UAE fuel prices are set for a sharp increase in October, with petrol and diesel prices rising substantially from September as global oil markets face renewed geopolitical uncertainty.

The Gasoline and Diesel Prices Follow-up Committee approved October prices at Dhs4.21 a litre for E-Plus 91, Dhs4.28 for Special 95, Dhs4.40 for Super 98 and Dhs4.80 for diesel, according to the Emirates News Agency, WAM.

The increases mark a significant month-on-month move after September prices stood at Dhs3.61 for E-Plus 91, Dhs3.69 for Special 95, Dhs3.80 for Super 98 and Dhs4.30 for diesel.

E-Plus 91 will therefore rise by 60 fils a litre, or about 16.6 per cent, in October. Special 95 will increase by 59 fils, or about 16 per cent, while Super 98 will climb 60 fils, or nearly 15.8 per cent. Diesel will rise by 50 fils, an increase of about 11.6 per cent.

Global oil prices rise on Iran uncertainty

The increase in UAE pump prices comes as international crude markets regain momentum following a volatile period marked by geopolitical tensions and changing expectations over oil supplies.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump denied reports that he was prepared to ease sanctions on Iran, Reuters reported.

Brent crude’s November contract was up 71 cents, or 0.69 per cent, at $103.30 a barrel by 0408 GMT. The more actively traded December contract gained 35 cents to $96.51, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 43 cents, or 0.48 per cent, to $89.81, according to Reuters.

Brent was heading for a monthly gain of about 14 per cent, its strongest monthly increase since July, while WTI was on course for a gain of about 4 per cent.

“Continued uncertainty over sanctions relief and negotiations is keeping a geopolitical risk premium embedded in prices,” Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of New Delhi-based SS WealthStreet, told Reuters.

“Improving supplies could cap further gains, but renewed disruption or an escalation in tensions could trigger another rally,” she said.

Supply recovery offers some counterweight

The oil market is also contending with signs that crude flows from the Middle East are recovering from disruptions earlier in the year.

Saudi Arabia resumed oil tanker loadings from its Red Sea port of Yanbu after restarting operations on the East-West Pipeline, Reuters reported.

J.P. Morgan estimated that crude oil exports from Middle Eastern producers recovered to 16.328 million barrels per day in September, the highest level since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in late February.

The bank said regional exports were about 11 per cent below pre-war levels after the Saudi pipeline was restored. Its research also estimated that the 10-day average for total oil exports over the previous five days was 20.5 million barrels per day, equivalent to 89% of 2025 levels.

The improving supply picture could put some pressure on oil prices, although the market remains sensitive to any further disruption in the region.

What the October increase means for UAE motorists

For motorists, the October adjustment represents a considerably larger increase than the changes announced for September.

In September, petrol prices were raised between 5.56 per cent and 5.87 per cent, with Super 98 priced at Dhs3.80 a litre, Special 95 at Dhs3.69 and E-Plus 91 at Dhs3.61. Diesel was priced at Dhs4.30.

The October rates move all three petrol grades above Dhs4 a litre, while diesel approaches Dhs5 a litre.

The UAE uses a monthly fuel-pricing mechanism that reflects movements in global energy markets and domestic market conditions. The latest adjustment means motorists will face higher fuel costs from October 1, following the sharp rise from September’s rates.

Meanwhile, oil-market participants are watching US fuel inventories and possible policy changes. US crude and gasoline inventories rose last week, while distillate stocks declined, according to data cited by Reuters from the American Petroleum Institute. Official inventory figures from the US Energy Information Administration were due later on Wednesday.

The competing forces of recovering Middle East supplies and renewed geopolitical risk are likely to remain central to the oil market as traders assess the outlook for crude prices, and, in turn, future monthly fuel-price adjustments in the UAE.

Etihad Rail began passenger services between Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, September 30, with the first train departing Al Yalayis Station in Dubai at 6:14am.

The inaugural service marks the start of passenger operations on the UAE’s national railway network and introduces a new rail connection between the two emirates.

The first Dubai departure was followed by a second service at 7:14am. Trains arriving from Abu Dhabi reached Dubai at 7:47am and 8:47am.

The route runs from Abu Dhabi Station to Mohamed bin Zayed City Station before continuing to Al Yalayis Station in Dubai, providing a direct rail option for passengers travelling between the two emirates.

The first journey also marked the opening of the passenger service at Al Yalayis Station, where passengers gathered ahead of the inaugural departure. The train’s arrival at Mohamed bin Zayed City Station in Abu Dhabi marked another stage of the launch as the new service began carrying passengers between the two emirates.

