Hormuz Disruption Watch: Gulf oil exports rebounded to about 81% of pre-war levels in September even as attacks on tankers continued, with Saudi shipments a key driver—yet the recovery still comes with higher freight, insurance, and security costs. Yemen–Saudi Security: Jordan condemned continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including attempts targeting Mecca and Medina, and reaffirmed support for Saudi-led efforts toward a comprehensive Yemen settlement. Mecca Pact Moves to Action: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye activated practical collective-defense measures under the Mecca pact, with Pakistan and Turkish forces set to deploy to support Saudi operations amid Yemen tensions. Bab el-Mandeb Pressure: As Saudi-backed Yemeni forces pushed to retake Mocha and fight near Bab el-Mandeb, experts warned gains may be hard to sustain—keeping a critical chokepoint in focus for trade and energy flows. Heat Resilience for Cities: A PwC report urges Middle East cities to build heat resilience through Heat Action Plans, combining urban design, data-driven response, and cross-government coordination as extreme heat worsens. Saudi Aviation/Infrastructure Risk: Saudi authorities reported injuries from attacks on airports in Najran and Jizan, underscoring ongoing threats to civilian infrastructure. Industrial AI Push: Dell Technologies and Aramco Digital signed an MoU to accelerate Industrial AI and strengthen cloud consulting and cyber resilience in Saudi Arabia. Solar Wildlife Win: A Saudi solar park is reported to be a breeding ground for threatened gazelles in a global-first initiative.