5,908.13Dubai Financial Market · Oct. 5 close · +0.1%

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, TUE., OCT. 6, 2026No. 2 · Morning, 6:00 a.m. GST6 a.m. GST
DFM General5,908.13▲0.10%10/5USD/AED3.67－0.00%10/5S&P 5007,773.95▲0.66%10/5WTI$89.43▼1.84%10/5Gold$4,156.80▼0.13%10/5
Saudi Arabia · Regional securityPress ✓ 5 outlets · statements attributed to those who made them

Mecca Pact committee meets in Riyadh and agrees to deploy Pakistani and Turkish forces in Saudi Arabia

The first activation of the pact signed on August 7 between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey. The size and role of the forces were not announced, and the statement did not name the attacker.

The Mecca Pact’s defense committee met in Riyadh on Monday, October 5, and agreed to deploy forces and military capabilities in the kingdom quickly, according to Pakistan’s foreign ministry and reports by Al Jazeera, Hürriyet Daily News, Asia News Network and i24. Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman said the committee agreed to “activate collective deterrence measures.” This is the first time the pact has been invoked since it was signed on August 7; an attack on any one of its three parties is treated as an attack on all of them.

The meeting followed attacks announced by the Houthis, and the joint statement referred to attacks on Mecca and Medina without naming the Houthis. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the defense minister and the chief of staff took part in the meeting. The number of troops and their missions were not announced, and we found no official UAE comment on the pact. In DailyDrop’s reading, the arrival of two non-Gulf forces in Saudi Arabia changes deterrence calculations across the whole region, but its real effect depends on what is deployed.

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By the numbers
3Parties to the pact: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey
August 7Date the pact was signed
0Official UAE comments we have found so far
UAE · AviationNew ✓ 4 outlets · information from anonymous sources

Oman had barred the flydubai co-pilot from flying over extremist ideas. So how was he hired?

New on yesterday’s story: the Wall Street Journal reported, and the Associated Press confirmed citing a person familiar with the matter, that the authorities of the Sultanate of Oman had barred the suspect, Hamam al-Hamami, from flying over concerns about extremist views, and that he was later hired by flydubai. Oman has not commented publicly, and it is unclear how he was vetted. Buckinghamshire New University said he completed a distance-learning course in aviation management with it.

Reuters, citing sources, reported that al-Hamami studied in Melbourne about a decade ago, and the Financial Times said he visited “extremist mosques and hardline sites” there, according to two sources in the Australian investigation. The Australian authorities have not officially confirmed any of this. What the UAE public prosecution has announced remains the firm part: assault and an attempt to seize control, and the investigation is ongoing.

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Markets · Dubai and Abu DhabiPress ✓ 2 sources · figures from closing reports

Dubai Financial Market index rises 0.1% to 5,908.13 points in a quiet session, with Aman and DEWA leading

The Dubai Financial Market General Index closed on Monday at 5,908.13 points, up about 0.1%, or seven points, in a quiet session, according to Al Khaleej and Al Bayan. Aman shares jumped about 6% and DEWA rose about 3.8%, while Air Arabia fell about 3%.

The Abu Dhabi market index rose about 0.4% to close near 10,011 points, according to Al Bayan. Total liquidity across the two markets was about 1.3 billion dirhams, of which 444 million in Dubai and 864 million in Abu Dhabi. These figures come from press reports, not from the markets’ official data.

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UAE · Foreign policyPress ✓ 5 outlets · official statement

UAE condemns Israel’s resumption of digging and bulldozing work inside Syrian territory

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, October 5, condemned Israel’s resumption of digging, bulldozing and fortification work inside Syrian territory, along what is known as the “Sufa 53” line, according to WAM, Gulf News, Khaleej Times, Emirates 24/7 and Gulf Today. It said this is a violation of international law and of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, to which Israel is committed.

Khaleej Times described the line as a military engineering project that includes a fortified road and a barrier system in the buffer zone in Quneitra governorate. The UAE called on the international community to act immediately to stop the repeated attacks and prevent escalation, and renewed its support for Syria’s stability and territorial integrity. We have seen no Israeli response and no independent verification of the work.

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Markets · United StatesPress ✓ 4 sources · closing figures

Wall Street gains 0.66% as the probability of an October rate hike falls below 20%

The S&P 500 closed on Monday up 0.66% at 7,773.95 points, while West Texas Intermediate fell 1.84% to $89.43 and gold fell 0.13% to $4,156.8. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the probability that the Federal Reserve raises rates in October fell to below 20% from about 64% a week earlier, according to Business World, Babypips and Semafor. The Fed had raised rates in September to a range of 3.75 – 4.00%.

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In brief
  • Brent closed Friday near $102 – $103 and West Texas Intermediate at $89.43 on MondayMarket data
  • Abu Dhabi index closes near 10,011 points, up 0.4%Al Bayan
  • Liquidity of the Dubai and Abu Dhabi markets at 1.3 billion dirhams on MondayAl Khaleej, Al Bayan
  • Abu Dhabi market nears 10,011 points, and liquidity of the two markets is 1.3 billion dirhamsAl Bayan
  • Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi ranked first in the UAE in five specialties in Newsweek’s 2027 rankingEmarat Al Youm
  • Abu Dhabi launches a school championship with more than 350 schools in 19 sportsEmarat Al Youm
  • Pakistan: we will use “all available means” to defend Saudi ArabiaArab News, Al Jazeera
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Unverified — what we could not confirm

“flydubai hired the suspect despite knowing he was barred from flying.” The Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press reported that he had been barred in Oman, but it has not been shown that the company knew. Neither Oman nor the company has commented.
“Pakistani and Turkish forces have arrived in the UAE.” False. The Mecca Pact committee agreed to deploy forces in Saudi Arabia, and we found nothing that mentions the UAE.
“The Fed will raise rates in October for sure.” Inaccurate. The probability of an October hike fell to below 20% according to the CME FedWatch tool, but the decision remains tied to inflation data.
Glossary · dotted words — economic, security and political terms explained in the context of the story. The list grows every day.
INSIDEMecca Pact committee meets in Riyadh and agrees to deploy Pakistani and Turkish forces in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia · Regional securityOman had barred the flydubai co-pilot from flying over extremist ideas. So how was he hired?UAE · AviationDubai Financial Market index rises 0.1% to 5,908.13 points in a quiet session, with Aman and DEWA leadingMarkets · Dubai and Abu DhabiUAE condemns Israel’s resumption of digging and bulldozing work inside Syrian territoryUAE · Foreign policyWall Street gains 0.66% as the probability of an October rate hike falls below 20%Markets · United States