Iran will announce a new restricted maritime zone near the Strait of Hormuz and unveil a new shipping corridor agreed with Oman in the coming days, according to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in a move that could further reshape commercial shipping through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.

Speaking in a televised interview on Sunday, Rezaei said the new restricted zone would begin from what he described as the US Navy’s blockade line and extend into parts of the Gulf. He warned that any vessel entering the area would be placed on Iran’s sanctions list, Reuters reported. Rezaei also said Tehran and Muscat had reached an agreement on a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, with the entry and exit points to be under Iranian control. He did not provide details on when the route would become operational or how it would affect international commercial traffic.

The announcement comes as maritime tensions in the Gulf continue to escalate following renewed exchanges between Iran and the United States, including attacks on commercial and military vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, which normally handles around one-fifth of global oil shipments, has seen a sharp decline in tanker traffic in recent weeks amid heightened security risks.

According to Rezaei, before the disruption more than 100 ships carrying over 100 million tonnes of cargo transited the strait each day. He claimed only seven or eight vessels carrying essential goods for Iran are currently using the route, while accusing the US of attempting to move a limited number of ships through the waterway under military protection.

For the energy and shipping industries, the proposed changes could have significant implications, Reuters further stated. Any new routing requirements or restrictions would likely affect voyage planning, insurance premiums and freight costs for tankers operating in the Gulf, while adding further uncertainty to global oil markets already reacting to the latest regional tensions. Brent crude has climbed towards $100 a barrel as traders assess the risk of prolonged disruption to one of the world’s busiest maritime trade corridors.

The Middle East’s automotive market is becoming increasingly competitive as a new generation of Chinese brands looks to challenge established manufacturers, particularly in the fast-growing new-energy vehicle segment. For iCAUR, the UAE is central to that ambition. The brand chose the country for its global debut and is using it as a base from which to build its presence across the wider GCC.

At the heart of its strategy is a bet that electrification in markets such as the UAE will not be defined by battery-electric vehicles alone. Its V27 uses range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) technology, combining more than 150 kilometres of pure-electric driving with a total claimed range exceeding 995 kilometres.

But breaking into the Gulf’s crowded automotive market will require more than range and technology. As iCAUR expands its retail and aftersales footprint and prepares to broaden its product portfolio, Hope Zhang, country director of iCAUR, discusses the company’s ambitions for the UAE and GCC, the growing competition among new-energy brands, changing expectations of SUV buyers, and why building consumer trust will be critical to its long-term growth.

iCAUR is entering an increasingly crowded global automotive market. What is the brand’s broader vision, and where do you see it fitting within the next generation of automotive companies?

The automotive market is crowded today, and being a new brand isn’t a differentiator in itself. With established manufacturers competing alongside a growing number of new entrants, every brand has to earn its place. Customers can compare products and technology across markets in seconds, so a new name has to bring something great to the table. It has to give people a reason to look beyond the brands they have known for decades.

For iCAUR, the focus is on what customers actually want from the next generation of vehicles. They want new energy technology, but they also want a car that looks different, performs well and makes sense for how they drive every day. The V27 reflects that. Its REEV technology offers more than 150 kilometres of pure electric driving and a total range exceeding 995 kilometres. In the UAE, that means customers can handle much of their everyday driving on electric power, while still having the range for longer journeys across the Emirates.

The vehicle is only one part of building a strong automotive brand. Customers also look at the dealer network, aftersales service and the support available throughout ownership. That is particularly important for a newer brand, where trust has to be built from the ground up. In the UAE, we have continued expanding our presence across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah, giving customers greater access to iCAUR and stronger local sales and aftersales support.

We chose the UAE for iCAUR’s global debut because of the market’s strength and its appetite for new technology. Competition is high, customers have plenty of choice, and expectations around both the vehicle and ownership are equally high. That makes the UAE an important market for building iCAUR. The focus now is on growing the brand steadily, strengthening the network and making sure the experience customers receive matches the quality of the vehicles we bring to market.

What does building an SUV for a new generation actually mean to iCAUR, and how are changing expectations around design, technology, sustainability and lifestyle influencing your product strategy?

The expectations around SUVs have changed drastically. Space, comfort and performance still matter, but customers now expect much more from the same vehicle. They look at design, the technology inside the car, efficiency, and whether it can handle the different ways they use it. That puts more pressure on manufacturers to get the whole package right.

