From Etihad Flight Diversion To Dubai’s McDonalds Pop-Up, 5 GCC Updates For You

The GCC never sleeps when it comes to updates, from aviation updates to cultural festivals, car auctions, and family fun. Here’s a roundup of the latest happenings across the region.

1. Etihad Flight Diverts to Vienna After Medical Emergency

On 29 August, Etihad Airways flight EY10 from Chicago to Abu Dhabi had to take an emergency break and divert the plane. A passenger on the plane required urgent medical help, prompting the crew to divert it to Vienna.

Thanks to swift action by the officials, the traveller safely reached the hospital and was handed over to the experts. After this short pause the aircraft soon resumed its journey to Abu Dhabi..

2. Al Maleh and Fishing Festival Celebrates UAE Maritime Heritage

Over in Dibba Al Hisn, the 12th Al Maleh and Fishing Festival is in full swing until August 31. The four-day event, organised by Sharjah Chamber and Dibba Al Hisn Municipality, celebrates the UAE’s deep-rooted maritime culture.

Visitors can wander through over 100 stalls, everything from local families showcasing handcrafted items to government and private exhibitors sharing their knowledge. The Al Maleh Market sits at the centre, buzzing with workshops on traditional fish salting, seminars on sustainable fishing, and live artisan demonstrations. Plus, there are cultural performances and traditional food if you get peckish.

3. Mansour Ojjeh’s McLaren Collection Finds New Home

 

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Car enthusiasts, hold onto your helmets. The late Saudi billionaire Mansour Ojjeh’s legendary collection of 20 McLaren supercars has been sold in one swoop. Yes, every single car went to a single buyer. Talk about an automotive power move.

The collection includes some of the rarest road-going McLarens, from the final F1 in bespoke “Mansour Orange” to P1 GTRs, Speedtails, Senna variants, Sabres, and Elvas. Remarkably, most of these machines are still factory-fresh, hardly driven, practically gleaming like they just rolled off the production line. While individual models could have fetched world-record sums, the family insisted the set stay intact, a decision that will make any petrolhead sigh with envy.

The sale price hasn’t been revealed, which adds a layer of intrigue. Let’s just say, for anyone who dreams of a jaw-dropping garage, this is the kind of collection that makes you rethink priorities or at least check your bank balance twice.

4. UAE Takes the Wheel at Islamabad Airport

In a major infrastructure move, Pakistan has approved a plan for the UAE to take operational control of Islamabad International Airport. This is part of Pakistan’s privatisation drive, focusing on government-to-government partnerships for efficiency improvements.

The Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions signed off on the plan, and a negotiation team led by the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Privatisation will finalise terms with Abu Dhabi.

5. Dubai Festival City Mall Hosts McDonald’s Happy Meals Pop-Up

 

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And for a lighter note, Dubai Festival City Mall has set up a McDonald’s X Crocs Happy Meals pop-up until August 31. Kids can enjoy the Drop the Stick game, arts and crafts, and photo-friendly treats shaped like metro trains. Parents can watch the little ones giggle, take photos, and enjoy a small sugar rush. Let’s be honest, a little ice cream can turn a school morning from dull to delightful.

Also Read: Flash Floods Sweeping Asir To Stricter Passport Photo At Indian Embassy In Kuwait; 6 GCC Updates For You

Whether it’s emergency landings, maritime festivals, jaw-dropping supercars, infrastructure deals, or kids’ treats, the GCC is buzzing with stories that are equal parts practical, exciting, and downright fun.

Cover Image Courtesy: Etihad/X, McDonald UAE/Instagram