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EU aviation body widens Saudi airspace warning after Houthi strikes. By Gianluca Lo Nostro Oct 9, 2026 By Gianluca Lo Nostro Oct 9 (Reuters) - Europe's EASA aviation safety body said on Friday it had expanded the area of Saudi Arabian airspace where it recommended airlines not to operate,after Yemen's Iran-alignedHouthis attacked Riyadh airport. In an update to a conflict zone information bulletin first issued on September 30, the EU regulator said recent attacks demonstrated the Houthis' ability and intent to strike targets deeper inside Saudi territory, including the capital. EASA added an area in northwestern Saudi Arabia to the advisory. Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said earlier on Friday that three Saudi nationals were killed and several people were injured in two attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday. The Houthis have renewed threats against airlines flying to Saudi Arabia and said on Thursday they had struck the capital's airport with two cruise missiles. "These recurrent missile and drone attacks, together with the activation of air-defence systems, create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft, as well as risks associated with missile and drone overflights, interception activity and falling debris," EASA said. OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation with almost 10,000 aviation professionals that shares flight risk information, sent a "do not fly" warning for Saudi Arabia to its members on Friday, citing risks of sustained missile attacks and "misjudgment" in defensive responses. "We now recommend avoiding operations in Saudi Arabia entirely, including the use of Saudi airports as en route alternates," it said in the memo shared with Reuters. AIRLINES SUSPEND FLIGHTS Following Thursday's attacks, Lufthansa Group and three Indian airlines said they would suspend flights to Riyadh expected in the coming days. Gulf airlines were also affected with Etihad Airways cancelling six flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh's King Khalid International on Friday and two more planned forSaturday citing "operational disruption at Riyadh airport". "Flights to Riyadh and Yanbu have been cancelled up to and including 10 October, while flights to Abha have been cancelled up to and including 11 October," a flydubai spokesperson said. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh is Saudi Arabia's second-busiest airport after Jeddah. It handled 296,800 flights in 2025, equivalent to about 813 a day, according to Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Statistics. Global flight tracker Flightradar24 showed 131 flights to and from Riyadh had been cancelled by 1305 GMT on Friday after hundreds of cancellations the previous day. (Reporting by Joanna Plucinska, Gianluca Lo Nostro and Federico Maccioni; Editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak, Louise Heavens and Andrew Heavens) This one's on Al Monitor. The story doesn't end here. Its correspondents are already on the next chapter. Read everything they file, from $2/week.

Man City verdict strains UK-UAE ties as billions in investment come into focus. October 2, 2026 From Dispatch Room The fallout from the legal ruling against Manchester City has reportedly begun spilling beyond football, placing fresh strain on relations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates as both governments seek to protect a major investment partnership. The UAE has invested more than £30 billion, about $39.7 billion, in the UK over the past five years, with capital flowing into sectors including defence, technology and life sciences. A further investment summit between the two countries is expected this month, making the timing of the Manchester City controversy particularly sensitive. Explore History Manchester City has become closely associated with Abu Dhabi since its 2008 takeover and has developed into one of the UAE's most prominent international sporting investments. The club was recently found guilty on most counts in the Premier League's long-running financial case, although sanctions remain unresolved and City is challenging the findings. The dispute has already widened beyond the club. Etihad Airways, Manchester City's long-standing sponsor, has rejected suggestions of involvement in improper financial arrangements and is seeking legal advice over the potential damage to its reputation arising from the findings. The wider concern now extends to diplomatic and commercial relations. Both London and Abu Dhabi have strong incentives to prevent the football dispute from disrupting cooperation in strategically important sectors, particularly as the two countries pursue further investment agreements. The Manchester City case has therefore evolved into more than a domestic football governance dispute. Its consequences are increasingly being watched in government and business circles because of the scale of UAE investment in Britain and the importance both countries place on maintaining their economic partnership. Read Local News You May Like

Etihad Airways showcases A321LR features at LIVEX 2026. WAM 29 Sep 2026, 21:34 GMT+ ABU DHABI, 29th September, 2026 (WAM) - Etihad Airways showcased its efforts to enhance the quality of travel and the passenger experience during its participation in the inaugural Liveability and Investment Exhibition (LIVEX 2026). The airline highlighted the features of its Airbus A321LR, which offers an advanced travel experience. At its LIVEX stand, Etihad presented the aircraft as capable of reaching speeds of up to 960 kilometres per hour, while Airbus specifies the A321LR's maximum range at up to 4,000 nautical miles, or around 7,400 kilometres. Etihad deploys the A321LR to a number of prominent international destinations across its network from Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, including Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, Bangkok, Phuket, New Delhi and Mumbai. Maryam Al Mesmari, Director of UAE Government Sales at Etihad Airways, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the airline's participation in LIVEX 2026 provides an opportunity to showcase some of the latest products and innovations in aviation introduced by Etihad to enhance the quality of travel and improve the passenger experience. She said Etihad is showcasing a range of travel products and innovations at its pavilion, reflecting the airline's commitment to developing advanced travel experiences that meet passengers' expectations and enhance comfort and overall journey quality. Al Mesmari said cities with high standards of liveability and wellbeing are among the most connected in the world. She added that Etihad's role as the UAE's national airline is to connect the world with Abu Dhabi and strengthen the emirate's position as a global destination, bringing Abu Dhabi closer to countries around the world. Al Mesmari said Etihad's participation in LIVEX 2026 highlights the pivotal role of aviation in enhancing quality of life by expanding air connectivity and providing advanced travel experiences. She added that these efforts support Abu Dhabi's position as a global destination for travel, investment and liveability.