the pipeline south of Medina. The attack resulted in some injuries and damage that was being assessed, the Saudi foreign ministry said without detailing the impact on exports.

The cashiered Iraqi military commander had led operations in Maysan province, according to Saturday’s statement by the Iraqi prime minister’s office. Maysan province, which borders Iran in southeastern Iraq, has long been regarded as an area where Iran-backed Shi’ite militias operate and maintain influence.

Saudi Arabia has opted against retaliation so far following a request from the Iraqi prime minister, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement, while adding the kingdom reserves the right to “take all measures necessary” to protect its interests. Iraq’s government condemned attacks.

Saudi crude supply fell to the lowest levels in more than three decades, the International Energy Agency said on Friday, partly due to attacks on ships transiting Bab el-Mandeb by Houthi-linked groups.