For iCAUR, that means keeping the qualities people already value in an SUV while giving them more in the areas that are becoming increasingly important. The V27 has a bold, boxy design, a spacious interior and the performance to handle different driving conditions. At the same time, REEV technology gives drivers the option to use electric power for regular journeys while retaining the range they need when travelling further.

That is very relevant in the UAE, where one vehicle can be expected to do very different jobs. It might be used for a daily commute in Dubai, a drive between Emirates and a weekend outside the city. Customers want the space and freedom of an SUV without having to compromise on technology, comfort or efficiency depending on where they are going.

Technology also has to earn its place in the car. Adding more screens or features does not automatically make the experience better. Customers expect the technology they use every day to make driving easier, improve comfort, and give them better control over the vehicle. That is an important factor in how iCAUR approaches both product development and the experience inside the car.

Sustainability is also expanding the options available to customers, but adoption has to work around how people actually drive. The distances they travel, access to charging, and how they use their vehicle all play a role. REEV gives customers another way into electrified driving without giving up the flexibility they already have. For iCAUR, the product strategy is being built around those changing expectations rather than asking customers to change their lifestyle around the car.

The Middle East has become an increasingly important market for Chinese automotive brands. What are your ambitions for the UAE and wider GCC, and what kind of growth are you targeting over the next few years?

The Middle East is becoming a major market for new automotive brands, but the opportunity here is about more than sales volume. Competition is moving quickly, customers have more options, and expectations are rising across product, technology, and ownership. For iCAUR, the GCC is therefore a strategic growth market, but expansion has to be measured and supported by the right investment on the ground.

The UAE is at the centre of that strategy. It was chosen for iCAUR’s global debut and has since become the base for building the brand’s regional presence. The network now extends across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Sharjah, with continued investment in sales and aftersales giving the business the infrastructure to support a growing customer base and future portfolio expansion.

The wider GCC presents a clear opportunity because the market fundamentals align closely with iCAUR’s product strategy. SUVs remain a core part of the region’s automotive culture, appetite for new technology is high, and new-energy vehicles are becoming a more serious factor for buyers. At the same time, longer driving distances continue to influence what customers need from an electrified vehicle. REEV addresses that directly by offering electric driving for regular journeys with a range that can travel further when needed.

Over the next few years, the priority is disciplined growth. That means stepping into the right markets, expanding the product portfolio and developing retail and service coverage at a pace that can properly support each stage of expansion. Sales growth is important, but it cannot run ahead of the infrastructure or customer experience around it.

There is a much bigger regional opportunity ahead, and the UAE gives iCAUR a strong starting point. The ambition is to take what works here and build from it across the GCC, with a strategy shaped by local driving habits, customer expectations and the pace at which new-energy mobility develops in each market.

Competition in the new-energy vehicle market is intensifying quickly. What do you see as iCAUR’s strongest differentiator, and how do you plan to build consumer trust and brand recognition in markets where you are still relatively new?

The new-energy market is becoming more competitive by the month, and specifications are becoming easier for brands to match. Price, range, or technology might get attention, but none of those on their own is enough to build a brand. The real challenge for a newer player is to give customers a clear sense of what the brand stands for and then prove it consistently.

iCAUR has a very clear identity. The focus is on customers who want new energy technology but also care about design, individuality and the lifestyle around the vehicle. That is why the brand has never been built around electrification alone. Cars have to be recognisable, enjoyable to own and relevant to a generation that expects more from the brands it spends money on.

That last point is becoming increasingly important. Younger customers in particular want more from an automotive brand than the purchase itself. They want reasons to stay engaged with it. For iCAUR, that means creating owner experiences and opportunities to interact directly with the brand beyond the showroom, rather than allowing the relationship to end once the vehicle is sold. That creates a very different relationship from one based purely on the transaction.

Trust is the other side of the equation. A newer brand cannot rely on decades of familiarity, so every interaction carries more weight. The quality of the vehicle, the showroom experience, service, warranty support and communication with owners all influence whether someone recommends the brand or comes back for another vehicle.

That is how recognition becomes valuable. The objective is not to make iCAUR a name people have merely seen; it is to make it a brand they understand, engage with and ultimately feel confident buying into. In a market adding new automotive names at such speed, that depth of relationship can be far more powerful than visibility alone.

Beyond the vehicle itself, after-sales service, charging, resale value and the overall ownership experience increasingly influence purchasing decisions. How is iCAUR approaching these areas as it expands internationally?

