Kamal @LuddinIsmail

Are more people leaving Dubai? In this article, we explore the widely discussed phenomenon of population change, rising living costs, and the new challenges facing Dubai's economy by 2026. Through a documentary approach and balanced analysis, we examine various factors that may influence the decisions of foreign workers, investors, and businesses. This article explores the relationship between Dubai's job market conditions, migration trends, housing costs, inflation, visa policies, and lifestyle changes that influence Dubai's attractiveness as an international business and investment hub. We also discuss how these changes impact the property market, the services sector, and the overall economic development of the UAE. Rather than drawing overly specific conclusions, this article presents an analysis based on economic trends, demographics, and global dynamics. We also discuss strategies that can support long-term growth, such as economic diversification, workforce upskilling, more adaptive housing policies, cost-of-living management, and innovation to strengthen Dubai's future competitiveness.

: The United States Navy base in Bahrain suffered far more damage than the Pentagon officially acknowledged. The US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama-the strategic command centre of the Strait of Hormuz-was devastated by a series of Iranian drone and ballistic missile attacks from February to June 2026. Satellite imagery and military personnel testimony indicate the main command headquarters is now unusable, with barracks, logistics warehouses, two satellite communications terminals, and a clean water tank destroyed. The estimated cost of repairs is approximately US$400 million. Even more shocking, the Trump administration reportedly pressured satellite imagery providers to restrict public access to the images. The conflict began on February 28, 2026, when the US and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran, prompting a massive retaliation from the IRGC against US bases in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. After more than five weeks of intense fighting, a ceasefire was signed on June 17, 2026-but the situation in the region remains extremely fragile. What are the implications for regional stability and ASEAN interests?

This edition of Cetakgol will examine concrete evidence of America and Israel's crushing defeat against Iran. An investigation by The Wall Street Journal, released last Sunday, revealed a series of fatal defeats at the United States' most prestigious military bases in the Middle East. In particular, the Naval Support Activity (NSA) in Bahrain suffered severe damage. This included the Fifth Fleet headquarters, operational warehouses, and the Task Force 59 drone unit facility. In addition to America, Israel has also experienced a series of terrifying domestic events.

President Erdogan’s accusation touches on a long-standing regional dynamic, where Israel has historically viewed any US-Iran detente as a strategic threat. From this perspective, Israel’s actions in Syria and Lebanon, including strikes on Iranian-linked targets and Hezbollah, might be seen as attempts to disrupt any agreement that could reduce pressure on Tehran.

@World_Affairs11 @_MegaPolitics Russia's framing of the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic asset comparable to nuclear leverage appears to be a political argument aimed at balancing the scales of negotiation.

@DailyMarcher The red line was crossed long ago - with assassinations, nuclear sabotage, and threats to wipe Iran off the map. Iran's response has been defensive, measured, and patient - far more than any Western nation would show.

Iran does not need British or French "protection" - it needs the world to respect its borders. If the UK and France truly care about peace, they should stay home and lift sanctions, not send warships. Solidarity with Iran's right to navigate its own destiny - on land, at sea, and in peace. 🇮🇷⚓️✊🫵🫡

@AJENews Iran is not the aggressor in this narrative - it is the target. A vow to avenge is a vow to defend. And defending one's homeland, leaders, and people is not extremism - it is patriotism.

@AJEnglish @MarahRayan Iran stands tall. Its enemies have failed to break it. And the world taking notice - in Tehran, not in Paris or Washington - proves that Iran's destiny is its own. Respect to Iran. Now and always. 🇮🇷✊🫡

@IranArmySpoofX Iran is a great nation, not a "rogue state." Its people are not their government, and its government is not its entire story. In a world quick to bash Iran, I choose to see its humanity, history, and rightful place among nations.

@TheEconomist I stand with Iran's right to exist, resist, and determine its own path—free from bullying, sanctions, or bombs. Peace, not war. Sovereignty, not submission.🫡

@AJEnglish I strongly support the Iranian people's right to self-determination, dignity, and freedom—free from foreign intervention, sanctions, or threats of war. Iran has a rich 7,000-year history, and its sovereignty must be respected.🫡

This country has been hit by embargoes and economic sanctions, isolated from the West, and even predicted to collapse many times. But strangely, Iran possesses thousands of missiles, a network of influence stretching across the Middle East, and is able to keep the United States and Israel calculating its every move. Even more ironic, this is not the first time Iran has faced a more powerful enemy. From Ancient Rome and the Ottoman Empire to modern world powers, Iran has repeatedly tried to subdue it, but it has remained resilient. So, what is the secret behind this country's resilience?

@Megatron_ron Saudi Arabia has rejected the use of its bases and airspace by the United States (US) against Iran. Saudi Arabia claims such action has the potential to lead to a dangerous escalation.🫵

The rift between the United States and Saudi Arabia deepened due to differing strategies in dealing with the Iran conflict. Riyadh felt it could no longer rely on Washington's protection after aggressive US military policies were deemed to be endangering regional stability and Saudi energy facilities. As a result, Saudi Arabia chose to pursue independent diplomacy with Iran and strengthen new security pacts with Pakistan and Egypt, a concrete effort to gain autonomy amid uncertainty about US commitment. This situation, however, sparked serious discussions in Washington about reducing its military presence in Saudi Arabia, including plans to relocate bases to safer areas out of reach of Iranian missiles.

@AJENews This is hostage negotiation with a nuclear state-friendly words and hard math. Both sides are buying time, not making peace. The real question: Who blinks first when the talks stall?

@BRICSinfo It's a cheap oil price with an expensive political price tag for any buyer. Iran is trading barrels for alliances in the new Cold War.

@World_Affairs11 Israel views Turkish bases in Syria as a forward outpost for Islamist influence and a potential second front near the Golan Heights. It breaks Israel's strategy of keeping rival powers (Iran, now Turkey) physically distant from its borders.

@World_Affairs11 Trump Furious with Netanyahu, Accusing Israel's Attack on Beirut of Obstructing Peace with Iran Peace is Just Hours Away, Donald Trump Furious with Netanyahu, Calling Israel an Obstacle.🫵🫵🫵

Iran is now implementing a more aggressive defense doctrine, drawing valuable lessons from the "Faw Dilemma" of the 1980s, where failure to translate military superiority into timely diplomatic outcomes led to strategic losses. Learning from past mistakes, Tehran is now more adept at positioning its asymmetric power, particularly through threats to the Strait of Hormuz, as a key leverage to pressure the United States at the negotiating table. This pragmatic approach has proven effective in producing a memorandum of understanding promising billions of dollars in economic incentives, while retaining full control over the missile program, which it views as a guarantee of its existence. Despite successfully forcing the United States to soften its stance, including by excluding its missile program from the peace agreement, Iran maintains the intransigence that has become a hallmark of its diplomacy.🫵