Strait of Hormuz Escalation: US President Donald Trump warned the US will destroy “one bridge or power plant” for every Iranian attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, as another wave of strikes hit Iran and alerts were issued across the Gulf, raising fresh risks for shipping and energy flows. Nuclear Proliferation Alarm: Multiple reports say Trump has approved a 30-year US-Saudi civilian nuclear framework that could allow uranium enrichment, with critics warning it weakens non-proliferation norms and could spark a regional arms race. UAE Condemns Iran Attacks: The UAE strongly condemned renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, calling them violations of sovereignty. Abu Dhabi Energy Push: ADNOC approved a $6.2bn Umm Shaif Gas Cap project in Abu Dhabi, aiming to unlock more than 600 million scfd of gas by 2030. Trade Route Diversification: DP World signed an agreement to develop two deepwater container terminals in Fujairah to reduce dependence on Hormuz, with capacity planned at 2.5m TEUs annually. UAE Payments Upgrade: Al Etihad Payments and Mastercard announced the first Jaywan–Mastercard co-badged credit card in the UAE, plus a new operations centre to expand acceptance. Culture & Lifestyle: Abu Dhabi Festival 2026 unveiled major additions including Hans Zimmer and the UAE National Orchestra, while a new UAE luxury trend is turning marriage proposals into full-scale experiences.