The way people assess a car has changed. The vehicle itself might still be the starting point, but customers are increasingly looking at what it will cost and be like to own over several years. Service, warranty coverage, access to charging and resale value can now influence a purchase just as much as what happens during the test drive.

For a newer brand, those questions carry even more weight. Customers want reassurance that parts and service will be available, that there is a team they can reach when something goes wrong and that the brand is investing in the market for the long term. That is why aftersales have been a priority for iCAUR from the beginning, with service support developing alongside the retail business rather than being treated as something that follows later.

New energy vehicles add another layer to that. Charging access and driving range are still important factors for many customers considering electrified mobility. REEV gives iCAUR an advantage here because drivers are not dependent on charging for every journey. They can use electric power for regular driving and still have the freedom to travel further when required, which removes one of the concerns that can hold people back from moving into a new-energy vehicle.

Resale value will also become increasingly important as the new-energy market matures. Strong residual values are built over time through product quality, reliable service, parts availability and confidence in the brand. Those are areas that need consistent investment rather than a short-term solution.

As iCAUR expands internationally, the priority is to make sure the business around the vehicle develops at the same pace as sales. Entering a market is one thing; giving customers confidence to buy the first vehicle, recommend it and eventually return for another is what determines whether that growth lasts.

What are the biggest trends you expect to reshape the automotive industry, and where do you see the greatest opportunity for iCAUR within that transformation?

The next five years will change the automotive industry on several fronts at once. Electrification will continue to accelerate, but the market is unlikely to move towards one powertrain at the same speed everywhere. Fully electric, hybrid and range-extended vehicles will all have a role as infrastructure develops and customers work out which technology best suits the way they drive.

Technology inside the car will change just as quickly. Software, connectivity and intelligent features are becoming a much bigger part of how people judge a vehicle. Customers will expect their cars to become smarter and more personalised, with technology that improves how they drive, navigate, communicate and use the vehicle every day. The challenge for manufacturers will be making those features genuinely useful rather than adding technology for the sake of it.

Consumer expectations will also keep moving. The traditional measures of a good car – performance, comfort, quality and reliability – are not going away, but they are being joined by efficiency, software and the wider ownership experience. That raises the standard across the industry because brands now have to perform well across all of those areas.

For iCAUR, the biggest opportunity sits in the pace of that change. As customers become more open to new energy vehicles and newer automotive brands, there is room for companies that can move quickly and develop products around what the market is asking for now. REEV is one example of that: it gives customers another route into electrified driving at a point where many are interested in making the move but are not ready to depend entirely on charging.

Over the next five years, the priority is to keep expanding the product portfolio as those needs develop. The automotive market will look very different by the end of that period, and iCAUR has the opportunity to grow with it rather than having to catch up with it.

Air connectivity between the Gulf and Indonesia has been disrupted after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced the closure of Jakarta’s main international airport, triggering cancellations and delays by major Gulf carriers and creating uncertainty for passengers travelling between the two regions.

The disruption comes as Indonesia grapples with a rapidly changing volcanic-ash situation that has already affected thousands of flights nationwide. According to the latest Reuters report, seven Indonesian airports remained closed on Monday, including two serving Jakarta, while more than 2,300 flights had been delayed, diverted or cancelled, affecting more than 270,000 passengers.

Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was scheduled to remain closed until at least 6 p.m. local time on September 7, with authorities continuing to monitor the movement of volcanic ash. Reuters reported that ash columns had reached as high as 50,000 feet (15,000 metres) in parts of the region, creating a significant aviation risk because volcanic ash can damage aircraft engines.

The disruption has now reached the Gulf’s major aviation hubs, with airlines operating through Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha issuing specific operational notices for Jakarta services.

Emirates cancels eight Dubai-Jakarta services

Emirates travel updates have issued the most detailed cancellation notice among the Gulf carriers reviewed.

The airline said the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport because of volcanic ash had resulted in the cancellation of the following Dubai-Jakarta services:

• EK356 — Dubai to Jakarta — September 6 — cancelled
• EK358 — Dubai to Jakarta — September 6 — cancelled
• EK359 — Jakarta to Dubai — September 6 — cancelled
• EK357 — Jakarta to Dubai — September 6 — cancelled
• EK356 — Dubai to Jakarta — September 7 — cancelled
• EK357 — Jakarta to Dubai — September 7 — cancelled
• EK358 — Dubai to Jakarta — September 7 — cancelled
• EK359 — Jakarta to Dubai — September 7 — cancelled

The airline’s latest notice, issued at 10:09 p.m. Dubai time on September 6, attributed the disruption directly to the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta because of volcanic ash.

