UAE pulls back from plan to manage Pakistan's Islamabad airport: Report

The United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from a deal to take over the management of Islamabad's airport in Pakistan. The agreement reportedly collapsed because the UAE lost interest and failed to secure a local partner to outsource operations. This development occurs amid a wider geopolitical rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which is influencing alliances across South Asia. While Pakistan maintains close defense and financial ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE has recently signed new defense deals with Pakistan's rival, India.