Qatar Airways’ Starlink-Equipped Boeing 787 To Emirates’ UK Travel Advisory; 5 GCC Updates For You

The GCC region is always brimming with new updates. If you’re also trying to keep up with these developments, from Qatar to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, you have clicked on the right article. Yes, we have made a list of updates from across the region, and you will want to take a look at them.

GCC Updates

1. Qatar Airways Launches World’s 1st Starlink-Equipped Boeing 787

Qatar Airways recently announced that it has become the world’s first carrier to enable Boeing 787-8 with Starlink. The airline has also equipped its entire Airbus A350 fleet in just eight months, in December 2025. To date, the airline is operating three Dreamliners with the fastest Wi-Fi in the sky. This brings the total of its Starlink-connected widebody aircraft to nearly 120.

2. Sharurah Winter Festival Draws Public

Sharurah Winter Festival recently announced that it witnessed a wide range of activities and strong public engagement. As it happens, this was the eighth edition of the festival, and it attracted over 2,000 visitors. This festival featured divorce, events, and competitions, including everything from electronic games to children’s theatre performances and more.

3. Emirates Issues UK Travel Advisory

Emirates has issued a UK travel advisory with new digital entry rules. It has warned travellers, according to a Gulf News report, that without an approved ETA, they will not be allowed to board the flight from February 25, 2026 onwards. Moreover, the airline has also said that these changes are a part of the UK government’s move to modernise border controls. Moreover, they plan to shift fully to digital immigration systems.

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4. First Driverless Taxi Control Centre Opens In Dubai

Taking a major step towards driverless mobility, Dubai has launched Baidu Apollo Go’s Autonomous Vehicles Operations and Control Centre. This is the first such facility in Dubai and also for the Chinese Tech giant outside of China. This is a 2,000 m² centre in Dubai Science Park that was inaugurated on Thursday, January 8th. However, operations are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

5. Poultry & Egg Imports From France & Poland Halted In Saudi Arabia

As reported by the Gulf News, Saudi Arabia has halted the import of poultry and table eggs from France and Poland temporarily. Yes, this follows after there was an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease in parts of both countries. Announced by the SFDA, this measure is a response to the urgent advisory issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

So, with these updates laid out for you, we hope you’re able to stay ahead of the news.

Cover Image Courtesy: Qatar Airways/Website