UAE President meets Saudi defence minister, flydubai pilot recounts attack and Macron begins Gulf visit

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed met with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss regional security and stability in light of ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar recounted an incident where his co-pilot attacked him with an axe mid-air, causing the plane to plummet before passengers and crew stopped the attack and safely landed the aircraft, preventing further casualties among the 172 people on board.

Egypt's National Defence Council offered full support to Saudi Arabia as President Abdel Fattah El Sisi deliberated on a potential defensive military action, though a vote on the matter was postponed. French President Emmanuel Macron embarked on a four-nation Gulf tour, including visits to the UAE, to address issues concerning the Strait of Hormuz, energy security, and regional stability amidst the turbulent geopolitical landscape.

Dubai's economy experienced a 2.3% contraction in the first half of 2026 due to the Iran conflict disrupting travel and trade, although financial services and healthcare sectors posted growth figures despite declines in other areas such as transport and retail. Trending Middle East, an AI-assisted report, compiled original articles from The National and additional content curated by human editors.