India has directed shipping companies to stop deploying Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz until further notice, as escalating tensions in the Gulf continue to threaten commercial shipping and crew safety.

The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) issued the advisory on Wednesday through Circular No. 36 of 2026, citing the security situation following a series of attacks on merchant vessels operating in the region.

The advisory follows a series of attacks on merchant vessels in recent days, including the Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy, MT WEDYAN and Al Rekayyat, which the DGMA said had significantly increased the risks faced by seafarers operating in the conflict-affected region.

“In view of the heightened security situation in the Gulf region, including incidents resulting in casualties among Indian seafarers and continuing attacks on merchant vessels during the ongoing conflict, the Directorate considers it necessary to adopt enhanced precautionary measures to safeguard the interests of Indian seafarers serving on board ships operating in the region,” the advisory said.

Under the advisory, ship owners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies have been directed to avoid assigning Indian seafarers to voyages involving passage through the Strait of Hormuz until further orders.

Masters of vessels operating in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters have also been instructed to maintain heightened security vigilance, continuously monitor navigational warnings and security advisories, and implement all applicable Ship Security Measures, Ship Security Plans (SSP) and Company Security Procedures in accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

In the event of an emergency, seafarers and vessels have been advised to immediately contact India’s Maritime Domain Awareness Centre (MMDAC) or the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) for assistance.

The guidance follows several days of escalating attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf.

An Indian marine engineer aboard the Cyprus-flagged container ship GFS Galaxy was confirmed dead on Wednesday after the vessel was struck off the coast of Oman, while another Indian seafarer was killed earlier this week in separate attacks near the Strait of Hormuz.

The DGMA said it would continue to closely monitor the evolving security situation and remained committed to safeguarding the safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers operating in the region.

Etihad Arena, the UAE’s leading indoor entertainment venue, has entered into a strategic partnership with District by Zomato, the going-out platform, in a move designed to enhance how audiences discover and access live experiences in Abu Dhabi.

The collaboration marks another milestone in Etihad Arena’s growth strategy, helping the venue expand its global reach while driving greater visitor footfall to Yas Island. By widening access to its diverse calendar of live entertainment, the partnership also supports Abu Dhabi’s broader tourism and entertainment ambitions.

Enhancing event discovery

District by Zomato enables users to discover experiences across dining, live entertainment, attractions and activities, creating a seamless platform for planning social outings. Through the collaboration, audiences will be able to discover Etihad Arena’s lineup of events more easily, helping connect local and international fans with some of the region’s most anticipated live experiences.

The partnership reflects evolving consumer behaviour in the UAE, where dining, entertainment and cultural experiences increasingly form part of a single social journey. By integrating live event discovery into this ecosystem, Etihad Arena and District aim to simplify the path from planning an outing to attending an event.

District will complement Etihad Arena’s existing ticketing ecosystem by providing an additional discovery channel for its growing user base, broadening awareness of upcoming events while improving accessibility for audiences.

Supporting long-term growth

Marcus Osborne, general manager at Etihad Arena, said, “We’re pleased to welcome this new collaboration with District. As we continue to grow our global audience, partnerships like this play an important role in reaching new audiences and supporting Abu Dhabi’s wider tourism ambitions. Together, we can strengthen our offering and continue delivering world-class experiences to audiences in the UAE and beyond.”

Kunal Khambhati, founder and COO, Events, District by Zomato, added, “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Etihad Arena, one of the region’s most exciting live entertainment destinations. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for District as we continue to redefine the live events experience across the UAE. Etihad Arena has established itself as a premier home for exceptional entertainment, and together, we’re committed to delivering world-class, fan-first experiences.”

As Etihad Arena continues to strengthen its position as a leading live entertainment destination, the partnership with District by Zomato is expected to enhance audience engagement, expand event discovery opportunities and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a global hub for world-class entertainment.

Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has approved the updated State Revenues Law, marking a significant step in strengthening the governance of government revenues and supporting the kingdom’s long-term fiscal sustainability.

The revised legislation is designed to improve the efficiency of government revenue management by enabling public entities to strengthen revenue estimation mechanisms, enhance compliance with the payment of government dues, and streamline collection procedures. The law also introduces measures to facilitate the settlement of government debts while balancing efficient collections with consideration for taxpayers’ circumstances, a Saudi Gazette report said.

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Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan said the updated framework would help government entities improve revenue management and support more effective financial planning.

“The law will improve the efficiency of government revenue management by enabling government entities to strengthen revenue estimation mechanisms, increase compliance with the payment of government dues, and streamline collection procedures and the settlement of government debts while balancing efficient collection with consideration of taxpayers’ circumstances,” Al-Jadaan said.

Supporting Vision 2030 goals

The updated State Revenues Law forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to modernise its financial system in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The reforms aim to enhance governance and transparency while strengthening the efficiency of government revenue management and supporting the kingdom’s ongoing economic and administrative transformation.

