Pakistan has suffered a setback after the United Arab Emirates reportedly stepped away from talks to operate Islamabad International Airport, discussions that had been ongoing since August 2025. The development surfaced shortly after Sheikh Nahyan’s brief three-hour visit to New Delhi. According to Pakistan’s The Express Tribune, sources said that the proposal stalled because the UAE was unable to secure a suitable local partner to manage airport operations, despite early enthusiasm for the project.&nbsp;While the report stopped short of assigning political motives, the timing aligns with a period of visible strain between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Once tightly aligned, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now openly backing opposing factions in Yemen, marking a rare public rift between the two Gulf powers. This shift comes as Pakistan has moved closer to Saudi Arabia, signing a defence pact in September 2025 that treats an attack on either country as an attack on both.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-khamenei-s-sons-take-charge-if-iran-s-supreme-leader-is-forced-to-exit-who-are-they-and-what-do-reports-say-iran-us-tensions-news-1769414466602">Will Khamenei’s sons take charge if Iran’s Supreme Leader is forced to exit? Who are they and what do reports say?</a>&nbsp;In contrast, the UAE has recently deepened its strategic engagement with India. During the UAE president’s visit to New Delhi earlier this month, both sides endorsed a Letter of Intent aimed at establishing a Strategic Defence Partnership, signaling a significant upgrade in military cooperation. As Saudi Arabia increasingly leans on Pakistan’s defence expertise, Abu Dhabi appears to be recalibrating its priorities toward India through new security agreements and political gestures. Historically, the UAE was one of Pakistan’s key economic partners, employing large numbers of Pakistani workers and maintaining strong ties in trade, defence, and energy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Over time, however, the relationship has been weighed down by concerns over safety standards, regulatory disputes, and Pakistan’s ageing infrastructure. Experts have also pointed to weak governance and political interference as factors behind mounting losses at Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises, many of which have been pushed toward privatisation. Pakistan International Airlines was sold off last year under this pressure.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-confirms-covert-operation-along-myanmar-border-1769423736590/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-confirms-covert-operation-along-myanmar-border-1769423736590/embed</a><h2>India-UAE relations</h2>Meanwhile, India-UAE relations continue to gain momentum. Following the recent New Delhi visit, the UAE president approved the release of 900 Indian prisoners, a move widely interpreted as a goodwill gesture. The joint statement issued after the talks underscored the breadth of cooperation between the two countries and outlined a long-term vision for strategic and economic alignment.

UAE pulls back from Pakistan airport deal. Here's what reports are saying

Pakistan has suffered a setback after the United Arab Emirates reportedly stepped away from talks to operate Islamabad International Airport, discussions that had been ongoing since August 2025. The development surfaced shortly after Sheikh Nahyan’s brief three-hour visit to New Delhi. According to Pakistan’s The Express Tribune, sources said that the proposal stalled because the UAE was unable to secure a suitable local partner to manage airport operations, despite early enthusiasm for the project. While the report stopped short of assigning political motives, the timing aligns with a period of visible strain between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. Once tightly aligned, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now openly backing opposing factions in Yemen, marking a rare public rift between the two Gulf powers. This shift comes as Pakistan has moved closer to Saudi Arabia, signing a defence pact in September 2025 that treats an attack on either country as an attack on both. Also Read: Will Khamenei’s sons take charge if Iran’s Supreme Leader is forced to exit? Who are they and what do reports say? In contrast, the UAE has recently deepened its strategic engagement with India. During the UAE president’s visit to New Delhi earlier this month, both sides endorsed a Letter of Intent aimed at establishing a Strategic Defence Partnership, signaling a significant upgrade in military cooperation. As Saudi Arabia increasingly leans on Pakistan’s defence expertise, Abu Dhabi appears to be recalibrating its priorities toward India through new security agreements and political gestures. Historically, the UAE was one of Pakistan’s key economic partners, employing large numbers of Pakistani workers and maintaining strong ties in trade, defence, and energy. Over time, however, the relationship has been weighed down by concerns over safety standards, regulatory disputes, and Pakistan’s ageing infrastructure. Experts have also pointed to weak governance and political interference as factors behind mounting losses at Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises, many of which have been pushed toward privatisation. Pakistan International Airlines was sold off last year under this pressure. https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-confirms-covert-operation-along-myanmar-border-1769423736590/embed India-UAE relations Meanwhile, India-UAE relations continue to gain momentum. Following the recent New Delhi visit, the UAE president approved the release of 900 Indian prisoners, a move widely interpreted as a goodwill gesture. The joint statement issued after the talks underscored the breadth of cooperation between the two countries and outlined a long-term vision for strategic and economic alignment.

According to reports, the UAE has withdrawn from plans to run Islamabad Airport, as its strategic and defence ties with India deepen amid shifting Gulf alliances

A shocking new video has once again embarrassed Pakistan's aviation sector, in which construction of the newly-built Islamabad International Airport has come under the scanner.

In the video, which has gone viral on social media, false ceilings inside the airport are seen coming down due to incessant rains and thunderstorm.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-registers-488-new-coronavirus-cases-tally-reaches-289213-321119">Pakistan registers 488 new coronavirus cases; tally reaches 289,213</a>

The footage also showed heavy showers entering the airport from multiple points.

