Story updated on 14 October with further details.

The Saudi-led coalition has confirmed carrying out a military operation targeting fuel infrastructure in Yemen, including a facility in the capital Sanaa, as the Iran-aligned Houthi movement threatened further attacks on Riyadh and Saudi Aramco installations.

The coalition said on Tuesday, October 13, that the operation was aimed at disrupting resources allegedly used by the Houthis to sustain their military campaign against Saudi Arabia.

Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki identified several facilities, including the Yemen Petroleum Company’s Al-Sabahah central fuel station in Sanaa, underground fuel reserves, storage tanks and fuel transport infrastructure in Hodeidah, Sanaa and Dhamar.

The coalition accused the Houthis of using civilian infrastructure and energy resources to support their missile and drone operations, including attacks on Saudi airports, energy facilities and commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

It said the operation was intended to neutralise the group’s military capabilities and that precautions had been taken to minimise civilian casualties and damage.

The announcement followed an earlier evacuation warning issued by the coalition’s joint forces command, which published a map identifying the Al-Sabahah facility and urged civilians to leave the area.

Houthi-run Al-Masirah television subsequently reported that the facility had been struck, while other strikes were reported against fuel infrastructure in Houthi-controlled territory.

The Yemen Petroleum Company said the Al-Sabahah facility held no petroleum stocks at the time of the attack and that the strike had not affected fuel reserves or supply chains.

Houthis threaten retaliation against Riyadh, Aramco

Responding to the coalition’s operation, the Houthis warned that attacks on Sanaa would be met with a “harsh and painful” response targeting Saudi Arabia.

The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, warned employees and civilians near Saudi Aramco facilities to evacuate, describing the installations as legitimate military targets.

The threats included Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran and an oil refinery in Riyadh, raising concerns about further disruption to the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy confirmed that an administrative building belonging to Saudi Aramco in Dhahran had been targeted, resulting in a limited fire but no reported injuries.

Saudi air defences also intercepted several missiles and drones across the kingdom, including three drones destroyed north of Riyadh.

Escalation follows deadly Riyadh airport attacks

The latest developments follow a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s aviation infrastructure, including a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday.

The attack killed 13 people and injured more than 300, according to Saudi authorities.

A further attack on Sunday struck Terminal 4 at the airport, causing a fire and additional casualties.

The attacks have severely disrupted flights across the kingdom, forcing the suspension of operations at Riyadh’s main international airport and prompting several international airlines to cancel services.

Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, warned that the Houthis would face consequences for their repeated attacks on the kingdom.

The Cabinet also backed the coalition’s military operations in Yemen and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to protecting international maritime navigation through the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait.

India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the schedule for Class 12 special examinations for students in the UAE and other West Asian countries, with the exams set to take place from October 23 to 28, 2026.

In a circular dated October 8, the board confirmed that the examinations are being organised for students who were unable to sit certain papers during the March–April examination period due to the prevailing situation in the region.

The announcement follows an earlier CBSE circular issued on September 15, which directed eligible candidates from West Asia to submit their List of Candidates (LOC) for subjects in which examinations could not be conducted.

According to the latest notification, the special examinations will be conducted over five days, covering subjects including mathematics, economics, political science, business studies, biology, computer science and English.

CBSE Class 12 special exam timetable

The board has released the following schedule for eligible candidates:

Most examinations will take place from 10.30am to 1.30pm, while the Physical Activity Trainer and Artificial Intelligence papers will run from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

CBSE confirms examination centres and admit cards

The CBSE said that one examination centre has been designated in each participating country, based on the LOC submitted by candidates.

Students have been instructed to download their admit cards from October 12, 2026, using the same login credentials they used during the application process.

“Candidates are requested to download their admit cards from 12 October 2026 onwards, from the same login they applied for, and appear for examinations as per date sheet enclosed,” the board stated.

The circular, signed by Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, Controller of Examinations, confirms that the special examinations are intended for candidates who completed the required registration process.

he announcement provides a revised examination schedule for affected Class 12 students, allowing them to take papers that could not be held during the original examination window.

Students are advised to refer to their admit cards for examination centre details and follow the official schedule published by the board.

The complete date sheet is available through the official CBSE website.

The Dubai Maritime Authority (DMA), part of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC), has announced a new regulatory initiative to standardise leisure boat anchoring and the use of recreational mooring buoys across Dubai’s waters.

The initiative includes Circular No. 35 of 2026, which sets out guidelines for leisure anchorage and recreational mooring buoys ahead of their implementation.

The new framework is intended to strengthen navigational safety, streamline regulatory requirements and establish consistent operating standards for Dubai’s growing recreational maritime sector.

The guidelines will apply to stakeholders involved in recreational marine activities, including boat and yacht owners, marine craft operators, agents, marinas and marine service providers.

What Dubai’s new leisure boating guidelines cover

The circular establishes a unified framework for safe and orderly anchoring practices, with a focus on navigational safety and marine environmental protection.

The Dubai Maritime Authority said compliance will include adherence to anchoring requirements, regulations designed to prevent collisions at sea and established principles of good seamanship.

Marine operators and recreational boat users will also be expected to follow environmental protection requirements and avoid activities that could harm Dubai’s marine ecosystem.

The authority stressed the importance of immediately reporting maritime incidents and emergencies to enable a prompt and effective response.