The legislation also defines the roles and responsibilities of relevant government entities, introduces mechanisms to estimate revenues over the medium and long term, and improves the reliability of revenue forecasts to support financial planning.

In addition, the law establishes procedures for collecting government receivables and regulates payment and installment mechanisms under specific controls, reinforcing fiscal discipline and improving the management of the kingdom’s financial resources.

The UAE has long been recognised as a gateway for global capital, yet as allocation models continue to evolve, attention is shifting from capital flows to the infrastructure that supports them.

For investment firms, the question is no longer simply where capital is deployed, but where it is structured, managed and serviced. Those decisions are becoming just as important as the investments themselves.

This shift is reshaping how firms think about their operating models. Decisions about where to locate investment platforms, booking activities and fund structures are now being made with the rigour once reserved for capital deployment, reflecting a recognition that these choices shape long-term efficiency, resilience and growth.

The UAE is already benefiting from this reassessment. Recent announcements from organisations spanning asset management, hedge funds, private equity and digital banking, including Capital Group, Man Group, Rokos Capital, Bain Capital and Nubank, highlight growing interest in establishing or expanding a presence in the country. Together, they reflect confidence not only in the UAE’s economic outlook, but in its emergence as a location from which capital can be managed, serviced and deployed across multiple markets.

Underlying this momentum is a combination of connectivity, credibility and adaptability. Positioned between major capital pools in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the UAE enables firms to access investors, markets and growth opportunities from a single location. Its regulatory framework has established confidence among international institutions while retaining the flexibility to adapt to the evolving needs of global investors.

Building the foundations of a capital home

Realising the full potential of these advantages requires more than continued capital inflows. It requires the infrastructure, institutions and capabilities that support global investment activity, and a deliberate effort to capture a greater share of the value those activities create.

This is what distinguishes the world’s leading financial centres. Their strength is measured not only by the volume of capital they attract, but by the ecosystem they build around it. Fund domiciliation, transaction booking and asset servicing are the foundations of that ecosystem – anchoring investment activity, expertise and economic value within a jurisdiction.

The importance of these capabilities is growing. As firms manage capital across a growing number of jurisdictions, legal systems and regulatory frameworks, investors are placing greater emphasis on legal certainty, efficient structuring and robust investor protections. As the world’s longest-established global financial centres have shown, these considerations play a huge role in where investment activity is managed and booked, not simply where capital is invested. The UAE already plays an important role in this ecosystem.

The opportunity now is to build on these foundations by attracting a broader range of investment, fund management and asset servicing activities. Realising this opportunity will depend on several factors, but two areas stand out.

The first is enabling capital to move seamlessly across jurisdictions within the UAE through continued regulatory alignment and enhanced legal interoperability. The second is expanding the range of fund structures available to international managers, reducing friction in replicating global operating models locally, and giving firms the confidence to establish, expand or redomicile regional and global platforms from the UAE.

A defining moment

Those capabilities are being built at a particularly significant moment. The current macroeconomic and geopolitical environment is driving a meaningful reallocation of global capital, with investors seeking jurisdictions that offer predictability and operational flexibility. For financial centres that can combine institutional strength with continued innovation and accessibility, the conditions are favourable.

The stakes are equally high at the client level. For global fund managers, the decision about where to domicile assets extends beyond regulation alone. Custody, administration, valuation and governance frameworks are often decisive factors when determining where to establish long-term investment platforms. These capabilities form the operational backbone of global investment markets and are precisely where the UAE’s continued commitment across regulation, infrastructure and policy can create lasting advantage.

The UAE has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to anticipate change and adapt ahead of it. That capacity, combined with its global connectivity and institutional depth, is what sets this next phase apart from earlier cycles of financial centre development. The goal is not simply to attract more capital, but to capture more of the value it creates, securing the UAE’s place as one of the world’s enduring homes for global capital alongside New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore.

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Dubai’s Museum of the Future will temporarily close to visitors from mid-September 2026 as it embarks on its most significant exhibition overhaul since opening its doors in 2022, with a completely reimagined visitor experience set to launch in the first quarter of 2027.

The museum confirmed that its current exhibitions will remain open until mid-September before work begins on replacing every major gallery with a new generation of immersive, interactive experiences. The relaunch is scheduled to coincide with the institution’s fifth anniversary.

Unlike conventional museums with permanent collections, the Museum of the Future was designed to continually evolve its exhibitions in line with emerging technologies, scientific discoveries and global challenges. According to the museum, the upcoming transformation will introduce a renewed visitor journey and refreshed identity while maintaining its focus on future-focused innovation.

The revamp follows a recent global call inviting the public to help shape the museum’s next chapter. More than 1,000 ideas and suggestions were submitted by contributors from around the world, with these insights expected to influence the new experiences.