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CT Quickies: From Qatar Museums’s AI Tour To Dubai’s Blue Roof Taxi Farewell, 10 Middle East Updates

From Sheikh Mohammed’s stroll in London to Etihad’s new Atlanta flights, and Qatar’s AI-powered art tours to Dubai’s purple taxi rebrand, the Middle East is buzzing with fresh updates.

by Deeplata Garde
CT Quickies: From Qatar Museums’s AI Tour To Dubai’s Blue Roof Taxi Farewell, 10 Middle East Updates

You know the drill: the Middle East never slows down, and neither do the updates. From UAE royals spotted abroad to futuristic tech rolling out across the region, here’s your tour of all the updates worth talking about this week. Ready? Let’s dive in.

10 Buzzing Middle East Updates From The Region

1. Spotted: Sheikh Mohammed Enjoying A London Walkabout

The streets of London had an unexpected VIP visitor this week. HH Sheikh Mohammed, the big boss of Dubai, was spotted casually walking around the streets of London on July 2. TikTok blew up with the videos. Imagine walking down Oxford Street, and boom, you spot the Ruler of Dubai just enjoying the weather like any tourist. Pretty cool, right?

2. UAE Rain Chasers Living Their Best Life In Oman’s Hailstorm

Summer heat got you melting? Well, some adventurous souls from the UAE took matters into their own hands and went chasing clouds across the border. The Storm Centre shared clips of UAE rain lovers revelling in a hailstorm in Ibri, Oman, scooping up ice chunks by the roadside like kids in a sweet shop. When you’ve got 45°C outside, who wouldn’t run to the hail?

3. Etihad Airways Lands in Atlanta

 

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Etihad Airways is making moves, folks! Etihad Airways’s first-ever flight between Abu Dhabi to Atlanta, USA, took off on July 2. That’s their fifth destination in America now. Good news for anyone travelling for work or just exploring. More flights, less stress, and easy connections from the UAE to the US.

4. Dubai Airport Preps for a Mega Travel Surge

It’s about to get very busy at DXB. Dubai International Airport has confirmed it’s expecting 3.4 million passengers between June 27 and July 9, all thanks to school holidays and summer getaways. The busiest day? Saturday, July 5. That means over 265,000 travellers in one day.

5. Indonesia’s President Performs Umrah in Makkah

On July 3, Indonesia’s newly elected President, Prabowo Subianto, made his first official trip to Saudi Arabia. First thing he did? Performed Umrah at the Grand Mosque. It’s a big spiritual moment for him and, honestly, also great for building good relations between the two countries..

6. Major Fire Witnessed At Abha’s Mountains, Prayers Pour In

Saudi Arabia has witnessed flames erupting at the lush green majestic mountains in Abha, in the South region, Flames spread across the peaks, and people online have been sending loads of prayers for the area’s safety. Hoping they control it soon, Abha’s too beautiful to lose. Residents and well-wishers are pouring in their prayers on social media for one of the Kingdom’s most beloved tourist spots.

Also Read: Ameca’s Latest Version At Museum Of Future To 29th Muscat Book Fair; 10 Middle East Updates For You

7. Bye-Bye Blue Taxis, Hello Purple, Dubai’s Cabs Get A Makeover

Those familiar blue-roofed Dubai taxis are slowly making their exit. Cars Taxi, the UAE’s largest private cab operator, has rebranded as Kabi and is rolling out sleek new purple-roofed taxis across the city. With over 110,000 trips daily, you’ll be seeing a lot more purple on the roads. No set deadline for the full change yet, but keep an eye out next time you’re taking a ride!

8. flydubai Rolls Out AI Smart Gates For Crew Members

 

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flydubai is stepping up the tech game. The airline has introduced AI-powered smart gates for over 3,800 pilots and cabin crew at Dubai airports. Using facial recognition and real-time data validation, the process is now faster, paperless, and smoother, keeping the skies (and ground) operations running.

9. Qatar Museum Launches The Region’s First AI Art Tour

Art meets tech in Qatar with the debut of the QM AI Art Tour. This groundbreaking initiative lets visitors chat with an AI art specialist who crafts a personalised museum journey across Doha’s top cultural spots. From public art to heritage sites, the AI curates it all based on your interests. It’s the region’s first real-world AI art tour.

10. Türkiye Restores Its Oldest Conquest Mosque At Ani Ruins

Türkiye is working hard to restore the Fethiye Mosque, which used to be called the Ani Cathedral. It’s the first-ever conquest mosque in Anatolia and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Ani ruins. Basically, they’re fixing it up, keeping all the old Turkish-Islamic designs from way back in the 11th century.

From royals walking the streets to flights launching, leaders visiting holy cities, and even ancient mosques getting restored, the Middle East updates are getting more buzzworthy than ever. 

Cover Image Courtesy: Qatar Museums/X, Hala Dubai/Instagram

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First Published: July 04, 2025 6:28 PM