Overview

• In Doha, the GCC Joint Defense Council held an extraordinary session that condemned the Israeli attack on Qatar as a grave violation of international law and the UN Charter, stating that an attack on Qatar is an attack on all member states.
• The council adopted five measures that include expanding intelligence sharing through the unified military command, linking air operations pictures across the Gulf, accelerating a ballistic‑missile early‑warning effort, updating joint defence plans, and staging air and air‑defence drills within three months followed by a live exercise.
• UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed met Georgia’s Prime Minister in Tbilisi to deepen cooperation under their 2023 Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and witnessed an agreement exchange between Eagle Hills–Abu Dhabi and Georgia’s economy ministry.
• Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan launched the Rashid Villages initiative, with the first model village in Kenya spanning 72 dunums to serve about 1,700 people through furnished homes, a school for 320 students with a digital program, a health centre, renewable energy and economic empowerment facilities.
• UAE soft‑power efforts featured a recorded address by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid marking the UN’s 80th anniversary that underscored multilateral principles, alongside the Arab Youth Pioneers honoring 40 young people from 13 countries with a new AED 1 million sponsorship from Tiger Holding.