Emirates has also issued a specific warning to passengers connecting through Dubai to Jakarta. Such passengers will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice.

The carrier is advising customers to check their flight status regularly, review the latest operational updates and monitor their email before travelling to the airport. Passengers whose flights have been cancelled are being directed to their travel agencies for rebooking, or to Emirates directly if they booked with the airline.

Customers are also being asked to ensure their contact details are current so the airline can communicate further changes. Emirates said it continues to monitor the situation closely.

The scale of the Emirates disruption is significant because Dubai is one of the world’s largest international connecting hubs. The impact therefore extends beyond passengers originating in the UAE to travellers connecting through Dubai from other markets.

Etihad cancels one service and delays Jakarta flights

Etihad’s flight-status and travel updates show a more mixed pattern of disruption.

Etihad said EY474 from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta on September 5 was initially delayed and subsequently cancelled because of the Jakarta airport closure caused by the Krakatau eruption.

The corresponding return service, EY475 from Jakarta to Abu Dhabi on September 6, was also delayed.

The airline subsequently issued another update covering September 6 and 7. It said:

• EY472 — Abu Dhabi to Jakarta — September 6 — delayed
• EY473 — Jakarta to Abu Dhabi — September 7 — delayed

Etihad attributed the disruption to the closure of Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport following the volcanic eruption.

The airline is advising passengers booked on the affected flights to ensure their contact details are up to date so they can receive SMS or email notifications concerning changes to their journey. Etihad is also telling passengers to check their individual flight status before travelling.

The distinction is important: Etihad has not announced a blanket cancellation of its Abu Dhabi-Jakarta operation. Its current advisory records a cancellation affecting EY474, while the subsequent EY475, EY472 and EY473 services have been reported as delayed.

Qatar Airways warns of cancellations and schedule changes

Qatar Airways travel alerts have also issued a Jakarta-specific advisory.

In an update dated September 6, Qatar Airways said that because of volcanic activity and the resulting operational restrictions in Jakarta, some of its flights may be delayed, rescheduled or cancelled.

The airline identified the following affected services:

• September 6: QR956, QR957, QR958 and QR959
• September 7: QR954 and QR955

Qatar Airways is advising passengers to check the latest flight status before travelling to the airport. The airline apologised for the disruption and said further operational changes could occur.

The wording of Qatar Airways’ advisory is significant. Unlike Emirates’ notice, which explicitly lists eight cancelled services, Qatar Airways describes its affected Jakarta flights as potentially subject to delay, rescheduling or cancellation. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to describe all six Qatar Airways services as definitively cancelled without individual flight-status confirmation.

The wider Indonesian aviation disruption

The Gulf carriers’ operational decisions follow a much broader shutdown inside Indonesia.

Reuters reported on September 6 that eight airports had initially suspended operations, with 964 flights affected at Soekarno-Hatta alone. Across the eight airports, more than 1,500 flights and 170,000 passengers had been affected at that stage.

By Monday, the disruption had expanded further. Reuters reported that more than 2,300 flights had been delayed, diverted or cancelled and more than 270,000 passengers affected. Seven airports remained closed, while one airport in South Sumatra had reopened.

The principal concern for airlines is the presence of volcanic ash in aircraft operating areas. Reuters reported that ash had reached altitudes of up to 50,000 feet, while volcano expert Surono warned that the sulphur- and silica-laden ash being moved by windy and dry conditions could pose a risk to aircraft engines.

Indonesia’s transport authorities have also acknowledged that the timetable for restoring normal operations remains uncertain. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said authorities could not yet determine when the disruption would end because weather conditions were changing dynamically.

Airlines face an uncertain operating environment

The immediate challenge for Gulf carriers is therefore not simply the closure of one airport, but the uncertainty surrounding the movement of the ash cloud and the timing of the airport’s reopening.

Airlines must assess whether aircraft can safely approach and depart Jakarta, whether the surrounding airspace is clear and whether previously scheduled aircraft and crews can be repositioned. This creates the possibility of a knock-on effect extending beyond individual cancelled flights.

For Gulf passengers, the situation is particularly important because Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha function as major connecting hubs linking Indonesia with Europe, North America, Africa and other parts of the Middle East.

