UAE can defend itself without America, Emirati academic says

DUBAI,— A prominent UAE political scientist said the country no longer needs American forces to protect it, pointing to its performance during a recent Iranian attack as proof of its self-defense capabilities.

Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a political science professor, told Reuters that the UAE had shown it could defend itself without relying on foreign troops.

He posted on X  on April 19: “This is what I told Reuters today: The UAE no longer needs America to defend it, as it has proven during the Iranian aggression that it is capable of defending itself with distinction. What the UAE needs is to acquire only the best and latest weapons that America has. Therefore, it is time to think about closing the American bases, as they are a burden and not a strategic asset.”

On April 20, Abdulla appeared to soften his position. He wrote on X that no one was questioning the importance of UAE-U.S. relations, adding the relationship would be deepened and expanded in the coming period.

He said, however, that the time had come to review the value added by U.S. bases to the country’s national defense portfolio.

Regional tensions escalated after the United States and Israel carried out joint airstrikes against Iran on February 28, 2026.

Iran responded by launching thousands of missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf region.

According to reports, those targets included major airports, seaports, hotels, residential neighborhoods, and oil facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The UAE refused to allow the United States to use its airspace or military bases to strike Iran. Despite that refusal, Iran still launched large-scale missile and drone attacks against the UAE and other Gulf states.

Some analysts have raised questions about how the United States can protect the UAE without being permitted to use its bases and air space there.

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