As Iranian drones and missiles increasingly target the Gulf region, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is proactively defending its territory while striving to prevent the conflict from escalating further across the area.
Preparation for instability
During a briefing with Euronews and selected media in Abu Dhabi, Emirati officials revealed that the nation had been preparing for potential instability long before the recent surge in attacks. A senior UAE official stated,
“We’ve been getting ready. Not expecting war but getting ready for a sort of emergency, such as the one that we are facing today. The UAE is a country that prepares, and we have been preparing now for a long time because of our readout of the situation in the region. We’ve been preparing in terms of food stock, in terms of facilities, and so on.”
This insight illustrates how the UAE anticipated a potential regional crisis, all while engaging in diplomatic efforts with Tehran.
Despite these preparations, the scale of the recent assaults has taken officials by surprise. The official noted,
“What we have seen is something that we did not expect. Time has proven that we have been ready for it, but we definitely did not expect it. We did not think that Iran would actually risk the relations of all its neighbours.”
Focus on defense and stability
Currently, the UAE is prioritizing the safety of its citizens and infrastructure while attempting to contain the broader conflict. The official emphasized,
“The UAE wants the Iranian aggression against the non-combatant states, the Gulf states, to end immediately.”
Across the UAE and its neighboring Gulf states, air defense systems have been effectively intercepting incoming threats, proving their readiness against unanticipated assaults.
Commenting on the Iranian strategy, the official stated,
“The Iranian strategy is to try to create regional havoc, but they did not expect air defences in the Gulf to do so well. Our air defence has done a great job. We have a multi-layered system.”
International collaboration has played a crucial role in these defense operations. The official highlighted the support from France, remarking,
“I have to say that the French support has been stellar. You know, their Rafales have moved in from day one; they’ve kicked in their agreement with us from day one.”
This cooperation has been instrumental in responding to threats effectively.
Amid the ongoing crisis, authorities remain committed to ensuring national security while stabilizing the economy and daily life. The official stated,
“We will continue defending the country, defending everybody here, and making sure that slowly we go back to normal.”
Moreover, the political landscape may shift significantly as a result of the attacks, particularly regarding future negotiations with Iran. The official cautioned,
“Any new negotiated settlement with Iran will no longer be confined to the nuclear aspect. Missiles are now centre stage, because missiles now are not seen as self-defence.”
While the UAE emphasizes the importance of defense, officials express a desire to avoid further escalation. The official warned,
“In a region of conflict, we’ve often seen that conflict does not really resolve issues, critical issues.”
The goal remains to contain hostilities and encourage Iran to reconsider its aggressive stance.
Officials also distinguish clearly between the Iranian regime and the Iranian populace, expressing hope for future relations, despite the current tensions. The official remarked,
“I am not saying relations between Gulf states and Iran are not going to go back, because at the end of the day, you are neighbours, but it creates a huge trust gap that, in my opinion, will last for decades to come.”
Despite the uncertainty brought on by the conflict, Emirati officials are confident that the nation’s economic and social fundamentals will remain robust. The official concluded,
“I think the UAE is strong on fundamentals. Ultimately, at the end of the day, this war will end, and my reading is it’ll be the danger of it will end sooner rather than later.”
As the UAE navigates this challenging period, the focus remains on defense, stability, and preventing an escalation of the situation.