Pakistan and India have extended airspace restrictions for each other’s aircraft in tit-for-tat moves, both countries said on Friday, amid continuing diplomatic tensions between the neighbours after a brief tensions this month.

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The Pakistan Airports Authority said the restriction applied to “all aircraft registered, operated, owned, or leased by India”, including military planes, until 4:59 am local time on June 24. (2359 GMT on June 23)

India’s Civil Aviation Ministry issued a corresponding NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), saying Pakistani-registered, operated, owned, or leased aircraft, including military flights, would be barred from Indian airspace through June 23.

The historic city of Tashkent marked a pivotal moment in the Middle East and Central Asia’s (ME&CA) digital journey as Huawei opened its flagship Tech Carnival & Partner Summit 2025 in Uzbekistan — its first time in the country.

Under the banner “Accelerating the Intelligent World,” the event drew more than 1,500 industry leaders, government officials, technology experts and partners to explore how intelligent technologies can drive the region’s digital transformation.

Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov underscored the occasion: “Uzbekistan stands at a crucial junction of ancient heritage and modern innovation. This event represents our commitment to becoming a regional hub for digital excellence.”

A region at the digital crossroads

ME&CA sits at a critical inflection point. Spanning 21 countries with a combined GDP above $6 trn and a population topping 500 m, the region offers vast growth potential. Rapid global adoption of artificial intelligence—spurred by advances such as DeepSeek—only heightens the urgency to act.

Unlike mature markets burdened by legacy infrastructure, many ME&CA nations can build AI-first ecosystems from scratch. This digital leapfrogging offers an unprecedented chance to secure a competitive edge in the global economy. A young, tech-savvy population and government-led diversification away from hydrocarbons further fuel momentum.

Derek Hao, President of Huawei Enterprise Business ME&CA, captured the mood: “Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace… Huawei has developed new digital and intelligent solutions for industries based on our global practices with customers and partners.”

Uzbekistan’s own Digital Uzbekistan 2030 strategy aims to propel the country’s e-Government Development Index from 63rd to the global top 30 within a few years.

The geopolitical dimension of digital sovereignty

Technological progress also reflects aspirations for digital sovereignty. As global tech ecosystems fragment, regional control over digital infrastructure translates into economic and strategic autonomy. Emerging “technological corridors”—linking the Gulf to Central Asia and beyond—position ME&CA as a vital bridge between East and West in an AI-enabled economy.

Comprehensive digital-enablement strategy

Huawei recognises organisations are at different stages of digital maturity and has created four implementation models:

1. ICT infrastructure enablement – integrated computing, networks and storage.

2. Cloud-platform enablement – one platform for multi-cloud applications, cutting development time from months to weeks.

3. Data enablement – a lake-house solution that eliminates silos and reduces data-migration workloads by 80 per cent.

4. AI enablement – frameworks and tools that speed real-world deployment.

Regional investment and commitment

Huawei has set up ICT academies with local universities and, through its T.H.E Gold Talent Programme, plans to cultivate one million digital professionals across ME&CA. The company works with more than 3,000 partners serving tens of thousands of SMEs, helping its regional commercial market grow 34 per cent year on year in 2024.

As ME&CA embraces its digital future, success will hinge on collaboration among governments, technology providers and industry leaders—and on sustained investment in human capital. The rise of “collaborative intelligence,” where human creativity and AI combine to tackle complex challenges, marks the next frontier.

Derek Hao closed with a clear pledge: “At Huawei, we are committed to working with our partners to build robust digital infrastructure and accelerate intelligent transformation across the region.” Through targeted investment in education, infrastructure and partnerships, ME&CA is poised to lead in the intelligent economy.

To enhance traffic flow and achieve smoother mobility in Dubai, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is undertaking a major project to develop key intersections along Hessa Street. These include intersections with Sheikh Zayed Road, First Al Khail Road, Al Asayel Street, and Al Khail Road, covering a distance of 4.5 kilometres.

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Additionally, the number of lanes on Hessa Street will be increased from two to four in each direction, boosting the street’s capacity from 8,000 to 16,000 vehicles per hour per direction. This development project supports several key areas in Dubai, with more than 63 percent of the work completed to date. Completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

Bridge connecting Dubai–Al Ain Road to Nad Al Sheba

The RTA is also set to construct a two-lane bridge in Nad Al Sheba, spanning approximately 700 metres. The new bridge will serve residential communities in Nad Al Sheba and provide a direct connection for inbound traffic from Dubai–Al Ain Road towards Al Ain.

Designed to handle 2,600 vehicles per hour, the bridge will reduce travel time from Dubai–Al Ain Road to Nad Al Sheba by 83 percent—cutting the journey from six minutes to just one. The project aims to improve traffic flow for an area home to around 30,000 residents, while easing congestion at key entry and exit points throughout Nad Al Sheba.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, with completion targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. The project reflects RTA’s commitment to infrastructure development and to enhancing the efficiency of Dubai’s road network. It addresses the emirate’s rapid population growth and urban expansion, particularly in residential areas, while upholding the highest standards of traffic safety and seamless mobility. These goals align with the leadership’s vision to position Dubai as the best city in the world for living and mobility.

Saudi Arabia’s booming tourism sector is poised to deliver a record-breaking SAR447.2bn economic boost this year, as global travel and tourism reach historic highs, according to the latest data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The WTTC forecasts that international visitor spending globally will hit an all-time high of $2.1tn in 2025 — surpassing pre-pandemic levels by $164bn. This growth is part of a broader global surge, with the sector’s total economic contribution expected to reach $11.7tn, making up 10.3 per cent of the world’s GDP.

Travel and tourism-related employment is also set to climb by 14 million jobs this year, reaching a total of 371 million — more than the entire population of the US.

A mixed global picture

Despite the strong global performance, some major economies are showing signs of a slowdown. The US, while still the largest travel and tourism market globally, continues to fall short of its 2019 international visitor spending levels.

In China, although international spending exceeded pre-pandemic levels last year, growth is projected to taper off sharply in 2025.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism boom

In contrast, Saudi Arabia stands out as a global success story. The kingdom’s travel and tourism sector is on track to contribute more than 10 per cent of national GDP by 2025.

Employment in the sector is projected to hit a record 2.7 million jobs, underscoring the strength of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious tourism strategy.

Read: Saudi Arabia launches TOURISE, a global platform to reshape the ‘future of tourism’

Driving this growth is a powerful combination of rising international and domestic spending. Inbound visitor spending is forecast to reach nearly SAR200bn this year, while domestic tourism spending is expected to hit an unprecedented SAR162.5bn.

Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO, said: “The kingdom is redefining what’s possible, and will not only meet, but exceed the ambitions of Vision 2030.”

Regional momentum

The broader Middle East region is also benefiting from this surge. Travel and tourism in the region is projected to contribute $367.3bn to the regional economy and support 7.7 million jobs in 2025.

International visitor spending across the Middle East is expected to reach nearly $194bn — 24 per cent above 2019 levels — while domestic spending is forecast to hit almost $113bn.

As Saudi Arabia cements its status as a global tourism powerhouse, the kingdom’s record-breaking year reflects a larger regional transformation driven by strategic investment and visionary leadership.

US President Donald Trump’s trade negotiators are pushing the EU to make unilateral tariff reductions on US goods, saying without concessions the bloc will not progress in talks to avoid additional 20 per cent “reciprocal” duties, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is preparing to tell European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on Friday that a recent “explanatory note” shared by Brussels for the talks falls short of US expectations, the newspaper said citing unnamed sources.

The FT added that the European Union has been pushing for a jointly agreed framework text for the talks but the two sides remain too far apart.