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'Ceiling Rains' at newly constructed Islamabad Airport<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakistanMovingForward?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakistanMovingForward</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IslamabadAirport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IslamabadAirport</a> <a href="https://t.co/NAerKXb8vO">pic.twitter.com/NAerKXb8vO</a>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-isi-training-terror-groups-in-myanmar-320851">Pakistan's ISI training terror groups in Myanmar</a>

Abdul Sattar Khokhar, spokesman of the Aviation Division said that the thunderstorm caused 56 mm of rain in less than 90 minutes, resulting in damages, including that in concourse halls, domestic arrival lounge, CIP lounges and international departure areas, reported Pakistan-based The Express Tribune.&nbsp;

Airport officials have said heavy rains led to massive leakage resulting in drains on the roof of the passenger terminal building getting overflowed, which ultimately caused several pieces of the false ceiling coming off.&nbsp;

Following the incident, the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA), apex aviation body, sought a comprehensive report on the damage and ordered a permanent solution within three days.&nbsp;

This is not just the first time that the shocking reality of Pakistan's aviation sector has come to fore.

Weeks ago, Pakistan's civil aviation minister admitted that 30 per cent of civilian pilots in the country hold fake licenses.&nbsp;

Earlier, the European Union Air Safety Agency suspended Pakistan International Airlines's (PIA) authorisation for six months to operate to the EU member states.&nbsp;

The US Department of Transportation had also revoked permission from the PIA to run charter flights to the United States. 
&nbsp;

A shocking new video has once again embarrassed Pakistan's aviation sector, in which construction of the newly-built Islamabad International Airport has come under the scanner.

A shocking new video has once again embarrassed Pakistan's aviation sector, in which construction of the newly-built Islamabad International Airport has come under the scanner. In the video, which has gone viral on social media, false ceilings inside the airport are seen coming down due to incessant rains and thunderstorm. Also read | Pakistan registers 488 new coronavirus cases; tally reaches 289,213 The footage also showed heavy showers entering the airport from multiple points. 'Ceiling Rains' at newly constructed Islamabad Airport#PakistanMovingForward #IslamabadAirport pic.twitter.com/NAerKXb8vO — AJ Voice (@voice_aj) August 17, 2020 × Also read | Pakistan's ISI training terror groups in Myanmar Abdul Sattar Khokhar, spokesman of the Aviation Division said that the thunderstorm caused 56 mm of rain in less than 90 minutes, resulting in damages, including that in concourse halls, domestic arrival lounge, CIP lounges and international departure areas, reported Pakistan-based The Express Tribune. Airport officials have said heavy rains led to massive leakage resulting in drains on the roof of the passenger terminal building getting overflowed, which ultimately caused several pieces of the false ceiling coming off. Following the incident, the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA), apex aviation body, sought a comprehensive report on the damage and ordered a permanent solution within three days. This is not just the first time that the shocking reality of Pakistan's aviation sector has come to fore. Weeks ago, Pakistan's civil aviation minister admitted that 30 per cent of civilian pilots in the country hold fake licenses. Earlier, the European Union Air Safety Agency suspended Pakistan International Airlines's (PIA) authorisation for six months to operate to the EU member states. The US Department of Transportation had also revoked permission from the PIA to run charter flights to the United States.

Watch | Ceiling of Pakistan airport collapses due to heavy rains

The US on Thursday issued an advisory to all its air carriers and commercial operators to exercise caution when flying into, out of, within or over the territory and airspace of Pakistan.

The advisory has been issued due to extremist or militant activities.

"The US warns its own air carriers to avoid Pakistan airspace due to risk of possible threat to attacks on US airlines (commercial and US state carriers) by Pakistan extremist and militant groups," it said.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a statement said the attacks may happen when flights may be on the ground and during take-off or landing.

It added that there continues to be a risk to the US civil aviation from attacks against airports and aircraft, particularly for aircraft on the ground and planes operating at low altitudes, including the arrival and departure phases of flights.

"The ongoing presence of extremist/militant elements operating in Pakistan poses a continued risk to the US civil aviation from small-arms fire and complex attacks against airports," the FAA warned.

According to the statement, there continues to be ongoing presence of extremist or militant elements operating in Pakistan which poses a continued risk from small fire, complex attacks, indirect weapons fire, any of which could occur with little or no warning.

"While, to date, there have been no reports of man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) being used against civil aviation in Pakistan, some extremist/militant groups operating in Pakistan are suspected of having access to MANPADS," it added.

As a result, the FAA said, there is a potential risk for extremists to "target civil aviation in Pakistan with MANPADS."

The justification for this advisory will be re-evaluated by 1st January 2021.

The US on Thursday issued an advisory to all its air carriers and commercial operators to exercise caution when flying into, out of, within or over the territory and airspace of Pakistan.

The US on Thursday issued an advisory to all its air carriers and commercial operators to exercise caution when flying into, out of, within or over the territory and airspace of Pakistan. The advisory has been issued due to extremist or militant activities. "The US warns its own air carriers to avoid Pakistan airspace due to risk of possible threat to attacks on US airlines (commercial and US state carriers) by Pakistan extremist and militant groups," it said. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a statement said the attacks may happen when flights may be on the ground and during take-off or landing. It added that there continues to be a risk to the US civil aviation from attacks against airports and aircraft, particularly for aircraft on the ground and planes operating at low altitudes, including the arrival and departure phases of flights. "The ongoing presence of extremist/militant elements operating in Pakistan poses a continued risk to the US civil aviation from small-arms fire and complex attacks against airports," the FAA warned. According to the statement, there continues to be ongoing presence of extremist or militant elements operating in Pakistan which poses a continued risk from small fire, complex attacks, indirect weapons fire, any of which could occur with little or no warning. "While, to date, there have been no reports of man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) being used against civil aviation in Pakistan, some extremist/militant groups operating in Pakistan are suspected of having access to MANPADS," it added. As a result, the FAA said, there is a potential risk for extremists to "target civil aviation in Pakistan with MANPADS." The justification for this advisory will be re-evaluated by 1st January 2021.

US issues advisory to its carriers to avoid Pak airspace over extremist threat