US President Donald Trump has vowed to respond after claiming that Iran shot down a US Apache helicopter while it was patrolling near the Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns about regional security despite recent efforts to ease tensions between Tehran and Israel.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump said he had been informed by the US military that an AH-64 Apache helicopter was brought down overnight.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said both pilots survived the incident and were rescued unharmed.

“Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he added.

According to Reuters, a US Navy surface drone rescued the helicopter’s two crew members after the aircraft went down at around 3am local time on Tuesday. US Central Command confirmed the helicopter had crashed, although no official details were immediately provided regarding the cause of the incident.

The development comes a day after Iran and Israel said they would halt attacks on each other following an appeal from Trump aimed at preventing a broader regional conflict.

However, Tehran warned that it could resume hostilities if Israel continued military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

As anticipation builds for the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026, Yas Island Abu Dhabi has unveiled its Grand Prix Package for 2026, offering motorsport enthusiasts a comprehensive race-weekend experience that combines four days of Formula 1 action with hotel stays, entertainment, cultural attractions and exclusive access to the event’s renowned after-race concerts.

The launch comes as Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a leading global destination for sports tourism, with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix remaining one of the most anticipated events on the international Formula 1 calendar.

According to a WAM report, the package has been designed to provide visitors with a seamless experience that extends beyond the racetrack, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy world-class hospitality, live entertainment and some of the UAE capital’s most popular attractions throughout the race weekend.

Premium access to race weekend

Bookings for the 2026 Grand Prix Package are now open, with fans able to secure access to some of the event’s most sought-after ticket categories. Available options include the Main Grandstand, West Club, West Grandstand, South Grandstand, North Grandstand, North Straight Club, North Straight and Abu Dhabi Hill, offering spectators a variety of vantage points to experience the on-track action.

Read more-Disney CEO shares first glimpse of Disneyland Abu Dhabi site

Guests booking the package will be required to stay during the Formula 1 race weekend from December 3 to 6, 2026.

Packages start from Dhs4,091 for a three-night stay at participating Yas Neighbour Hotels, including breakfast and a four-day Grand Prix ticket in the Abu Dhabi Hill category. For those seeking a premium stay closer to the action, packages are available from Dhs11,070 for a three-night stay at participating Yas Island Hotels, also including breakfast and a four-day Abu Dhabi Hill ticket.

Star-powered entertainment line-up

Beyond the racing spectacle, the package includes entry to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s iconic After-Race Concerts, which have become a major attraction for international visitors attending the event.

Organisers have already confirmed a strong entertainment line-up for the 2026 race weekend, with global music stars Zara Larsson, Lewis Capaldi and Imagine Dragons set to headline the concert series. Additional artists are expected to be announced in the lead-up to the event, further enhancing the destination’s appeal for fans seeking a complete entertainment experience.

The combination of elite motorsport and internationally recognised music acts continues to play a key role in positioning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as one of the most distinctive events on the Formula 1 calendar.

Beyond the circuit

The Yas Island Grand Prix Package 2026 also includes one-day access to a choice of the destination’s signature attractions, allowing visitors to extend their experience beyond race weekend activities.

Guests can select from Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The package also offers the option of visiting teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, providing guests with an immersive digital art experience.

In addition, visitors will receive access to two of Abu Dhabi’s most prominent cultural landmarks, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Qasr Al Watan, offering an opportunity to explore the emirate’s artistic, cultural and architectural heritage during their stay.

Strengthening Abu Dhabi’s tourism appeal

Located just minutes from Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island continues to attract visitors with its mix of entertainment, hospitality, dining and leisure offerings. The destination has increasingly become a focal point for major sporting and entertainment events, helping drive tourism and visitor spending in the emirate.

With demand expected to remain strong and ticket availability limited across several categories, organisers are encouraging fans to secure their packages early. Following booking confirmation, guests will receive details regarding digital ticket access and event information.

As Formula 1 continues to attract a growing international audience, the return of Yas Island’s Grand Prix Package underscores Abu Dhabi’s broader strategy of leveraging world-class sporting events to boost tourism while delivering an integrated visitor experience that blends sport, entertainment and culture.

Global airlines’ push to attract premium customers is making fast in-flight Wi-Fi an increasingly important perk, turning a once-patchy paid service into an emerging battleground between Elon Musk’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Amazon Leo satellite network.

Starlink, which operates around two-thirds of all satellites in space and is the major driver of revenue for SpaceX , has signed up 11 new airline customers globally so far in 2026, after 22 in 2025 and eight in 2024, compared with three in 2022, according to Valour Consultancy, an aviation intelligence firm.