Dubai station links to Metro network

Al Yalayis Station is connected to the Dubai Metro network through an approximately 400-metre pedestrian bridge. The route links the station with Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station, allowing passengers to transfer to the Red Line and continue to destinations across Dubai.

Etihad Rail stations also provide access to car parks, taxis, buses and private transport operators, giving passengers options for the first and final legs of their journeys.

The passenger service is designed to accommodate different groups, including People of Determination, senior citizens, families, students, employees, visitors and tourists.

The connection between Etihad Rail and Dubai’s public transport network gives passengers additional options for continuing their journeys after arriving in Dubai.

Services extend to Fujairah

Passenger services between Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah begin on September 30, expanding the initial passenger network beyond the Dubai-Abu Dhabi connection.

Tickets are available through the Etihad Rail mobile application, website and ticket vending machines at stations. Fares start at Dhs39 for Comfort Class and Dhs109 for Premium Class.

Etihad Rail’s Dubai Station is designed to connect the national railway network with Dubai’s wider transport system. Its pedestrian link to Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro Station provides a direct transfer between Etihad Rail and Dubai Metro.

Passengers can also use Dubai’s Nol system to combine Etihad Rail journeys with public transport services. A single QR code can be used across train, Metro, Tram and bus services.

Etihad Rail Mobility operates services

Passenger services are operated by Etihad Rail Mobility, a joint venture between Etihad Rail and Keolis.

The partnership brings together Etihad Rail’s UAE transport operations and Keolis’ international experience in passenger transport and railway operations.

The launch adds passenger services to the UAE’s national railway network and provides a new rail option for intercity travel between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as connections with local public transport networks.

There is a particular kind of phone anxiety that kicks in around 4pm in Dubai. You have spent the day jumping between meetings, WhatsApp, calls and traffic, used Google Maps more than once, ordered a coffee, checked a few emails, and somehow your battery is already under 30 per cent. You still have the drive home, dinner plans and the usual late-night scrolling ahead of you, and suddenly you are wondering where the nearest charger is. The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G is built to make that feeling go away.

Its headline act is a very large silicon‑carbon battery. In the global version reviewed here it is rated at 8,340mAh, which is big even by today’s ambitious standards. Xiaomi reckons on more than two days of moderate use. Real life will always depend on screen brightness, 5G, photos, games and how welded you are to Instagram, but a battery this size gives you a head start before you optimise a thing. And that, more than any camera mode or AI trick, is the best reason to buy this phone.

The clever part is it does not feel like a brick. Silicon‑carbon tech packs more energy into less space, so at 8.6mm and 223g the phone is substantial without being absurd. When it does run low, 67W HyperCharge gets you to 50 per cent in about 34 minutes, and up to 22.5W wired reverse charging means that huge cell can bail out your earbuds or a friend’s phone before a flight. Xiaomi lists a 67W charger in the box, though it is worth checking with your local seller.

There is a longevity claim too: the battery is rated to keep at least 80 per cent of its capacity after 1,600 charge cycles, which Xiaomi equates to more than six years of typical use—best read as a lab benchmark rather than a cast‑iron promise.

A robust battery would matter less if the rest felt cheap, but the screen is genuinely good. It is a 6.83‑inch 1.5K AMOLED at 2772 x 1280, up to 120Hz, with 3,500 nits peak brightness for full Gulf glare and around 1,060 nits in typical use. Add 12‑bit colour, DCI‑P3 and high‑frequency PWM dimming and you have a panel built for exactly what people do on big phones: video, socials, games and endless reading. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covers the front, and Wet Touch 2.0 keeps it responsive when your fingers or the screen are damp.

Performance is sensible rather than showy. A Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 on a 4nm process handles everyday duties smoothly while keeping power draw in check, which is rather the point in a phone about endurance. In the UAE, storage runs from 6GB+128GB up to 8GB+512GB, with memory expansion borrowing storage as extra RAM. It runs Xiaomi HyperOS 3 with Google Gemini, Circle to Search and a set of AI photo tools including AI Erase Pro, AI Glare Removal and AI Image Enhancement. Handy, mostly, though the battery is still the easier thing to get excited about.

The cameras keep things refreshingly simple: a 50MP main sensor with OIS and an f/1.8 lens, an 8MP ultra‑wide, and a 16MP selfie camera, with portrait, HDR, Pro and Ultra HD modes, dual‑video and an underwater mode added over the air. The one real compromise is video, which tops out at 1080p at 30fps, conservative in 2026. For everyday shots, social posts and portraits, though, it covers the basics well.