A cancellation of a Jakarta service can therefore disrupt passengers who may have begun their journey in another country but are connecting through a Gulf hub.

The airlines’ advisories also underline the operational nature of the disruption. The cancellations and delays are being driven by volcanic ash and airport restrictions rather than a commercial decision to withdraw from the Indonesian market.

What passengers should know

For passengers travelling from the GCC to Jakarta, the airlines’ current instructions are broadly consistent: do not rely on an earlier flight confirmation alone.

Emirates is telling passengers to check their flight status, monitor airline communications and avoid travelling to the airport without confirmation. Passengers whose flights have been cancelled should contact their travel agency or Emirates for rebooking. Connecting passengers travelling through Dubai to Jakarta are currently not being accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice.

Etihad is similarly advising passengers on affected services to check their individual flight status and keep their contact information updated so the airline can issue changes by SMS or email.

Qatar Airways is warning that its identified Jakarta flights may be delayed, rescheduled or cancelled and is advising passengers to verify their latest flight status before travelling.

With the volcanic-ash situation continuing to evolve, airlines and passengers face the same immediate challenge: uncertainty over when Jakarta’s airport and surrounding airspace will return to normal.

For travellers between the Gulf and Indonesia, the safest approach remains to check directly with the operating airline before heading to the airport and to remain alert for further schedule changes as authorities continue monitoring the volcanic ash.

Dubai Square has unveiled plans to transform the traditional mall parking experience with a fully air-conditioned, interior-designed parking environment, extending the customer journey well beyond the retail destination’s entrance.

The concept reimagines parking as an integral part of the overall visitor experience rather than purely functional infrastructure, with climate control, architectural detailing, lighting, ceilings, wayfinding and interior finishes designed as one seamless environment.

According to the developer, the proposal aims to ensure visitors experience the quality of Dubai Square from the moment they arrive, creating a smoother transition from vehicle to mall through a more intuitive, comfortable and visually cohesive environment.

“At Dubai Square, the customer experience should begin before the mall entrance. Parking should be comfortable, intuitive and beautifully designed – not an afterthought. Every part of the journey, from arrival to departure, should reflect the quality of the destination,” said Mohamed Alabbar.

The vision builds on Dubai Square’s broader mobility strategy. Announced by Emaar in December 2025 as the world’s first drive-through mall, the development has been designed around integrated transport, pedestrian-friendly streets and next-generation retail experiences.

The proposed parking concept extends that philosophy into what the developer describes as the first and last five minutes of every visit, focusing on climate comfort, clear navigation, premium materials and carefully designed lighting to create a continuous customer journey.

By combining hospitality, mobility and interior design, Dubai Square aims to establish a new benchmark for how large-scale retail destinations approach parking, positioning it as part of the overall destination experience rather than a standalone service area.

Dubai’s residential property market has recorded its first annual decline in home prices since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, signalling a shift towards a more measured phase after several years of rapid growth.

According to Cavendish Maxwell, the average residential sales price fell to Dhs1,636 per square foot in August, down 1.7 per cent from the same month last year and 1.3 per cent over the past three months. It marks the first year-on-year decline since February 2021.

The property consultancy said residential sales reached Dhs23.4bn in August, taking the total value of transactions during the first eight months of 2026 to nearly Dhs270bn. However, year-to-date transaction values were 24 per cent lower than the same period in 2025.

Nearly 10,900 homes changed hands in August, around 14 per cent fewer than in July, with Cavendish Maxwell attributing part of the decline to the traditional slowdown in market activity during the summer months. Off-plan properties continued to dominate the market, accounting for around 75 per cent of all residential sales.

Ronan Arthur, director and head of residential valuation at Cavendish Maxwell, said the latest figures reflect a market transitioning into a more mature stage.

“After an extended period of exceptional strong sales activity with sustained price increases, the Dubai residential market continues its transition to a more measured phase. The August data confirms what our in-depth market insight – covering quarterly, six-month and annual statistics and trends – has been telling us for a while: prices are softening and the market is entering a more mature cycle.

“The fundamentals that drive Dubai real estate demand in the emirate remain intact, but the near-term outlook is being shaped by a combination of fewer launches, regional uncertainty and a broader normalisation in buyer activity, which will continue to influence transaction levels and price performance,” he added.

The latest figures add to signs that Dubai’s property market is moving away from the exceptional growth seen in recent years, with softer pricing and slower transaction volumes pointing to a period of market normalisation rather than continued rapid appreciation.