Sheikh Dr. Saeed bin Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, CEO of the Dubai Maritime Authority, said: “This initiative strengthens navigational safety and ensures the orderly use of leisure anchoring areas and recreational mooring buoys in Dubai waters. It supports the sustainable growth of recreational maritime activities and ensures that regulations and guidance are clear to all stakeholders, underlining Dubai’s commitment to consolidating its position as a global hub for safe and well-regulated marine activities.”

Dubai Maritime Authority to monitor compliance

The Dubai Maritime Authority said it will monitor the implementation of the regulatory measures to ensure compliance with the new guidelines.

The circular and accompanying requirements will be applied in accordance with authorised procedures and in coordination with relevant government entities and maritime stakeholders.

The initiative forms part of Dubai’s broader strategy to develop its maritime ecosystem and strengthen its position as an international destination for recreational boating and marine tourism.

The authority said compliance with the guidelines is a shared responsibility among all maritime users, with the measures intended to support a safer, more efficient and environmentally sustainable recreational marine sector.

Dubai Police have arrested a group of individuals accused of deliberately posting fake negative reviews on a company’s Google Maps listing in an attempt to damage its reputation and cause financial losses.

According to local media reports, the arrests followed a complaint filed by the company’s management after it discovered a series of negative online reviews targeting its business.

Major Yasser Juma Mohammed, Head of the Social Media Crimes Section at Dubai Police’s General Department of Criminal Investigation, revealed that investigations uncovered a coordinated campaign involving several commercial establishments that had allegedly formed groups to publish false comments about the company.

The case highlights the growing risks businesses face from online reputation attacks, particularly as customer ratings and digital reviews increasingly influence purchasing decisions.

Dubai Police uncover coordinated fake review campaign

Details of the case were disclosed during an episode of the Dubai Police Podcast, titled A Single Word Could Become a Case. Be Careful, released on Monday, October 12.

The episode, presented by radio host Mohammed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, examined the legal consequences of publishing harmful content online and the responsibilities of social media users.

According to Major Yasser, investigations revealed that individuals associated with commercial establishments had coordinated the publication of misleading reviews on Google Maps to undermine the targeted company’s reputation.

Dubai Police formed a team to investigate the accounts, identify those responsible and take action. The suspects were subsequently arrested and referred to the Public Prosecution.

Authorities did not disclose the identity of the affected company, the number of individuals arrested or the value of the financial losses in the reports reviewed.

Fake Google reviews: What UAE businesses should know

The incident underscores the potential commercial impact of manipulated online reviews, which can influence customer confidence, purchasing decisions and a company’s digital reputation.

For businesses operating in competitive sectors such as retail, hospitality and professional services, negative online ratings can affect customer acquisition and brand perception.

The case also draws attention to the distinction between legitimate customer criticism and deliberately fabricated reviews intended to harm a competitor.

Major Yasser stressed that freedom of expression has limits and that online comments must not be exploited to harm individuals, businesses or their interests.

The police official warned that intentionally publishing false or damaging content could expose individuals to legal accountability under the UAE’s cybercrime framework.

For companies, the case highlights the importance of monitoring online reviews, documenting suspected coordinated attacks and reporting potentially unlawful activity to the relevant authorities.
Dubai Police warn against online rumours

Beyond fake business reviews, Major Yasser also warned that publishing or resharing rumours on social media could result in legal consequences.

He urged internet users to verify information before circulating it and to rely on official authorities and trusted sources, particularly during emergencies.

The official explained that cybercrimes extend beyond financial fraud and hacking to include online insults, threats, misinformation and other unlawful activities conducted through digital platforms.

Etisalat UAE has commercially launched 2×2 uplink multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) with carrier aggregation for smartphones, claiming a global first as telecom operators respond to growing demand for faster data uploads.

The technology, available on compatible smartphones using the operator’s 5.5G network, enables upload speeds of up to three times those achievable without the capability, according to the company.

Technology targets growing upload demand

The system combines two data streams with carrier aggregation, which brings together capacity across different frequency bands. The approach allows compatible devices to transmit more data simultaneously, potentially improving the speed of uploading high-resolution photos, videos and large files, a WAM report said.

The upgrade comes as smartphone use increasingly extends beyond downloading content to creating, sharing and processing data through cloud-based and artificial intelligence applications.

Read more: Remember Etisalat? The name is back as e& marks 50 years

Marwan Bin Shakar, CTO at Etisalat UAE, said: “Mobile experiences are changing. Smartphones are no longer primarily consuming content; they are creating, sharing and increasingly sending richer data to AI and cloud applications in real time. That changes what we need from the network. By bringing this capability to smartphones for the first time globally, we are increasing upload capacity where it matters and ensuring our 5.5G network is ready for how customers will use their devices next.”

AI applications add pressure on networks

AI-powered tools that interpret images, analyse documents or respond to camera input often require users to upload content for cloud-based processing. Faster uplink speeds could reduce the time needed to transmit that information, making some interactions more responsive.

Traditionally, mobile network upgrades have prioritised downlink capacity, which determines how quickly devices receive data. However, growing volumes of user-generated content are increasing the importance of uplink performance, particularly for applications that rely on sending large files or real-time information.

Etisalat UAE’s new capability is designed to address that shift by combining uplink MIMO with carrier aggregation to increase the amount of data smartphones can send over the network.

Network investment focuses on 5.5G

The launch forms part of the operator’s investment in its 5.5G network as smartphones and digital services become more data-intensive.

The potential benefits will depend on device compatibility and network conditions. The company has said the feature is available exclusively on its 5.5G network, meaning users will need compatible smartphones and access to the relevant network to benefit from the technology.

Further details on the rollout and the range of supported devices were not provided in the announcement.