Read more-Starlink rolls out satellite internet offering in UAE with plans from Dhs230

Amazon, which is still building out its Leo satellite constellation, faces a potential setback after a Blue Origin rocket failure last month. It has signed up its first customers, securing deals with Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways.

Installing Starlink or Amazon’s satellite broadband is a significant investment for airlines, running into the hundreds of millions of dollars for large fleets. But as carriers increasingly rely on premium products to boost margins, they are likely to commit more heavily in the coming years, said Decius Valmorbida, president of travel at Amadeus, a travel technology company, describing the technology as a “game changer.”

“It’s going to become a necessity that every airline will rush to have its own version of. It is becoming a must‑have,” Valmorbida told Reuters.

Starlink, which uses thousands of low-Earth-orbit satellites rather than larger, slower geostationary satellites, is multiple times faster than legacy systems, according to Ookla, a broadband analytics firm.

In a sign of demand across the airline spectrum, Southwest Airlines said it chose Starlink for its “speed to market,” but has not ruled out Amazon’s Leo as it pushes for industry-leading Wi-Fi. “There’s multiple ways to get there,” Tony Roach, Southwest’s chief customer and brand officer, told Reuters.

American Airlines said in late May it would equip more than 500 narrow body aircraft with Starlink starting in early 2027.

Ryanair rejects Starlink on costs

Not everyone is convinced. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has ruled out adopting Starlink, citing costs and fuel burn from the antennas, prompting a fiery dispute with Musk.

Jefferies analysts estimate American Airlines’ Starlink rollout could cost $150m to $250m for equipment and installation, based on its fleet, before annual service fees that could exceed $60m. Reuters could not identify equivalent public estimates for airline deployments of Amazon’s Leo.

Musk’s Starlink vs Bezos’ Amazon Leo

Lluc Palerm, research director at Analysys Mason, said airline Wi-Fi “will become a battleground” between Starlink and Amazon Leo, though Amazon remains limited as its satellite constellation is in its infancy.

SpaceX now holds Starlink contracts covering more than 7,000 aircraft, cementing an “undeniable” lead, said Daniel Welch, a senior consultant at Valour Consultancy.

Palerm said Starlink’s early gains are meaningful because switching providers is costly: aircraft must be taken out of service for installations, onboard equipment is provider-specific and contracts typically run for years.

The airline sales come as SpaceX’s upcoming record-breaking public listing has sharpened investor focus on Starlink’s expansion beyond consumer broadband. Starlink generated $11.4bn of SpaceX’s $18.67bn revenue in 2025, according to SpaceX’s IPO filing, making it by far the company’s largest revenue source.

Starlink is emphasising speed and installation simplicity, while Amazon is pitching a broader technology ecosystem, including cloud computing, entertainment and retail links that it says can help airlines serve passengers beyond basic connectivity.

Delta’s choice of Amazon Leo illustrates that distinction. The carrier selected Amazon Leo for an initial 500 aircraft beginning in 2028, building on its Amazon Web Services relationship.

Legacy in-flight Wi-Fi providers including Viasat, Intelsat, Panasonic Avionics and Hughes remain embedded across large fleets, with multi-orbit backup offerings and coverage in markets where newer Leo providers still face regulatory hurdles.

Fast Wi-Fi helps airlines tap other revenue

For airlines, faster Wi-Fi is about more than keeping passengers entertained. It gives carriers another way to draw customers into loyalty programs and market flights, upgrades and credit cards after the trip ends.

A 2025 Journal of Air Transport Management study found Wi-Fi availability was linked to higher passenger share on routes studied. At Southwest, the first Starlink-equipped aircraft is expected to be serviceable later this month and the airline has targeted more than 300 conversions by year-end, though executives said the pace depends on how fast Starlink can supply equipment.

“I want to give you fewer and fewer reasons to book another airline or feel like you need to travel on another airline,” Southwest’s CEO, Bob Jordan, said.

Delta has said more than 163 million SkyMiles members have used its free Wi-Fi since 2023, showing the scale of passenger engagement airlines are building around onboard connectivity.

United Airlines says free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members now covers more than 25% of its daily flights, with full fleet coverage expected by end-2027.

“That is going to be a differentiator versus every other airline,” United CEO Scott Kirby said.

Emirates has issued a travel advisory warning passengers of enhanced screening measures and entry restrictions across multiple destinations amid rising regional concern over Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Several countries have introduced stricter border controls and health screening requirements, prompting airlines and governments to urge travellers to verify entry rules before departure. The advisory underscores that requirements may change at short notice depending on evolving public health assessments.

