The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has pushed back against a media report that suggested that it was considering joining the United States and Israel in military strikes against Iran. The clarification came amid a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks on major landmarks in the UAE, including the US consulate in Dubai and Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi following US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic since February 28.
Earlier on Tuesday, Axios reported that the UAE was weighing what it described as an unprecedented move in response to Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting the country.
Soon after the report surfaced, the UAE issued a statement through its state news agency, Emirates News Agency (WAM), asserting that it “has not taken any decision to alter its defensive posture in response to the repeated Iranian attacks.”
“The UAE reiterates that it is not a party to this war and has not authorised the use of its territory, territorial waters or airspace for any attack against Iran, in keeping with its long-standing policy of good neighbourliness, de-escalation and its firm commitment to the Charter of the United Nations,” the statement said.
The country underscored that it retained its legitimate right to self-defence “as recognised under international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”
The statement further stressed “the importance of journalistic responsibility” and called on media organisations to rely on official and credible sources before publishing or circulating inaccurate or misleading reports.
UAE COMES UNDER ATTACK AMID US-ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT
On February 28, joint military strikes by the US and Israel, titled Operation Epic Fury, targeted key Iranian leadership and military sites across Iran — including an airstrike that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and most of his family.
The operation quickly escalated into a broader conflict now entering its fifth day, with repeated bombardment of Iranian cities and infrastructure by US and Israeli forces and intense Iranian ballistic missile and drone retaliation across the Middle East.
Iran’s response has included waves of strikes on Gulf states and Western assets. The UAE has experienced multiple attacks as part of these reprisals: Iranian missiles and drones have hit urban areas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, causing property damage. So far, 787 people have been killed in the US-Israel strikes against Iran, Iranian state media reported.
Explosions were reported at critical infrastructure, including Jebel Ali Port, Dubai’s main seaport, and the Al Dhafra Air Base, a US military base, in Abu Dhabi. Most notably, Iranian drones hit the US Consulate in Dubai, causing a fire, but no reported injuries and prompting reductions in consulate staffing. Other structures that suffered damage included the Dubai airport and the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel.
The Middle East conflict has also affected air travel as significant portions of airspace were closed by countries, including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, Iran and Iraq, as a precaution against missile and drone threats, leading to widespread flight cancellations and disruptions in the UAE and beyond.
Beginning Monday, limited flight operations cautiously resumed at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, although the airspace remains restricted and schedules are still heavily reduced while tensions persist.
Meanwhile, the UAE has taken diplomatic steps such as closing its embassy in Tehran and recalling its ambassador amid rising hostilities, even as it stressed that it is not a direct party to the conflict and sought de-escalation.