Toughness is where Xiaomi has gone unusually hard. The Pro carries IP66, IP68, IP69 and IP69K ratings, has passed lab immersion at up to two metres for 72 hours, and is SGS‑certified for a three‑metre drop onto granite under test conditions. None of that makes it indestructible, and water resistance fades with wear, but it is real reassurance at this price. You also get stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, NFC, an IR blaster, an in‑display fingerprint reader, dual SIM with eSIM and dual‑band Wi‑Fi. In the UAE it comes in Black, Satin Orange and Sky Blue.

If you want the very biggest battery, the REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G sits above it with a record 10,000mAh cell in global markets (and 9,210mAh in some regions), up to three days on a charge and faster 100W charging, along with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, up to 16GB of RAM with memory extension, a sharper 32MP front camera and 4K video. It shares the same 6.83‑inch 3,500‑nit screen and Titan Quality toughness, and costs Dhs1,799, or Dhs1,999 for the 512GB version.

Back to the Pro, though, because it is the smarter buy. Its defining feature is not a party trick you will use twice. It is a battery that changes the rhythm of the day: reaching the evening without doing charge maths, travelling without automatically packing a power bank, using maps and video without treating every percentage point as a scarce resource.

At Dhs1,499, that is a lot of phone, and a lot less worry, for the money.

Note: If you want the very biggest battery, the REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G sits above it with a record 10,000mAh cell in global markets (and 9,210mAh in some regions), up to three days on a charge and faster 100W charging, along with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, up to 16GB of RAM with memory extension, a sharper 32MP front camera and 4K video. It shares the same 6.83‑inch 3,500‑nit screen and Titan Quality toughness, and costs Dhs1,799, or Dhs1,999 for the 512GB version.

REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G specifications

Display: 6.83‑inch AMOLED, 2772 x 1280, up to 120Hz, 3,500 nits peak, Gorilla Glass Victus 2, 
processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 4, 4nm, octa‑core up to 2.4GHz
RAM and storage: 6GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB, 8GB+512GB, with memory expansion
, rear cameras: 50MP main with OIS, f/1.8; 8MP ultra‑wide
Front camera: 16MP, battery: 8,340mAh (typical) silicon‑carbon, charging: 67W HyperCharge, up to 22.5W wired reverse charging
, durability: IP66, IP68, IP69, IP69K; SGS‑certified three‑metre drop
 and price: Dhs1,499 (8GB+256GB), Dhs1,749 (8GB+512GB)

The REDMI Note 17 Series was announced on 24 September 2026. Specifications and prices as provided by Xiaomi; some features and availability vary by market.

Shure has launched its IntelliMix Bar Pro in the UAE and wider Gulf region, introducing the conferencing system at an event in Dubai.

The launch comes as companies across the region increase their use of artificial intelligence (AI) in workplace applications. Microsoft’s 2026 Global AI Diffusion Report said the UAE had an AI diffusion rate of 70.1 per cent of the working-age population, while PwC’s 29th Global CEO Survey found that 70 per cent of Middle East CEOs had a defined roadmap for AI initiatives.

The IntelliMix Bar Pro is a Microsoft Teams-certified all-in-one video bar designed for medium and large meeting rooms. It combines IntelliMix View AI video framing with onboard IntelliMix audio processing.

The system is designed to capture speech and video from participants across a meeting room, providing inputs that can be used by AI-based tools for functions including transcription and meeting summaries.

“Shure has long been at the forefront of meeting room innovation, delivering audio solutions that empower effective collaboration,” said Ekta Shetty, senior sales director for Africa, Middle East, India, Southeast Asia and Pacific at Shure. “As organisations increasingly embrace AI-powered meeting experiences, high-quality audio has become more critical than ever. When every word is captured and transcribed with clarity, AI can generate more accurate insights, drive greater efficiency, and enable more productive interactions. Together, we’re helping customers create smarter, more connected workplaces around the world.”

Audio and video processing

The system’s onboard IntelliMix audio processing is designed to isolate voices and reduce background noise, while IntelliMix View AI provides automated video framing for participants around the room.

“IntelliMix Bar Pro is designed to provide the clear audio capture, intelligent video capabilities, and enterprise-grade reliability that modern workplaces demand. By delivering richer, more accurate inputs for both participants and AI-powered tools, it helps organisations drive greater productivity, engagement, and insight from every meeting” said Yassine Mannai, associate director, Sales & Marketing, Middle East & Africa, Turkey and CIS at Shure.

The Dubai event was held in partnership with NMK Electronics, a Midwich Group company, at NMK Beyond.

