Riyadh has announced extended public transport schedules for the Eid Al-Fitr holidays, aiming to ease congestion and improve mobility as travel demand rises across the capital.

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City said the move is designed to facilitate smoother movement for both residents and visitors during one of the busiest periods of the year, a Saudi Gazette report said.

Read more-Riyadh Metro extension: Five new stations announced

The Riyadh Metro will operate from March 20 to 23, running daily from 11:00 a.m. until midnight, ensuring consistent service throughout the holiday. Meanwhile, Riyadh bus services will begin operations on March 20 from 6:30am until midnight.

From March 21 to 23, bus services will start earlier at 5:00 a.m. and continue until midnight, offering extended accessibility during peak travel times.

Flexible options for commuters

The on-demand bus service will also be available from March 20 to 23, operating from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 a.m., providing added flexibility for users.

“The adjusted schedules are part of ongoing efforts to enhance mobility, ensure smooth transportation, and support increased movement,” the authority said.

ADNOC managing director and group CEO, Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, has warned that energy infrastructure should never be targeted, saying attacks on civilian facilities risk undermining both regional stability and the wider global economy.

In a LinkedIn post published on Thursday, Al Jaber said critical energy infrastructure across the region had come under attack, describing the facilities as civilian sites operated by civilian engineers and essential to economies and daily life well beyond the Gulf.

Read more: UAE condemns Iran attack on Habshan gas facility and Bab field

“These are civilian facilities, operated by civilian engineers, sustaining economies and everyday life far beyond our region,” he said.

Al Jaber said attacks on energy systems were not only a regional concern, but one with international economic consequences.

“The reality is simple: energy security is global economic stability,” he said. “When energy systems are targeted, the consequences are felt by our teams on the front line, by communities here in the Emirates, and by households and economies around the world.”

He described the wider attacks on energy infrastructure as “unjustified, unprovoked and illegal”, adding that “energy flows are being weaponised”.

His comments come as tensions across Gulf energy markets have intensified, prompting renewed focus on the risks facing critical oil and gas infrastructure in the region.

Al Jaber said the UAE’s position, shared more broadly across the international community, was that attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure must stop.

“We must de-escalate, restore stability, and ensure energy continues to flow safely to the world,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned Iran’s attacks targeting the Habshan gas facility and the Bab field in Abu Dhabi, after the country’s air defences intercepted the strike with no injuries reported.

Dubai has announced the activation of a “Green Corridor” between ports in the Sultanate of Oman and the emirate to facilitate the movement of sea and air cargo shipments.

In a post on X, Dubai Customs said the initiative has been launched in cooperation with the General Directorate of Customs and is aimed at enhancing trade flows and supporting supply chains between the two countries.

According to the authority, the corridor enables the transfer of shipments that are routed through Omani ports to Dubai via a streamlined and approved route, simplifying the overall movement process.

In the first stage, transit declarations are submitted in Oman under fast-track customs procedures before shipments are routed through the designated corridor.

During transit, containers are sealed by the shipping agent, with shipment integrity maintained and verified across ports until arrival in Dubai.

Upon reaching the Hatta border crossing, cargo documentation—including the manifest and bill of lading—is submitted, after which shipments proceed to customs clearance at relevant centres in Dubai.

Dubai Customs said the initiative is part of efforts to enhance the efficiency of cross-border logistics and facilitate smoother cargo movement between Oman and Dubai.

The UAE’s Ministry of Economy and Tourism has rejected rumours circulating on social media claiming that the country is imposing restrictions on the movement of capital or preventing foreign investors from transferring or managing their funds.

In a statement, the ministry said the information being shared online was inaccurate and reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to economic openness and the free movement of capital.

“The Ministry of Economy and Tourism denies the accuracy of information circulating on some social platforms claiming that the United Arab Emirates is imposing restrictions on the movement of capital or preventing foreign investors from transferring or managing their funds in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations,” the statement said.

The ministry said the UAE remains firmly committed to policies of economic openness and the free movement of capital, in line with international best practices and in a way that reinforces a stable and attractive investment environment.

The statement appeared aimed at reassuring investors and the wider market at a time of heightened regional uncertainty and fast-moving online speculation.

The ministry also urged the public and media to rely on official sources for accurate information.

The UAE has strongly condemned Iran’s attacks targeting the Habshan gas facility and the Bab field in Abu Dhabi, after the country’s air defences intercepted the strike with no injuries reported, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry said the attack represented a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law.

“The UAE reserves its full right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and national security, and to safeguard its national interests,” it said in a statement.

The ministry went on to say that “this terrorist attack targeting critical infrastructure and oil facilities represents a direct threat to regional security and stability, as well as to global energy security”.

Broader retaliatory strikes

The attack comes amid a broader escalation across Gulf energy infrastructure. Reuters earlier reported that Iran had warned of retaliatory strikes on energy sites in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar after Iranian gas facilities were hit on Wednesday.

Read more: Iran gas field hit as energy security risks rise

In Qatar, missile attacks caused extensive damage at Ras Laffan Industrial City, the centre of the country’s LNG operations, although no casualties were reported according to Reuters.

Oil markets have reacted sharply to the latest attacks. Brent crude rose by as much as 3 per cent on Thursday as investors assessed the growing risk to energy infrastructure and supply routes.

Brent futures were up $3.69, or 3.44 per cent, earlier in the day, reaching $111. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $2.29, or 2.38 per cent, to $98.61.