The UAE has implemented firm entry restrictions as part of its precautionary response. Travellers who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan will not be permitted entry unless they have remained outside these countries for at least 21 consecutive days prior to arrival. The measures apply to all passengers, including those transiting through the UAE via indirect routes. Transit passengers are also required to comply with the final destination’s health and entry regulations, with enforcement applied across all travel pathways.

UAE advises against non-essential travel

Separately, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has advised citizens and residents to avoid non-essential travel to Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan. The advisory follows ongoing monitoring of Ebola-related developments in parts of Africa, with authorities stressing the importance of adhering to official guidance and prioritising travel safety. UAE nationals currently in affected countries have been urged to exercise heightened caution and follow all local health and safety instructions issued by authorities.

Regional aviation authorities tighten measures

Regional aviation authorities have also moved to strengthen preventive measures. Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority issued Circular No. 1/2026 directing airlines and passengers to comply with enhanced health protocols linked to Ebola concerns in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The directive, issued in coordination with medical response teams, calls for strict adherence to precautionary procedures before, during, and after travel.

In a further escalation of precautionary measures, the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) have announced additional entry controls for travellers arriving from the three affected countries.

Authorities confirmed that issuance of new visas, including visit visas, for nationals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan has been suspended from 13:00 on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Officials said the decision is part of a broader preparedness strategy and may be reviewed depending on the evolving health situation, while cargo operations remain unaffected.

JLL has expanded its Technology Solutions capabilities across the Middle East, broadening access to technology-enabled services designed to help real estate owners, investors, developers and occupiers optimise asset performance across the property lifecycle.

The expansion builds on the launch of JLL’s Technology Solutions offering in the region in late 2024 and includes the deployment of automation systems, artificial intelligence (AI) tools and cloud-based asset management platforms aimed at improving operational efficiency and supporting data-driven decision-making.

JLL said the enhanced offering provides clients with a single point of contact across their real estate portfolios, combining advisory, implementation and managed technology services under one platform.

The company said the integrated approach is designed to help clients unlock greater value from AI, data analytics and emerging technologies while enabling more predictive and real-time decision-making.

Dr Matthew Marson, managing director, EMEA – Technology Advisory at JLL, said: “Across the Middle East, we’re seeing real estate leaders move past the question of whether to use AI and start asking how to use it well.

“Many organisations have experimented, but too often the technology sits in silos or never quite makes it into day to day decision making. Our focus is on helping clients bridge that gap. By connecting data, systems and teams, we’re making AI practical, usable and valuable – giving our clients clearer visibility of their portfolios and the confidence to make better decisions, faster.”

He added: “Ultimately, this is about helping clients run their real estate more intelligently and extract value that was previously hard to see or access.”

Michael Ewert, global head of Technology Advisory Services at JLL, said: “This expansion represents a step change in how real estate technology solutions are delivered.

“It provides access to end to end, integrated capabilities delivered locally, supporting portfolios across every stage of the real estate lifecycle.”

He added: “By consolidating advisory, implementation and managed services, we are enabling clients in the region to operate more efficiently, manage complexity and realise long term value from their real estate investments.”

According to JLL’s Global Real Estate Technology Survey, adoption of AI within commercial real estate (CRE) continues to accelerate. The company said the proportion of organisations running CRE-focused AI pilots increased from less than 5 per cent in 2023 to 92 per cent in 2025.

The survey also found that 87 per cent of investors are increasing technology budgets, with spending focused on portfolio optimisation, energy management and data-driven workflows.

The expanded Technology Solutions portfolio includes technology advisory services, implementation support, managed services and AI-powered asset management capabilities.

Under its Technology Advisory offering, JLL will support clients in developing short- and long-term technology roadmaps and investment strategies focused on AI and automation adoption.

The company’s implementation services will support the deployment of Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS), working alongside technology partners including IBM MREF, ServiceNow, FM:Systems and Archibus by Eptura.

JLL also said clients will have access to managed services designed to integrate planning, implementation and ongoing technology management through dedicated governance frameworks.

The offering includes JLL Asset Beacon, the company’s AI-powered asset management platform, which consolidates operational, financial and leasing data into a single platform to improve portfolio performance.

In addition, JLL Azara, powered by Falcon, will provide business intelligence capabilities by combining data from multiple platforms to deliver customised insights and analytics.

The company also offers outsourced CRE technology oversight services designed to integrate technology planning, implementation and solution management into a unified delivery model.

JLL said the expansion supports its broader ambition to build a more connected and intelligent data ecosystem for commercial real estate across the Middle East.