Shure also demonstrated other products from its collaboration portfolio, including the MXA925 Ceiling Array Microphone, SLX-D+, Microflex Wireless neXt with Fusion Mode, MXA901 and IntelliMix Foundation System.

Microsoft Teams integration

The IntelliMix Bar Pro is built on the Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform, or MDEP, and has received Microsoft Teams certification.

The certification means the device has been tested against Microsoft’s requirements for Teams-compatible meeting-room hardware.

IT teams can manage and update the system remotely through ShureCloud, while integration is also available with Microsoft Pro Management Portal and ServiceNow.

“AI is advancing at an incredible pace, fundamentally changing how we communicate and collaborate,” said Alex Kemanes, MD MESEA at NMK Electronics. “What has always set Shure apart is its understanding that great collaboration is not about one product, but the entire experience. From capture and processing to playback, software and management, Shure has built an ecosystem that works as one, becoming even more powerful as AI reshapes the workplace.”

Shure and NMK have worked together for more than three decades, with NMK supporting Shure’s regional distribution and market presence.

The launch of Apple’s iPhone 18 has sharply increased activity in the UAE’s second-hand smartphone market, with both listings and buyer interest rising after the latest model went on sale.

Data from dubizzle comparing September 9, the day the iPhone 18 was announced, with September 18, when the device became available in stores, shows a substantial increase in activity around iPhones on the platform.

The number of new iPhone listings jumped 810 per cent, from 258 on the announcement day to 2,348 on the day the iPhone 18 went on sale. At the same time, views of iPhone advertisements rose 88 per cent, increasing from 52,600 to 98,700.

Read more: Buying the new iPhone 18? These countries offer the lowest prices

The figures point to increased activity on both sides of the resale market as consumers respond to the arrival of a new generation of Apple’s smartphone.

New iPhone launch drives resale supply

The sharp increase in listings on September 18 suggests that a significant number of existing iPhone owners waited for the new model to become available before selling their current devices.

That creates a familiar pattern in the smartphone market. Consumers who purchase the latest model can quickly become sellers of their previous phones, adding more devices to the pool available to second-hand buyers.

The effect is not limited to 1 particular iPhone generation. As more owners upgrade, older models can appear on the resale market across different storage capacities, specifications and price ranges.

For buyers, that can mean a wider selection of used iPhones becomes available at the same time that attention is focused on Apple’s latest release.

Buyer activity rises alongside listings

The increase in supply was accompanied by a rise in consumer interest. iPhone advertisement views reached 98,700 on the iPhone 18’s release date, compared with 52,600 on the announcement date.

That represents an 88% increase and indicates that the additional inventory was accompanied by higher levels of browsing activity.

The figures also show that the impact of a major smartphone launch can extend beyond demand for the newest model itself. While some consumers may be focused on purchasing the latest device, others can use the increased availability of previous generations to enter the market or replace an existing phone.

For sellers, the launch of a new model can therefore coincide with a period of increased activity for their older devices.

A cycle between new and used devices

Matthew Gregory, senior director of Strategy at dubizzle, said major smartphone launches affect the secondary market as consumers move between buying new devices and selling their existing ones.

“Major smartphone launches have an impact that extends well beyond the introduction of a new device to the market. At dubizzle, we see this reflected in the secondary market, where consumers upgrading to the latest models put their existing devices up for sale, while other buyers actively search for iPhones across different generations and price points,” Gregory said.

He added that the increase in listings and views around the iPhone 18 release illustrates how quickly activity can change when a major smartphone enters the market.

“The significant increase in both listings and views around the iPhone 18 release demonstrates how quickly consumer behaviour can shift when a major new device enters the market,” Gregory said.

Resale market gains from upgrade cycle

The data suggests that the launch of a new smartphone can create activity across several parts of the device market rather than concentrating interest solely on the latest product.

As consumers upgrade, their previous phones can move into the resale market, giving other buyers access to devices that might otherwise remain in use or outside the market.

That process can also extend the period during which smartphones remain in circulation. A device sold by 1 consumer can subsequently be used by another, potentially delaying its replacement with a new handset.

For the UAE’s second-hand smartphone market, the iPhone 18 launch therefore provided a clear example of how a major product release can influence both supply and consumer activity. The jump in listings from 258 to 2,348, alongside the increase in advertisement views from 52,600 to 98,700, shows the scale of the movement recorded on dubizzle between the announcement and retail launch dates.

The figures also underline the connection between the new-device and resale markets: as some consumers move toward the latest iPhone, others gain more opportunities to buy earlier generations on the second-hand market.