Business
UAE and Germany expand economic ties with a €40 billion cross-sector investment plan. In Berlin, the announcement highlighted significant funding aimed at advancing digital infrastructure across Germany. A joint declaration from both nations outlined intentions to develop new data centres with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1 gigawatt. Germany pledged to facilitate the necessary conditions for these projects’ realization. This investment forms part of a broader suite of economic agreements revealed during the state visit, with both countries also emphasizing collaboration in technology, energy, trade, and other areas of bilateral cooperation.
Travel
Etihad adds Red Sea International Airport to its growing Saudi Arabia flight network. Operating this route with an Airbus A320 configured with eight Business Class seats and 150 Economy Class seats, Etihad emphasizes that travelers across its network can now reach the Red Sea via a single connection at Abu Dhabi. This convenience extends to passengers arriving from Gulf countries and the Indian subcontinent. Tickets for travel from the launch date are already available on Etihad’s booking platform. The new route joins the airline’s existing Saudi destinations of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Medina, and Al Qassim.
Indonesia resumed operations at Jakarta’s main airport and several regional airports on Tuesday following a volcanic ash cloud from Anak Krakatau that caused widespread air travel disruptions. Over 340,000 travelers encountered delays, cancellations, or diversions amid the incident. Almost 3,000 flights across the country were affected. Authorities reopened Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after winds cleared ash from critical aviation zones. Anak Krakatau remained active on Tuesday, with sensors recording three smaller eruptions during the morning hours.
Air Arabia Debuts Its First Four-Flight Daily Service to Bangkok SHARJAH / RankWire.AI / – On Friday, budget airline Air Arabia revealed a strategic enhancement to its Southeast Asian routes, boosting the number of flights connecting the United Arab Emirates and Thailand. Beginning October 25, 2026, the airline will launch a fourth daily nonstop flight linking Sharjah International Airport with Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. This addition elevates the airline’s weekly non-stop services on the Sharjah-Bangkok route to 28, providing more flexible options for both leisure and business travelers. Air Arabia increases Bangkok frequency with four daily flights from Sharjah to meet rising regional travel demand across commercial corridors.
As of July 2026, South Korea experienced a significant surge in inbound tourism, with foreign visitor numbers surpassing 2 million for the first time since the pandemic. The country welcomed a total of 2,093,223 international travelers during the month, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. This figure represents a 20.8% increase compared to 1,733,199 visitors in July 2025 and amounts to 144.6% of the count recorded in July 2019, before COVID-19 disrupted global travel patterns.
Air Arabia expands UAE-Poland links with five weekly Sharjah-Gdansk flights. On Mondays and Saturdays, flight G9 0628 departs Sharjah at 4 p.m., arriving in Gdansk at 8 p.m., while the return flight, G9 0629, departs Gdansk at 8:50 p.m. and arrives in Sharjah at 6:10 a.m. the following day. On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, flights from Sharjah are scheduled for 8:15 a.m., with return flights leaving Gdansk at 1:05 p.m. and reaching Sharjah at 10:25 p.m. All times mentioned are local times.
Automotive
Porsche to cut 5000 more jobs under restructuring plan after reaching agreement with German labor unions, data confirms.
Japan’s new car sales rose 1.8% in the first half of 2026, reaching 2.39 million units as registered vehicles and kei cars grew overall.
FIA expands Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life into the Middle East and Africa, extending road safety training, mentoring and local support.
Mercedes-Benz unveiled the electric C-Class in Seoul, bringing its first battery-powered C-Class sedan with up to 762 km of WLTP range.
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz S-Class adds an illuminated grille, optional lit hood star, and DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps, pairing new styling cues with flagship cabin tech and comfort features.
Tesla’s China-made EV sales rose 9.9% in November 2025, reaching 86,700 units, signaling a strong recovery for the automaker in the world’s largest EV market.