Business leaders in tourism adjacent sectors will come together on Wednesday, June 10, for The Briefing with Arabian Business at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai to discuss the evolving landscape in the Gulf.
The US-Israel-Iran war has led many residents to look inward for their travel needs. What began as a necessity has evolved into a sophisticated market of high-end staycations, adventure tourism, and cross-border regional trips.
Business leaders have responded with unprecedented speed, launching tailored initiatives designed to keep capital within the region and stimulate local economies.
However, the discussion isn’t solely about local growth.
The panel will also address the critical elephant in the room, the urgent need for international travel bans to be lifted and the restoration of global confidence in the region’s safety and accessibility.
Speakers on the panel discussion titled ‘The New Role of Regional & Domestic Tourism’ will be Phillipa Harrison, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Kerry Healy, CCO, Middle East, Africa, Turkey & Asia-Pacific, Premium, Midscale & Economy at Accor, Amit Nayak, Vice President at HAMA MEA, and Richard Jewsbury, Executive Vice President Corporate and Customer Experience Planning at Emirates.
The discussion forms part of The Briefing with Arabian Business, an invitation-only forum bringing together senior executives, policymakers and founders from across the Gulf’s business landscape.
Hosted by Arabian Business, the event comes at a pivotal time for regional travel and hospitality as companies continue to manage the after effects of geopolitical disruption and fluctuating global markets.
Discussions throughout the day will focus on the real-world challenges businesses are facing, from investment flows and cost pressures to leadership under strain and the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping competitive advantage.
Attendance is reserved for Arabian Business Premium Plus members and invited guests, with access available through subscription via Arabian Business.
Launching this June, The Briefing with Arabian Business is a new conference series created exclusively for Arabian Business Premium Plus subscribers.
Following the regional disruption resulting from the US-Israel-Iran war, business owners across the Gulf, North Africa and beyond have been forced to adjust plans and expectations for the year ahead.
On Wednesday June 10, The Briefing: 2026 Resilience & Recovery Conference will act as rebuild session for business owners and stakeholders in sectors that contribute substantially to the region’s economic stability, progression and ambition.
Industry leaders with experience navigating watershed moments will share their insights, observations, and advice for operators looking to outlast the ramifications of the conflict and build back stronger.
The speaker line-up brings together some of the region’s most influential decision-makers including UAE’s Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy, H.E. Badr Jafar, Accor Chief Commercial Officer, Kerry Healy, Dubai Airports CEO, Paul Griffiths, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Phillipa Harrison, The Giving Movement CEO, Rania Masri El Khatib and Mashreq Group CEO, Ahmed Abdelaal with more speakers to be announced in the build-up to the event.
Attendance is reserved for Arabian Business Premium Plus members and invited guests.
Access to Premium Plus, including entry to The Briefing, is available via subscription at arabianbusiness.com
Iran has prepared a mechanism to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz along a designated route, the head of parliament’s national security committee said.
The official said the mechanism will be unveiled soon and will apply to commercial vessels and parties cooperating with Iran.
Fees will be collected for specialised services provided under the mechanism.
Swatch cancelled the in store sale of its Royal Pop collaboration with Audemars Piguet at Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates after crowding built ahead of the planned release.
Swatch’s regional Instagram account posted that, “In view of public safety considerations”, the company would not proceed with sales at the two locations and that the event had been cancelled. Swatch had not published a revised UAE sale date by Saturday morning.
Queues formed before sunrise as buyers gathered for a drop that had already drawn intense attention across watch forums and social platforms.
Videos circulating from both malls showed dense lines outside the Swatch stores. One buyer quoted in local reporting said he had waited for several hours across both sites before the cancellation notice appeared, while other customers complained about the absence of real time crowd guidance.
Saudi Arabia and the Arab world have entered peak Milky Way viewing season, with some of the clearest night skies of the year expected through late May
Astronomy experts say the best viewing dates are May 15–23, especially from remote desert and highland locations far from city lights.
Would you stay up to see the Milky Way in the desert?
Drone deliveries are heading to Dubai’s beaches and parks.
Dubai Municipality has signed a partnership with Keeta Drone to launch aerial delivery services across selected public destinations later this year, allowing visitors to order food, drinks and essential items by drone.
The rollout is part of Dubai’s wider smart city and future mobility ambitions.
Would you use drone delivery at the beach?
ADNOC has exchanged two strategic collaboration agreements with Indian energy partners, strengthening cooperation across crude oil, LNG, LPG and energy storage.
The agreements were exchanged in the presence of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Indian leader’s official visit to the UAE.
ADNOC said the agreements support India’s growing energy demand and build on the company’s partnerships with Indian firms across crude, LNG and LPG supply.
The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has confirmed that Danalac infant formula is not registered in the UAE and has not been imported through official channels.
The ministry issued the update in collaboration with the Emirates Drug Establishment and in coordination with relevant regulatory authorities.
It said there is no evidence of widespread circulation of the product in local markets.
Dubai’s property market is showing early signs of stabilisation, with demand improving across sales and leasing in April.
Dubai Land Department figures showed total transactions rose just under 2 per cent month on month, marking the first positive movement since the conflict began in late February.
According to new data from betterhomes, a 11 per cent increase was recorded in inbound sales enquiries between March and April, with activity improving week on week.
Narendra Modi arrived in Abu Dhabi on Friday for talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, opening the first stop of a five nation tour that runs until 20 May. Sheikh Mohamed received Modi at the airport, where an official ceremony featured national anthems, a guard of honour and a military aircraft escort into UAE airspace.
Modi wrote on X that he had thanked Sheikh Mohamed for receiving him at Abu Dhabi Airport and that he was looking forward to discussions on energy, investment, supply chains and other sectors. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had outlined energy cooperation and wider bilateral issues as the core agenda for the UAE leg of the trip.
US President Donald Trump has left Beijing saying he has struck "fantastic trade deals, great for both countries" after meeting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Trump, who was accompanied to China by CEOs, described ties between the two countries as "the world's most consequential economic relationship".
The two-day summit saw elaborate ceremonies and upbeat language but no sweeping trade breakthrough or significant business agreements.
After concluding talks on Friday, Trump said the meeting had been "very successful", while Xi called it a "historic and landmark" visit.
But despite the choreography, there was no major trade deal or structural agreement.
UAE residents can order Eid Al Adha sacrifices through app-based channels ahead of the festival expected on May 27, 2026. Noon has opened Qurbani sales with Zabehaty, while Careem is listing slaughtered livestock for home delivery.
Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department has also fixed accredited charity coupon rates between Dh350 and Dh800 for the 1447 AH season.
Pricing shows a clear split between retail fulfilment and charity channels. App-based orders start above the official charity bands because they bundle animal selection, slaughter, packaging, delivery and last-mile logistics into a consumer purchase.
Municipal and charity systems continue to handle lower-priced sacrifice routes through approved abattoirs and distribution networks.
