Oman Accessibility Push: Oman kicked off the first “Purple Saturday” edition, urging shops nationwide to make services more inclusive for people with disabilities through discounts and awareness from July 23 to Aug 1. Frankincense Quality Boost: Oman adopted two new national standards for Omani frankincense essential oil and distilled frankincense water for cosmetics, aiming to raise quality, trust and global competitiveness. Plastic Bag Enforcement: The Consumer Protection Authority and Environment Authority stepped up inspections in Barka to ensure compliance with Oman’s plastic shopping bag ban, pushing eco-friendly alternatives. Hormuz Shipping Stress: With Strait of Hormuz risk still high, shipping traffic stays far below normal and war-risk premiums remain elevated, while nearly 1,500 ships trapped in the Gulf face rising biofouling and invasive species spread. Red Sea Spillover: Houthi-linked attacks in the Red Sea are adding pressure to global shipping and energy flows, keeping oil prices elevated. Food Security Snapshot: Iraq ranked 15th in the Arab food security index for 2026, with Oman placing third behind the UAE and Qatar.