UAE Sets Itself Apart From Gulf Neighbors With Bold Move Against Iran

DUBAI,— The United Arab Emirates carried out dozens of airstrikes on Iran during the early days of the US-Israeli war against Tehran and continued strikes after a ceasefire was announced in April, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

The UAE coordinated its operations with the United States and Israel, drawing on intelligence provided by both countries, the Journal reported, citing several sources familiar with the matter.

The strikes targeted Iranian energy infrastructure in direct response to Iranian attacks on UAE oil and gas facilities, the report said.

Targets included Qeshm and Abu Musa islands in the Strait of Hormuz, the port city of Bandar Abbas, the oil refinery on Lavan Island, and the Asaluyeh petrochemical complex, sources told the WSJ Journal.

The scale of the Emirati military response reflects the country’s growing readiness to defend what it considers its core strategic interests, setting it apart from other Gulf states that have taken a far more cautious position toward Iran, the Journal said.

Sources cited by the paper said the scope of the UAE strikes deepened tensions among Gulf nations.

Saudi Arabia pressured Washington to urge the UAE to stop its attacks and instead participate in diplomatic efforts, driven by concerns over strikes on regional oil infrastructure and potential global economic consequences.

Tensions in the region escalated after the United States and Israel launched joint airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026.

Iran responded with thousands of missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region. Tehran retaliated with heavily on the UAE, striking major airports, seaports, hotels, residential neighborhoods, and oil facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Iran also moved to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Between Feb. 28 and April 8, when a fragile ceasefire took hold, Tehran fired roughly 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones at the UAE, according to Emirati figures.

Those numbers made the UAE the most targeted country in the conflict, surpassing even Israel. The UAE has continued to face attacks since the truce began, including a recent strike on a nuclear facility.

Israel also struck Asaluyeh, a move that prompted the US to ask Israel to halt attacks on energy sites.

The Israeli attacks on Iranian energy facilities were described as retaliation for Tehran’s earlier strikes on UAE infrastructure.

While earlier reports had acknowledged some Emirati military action against Iran, the Journal’s account indicated the UAE played a significantly larger role than had been previously known.

The UAE deepened its military alliance with Israel throughout the conflict.

Israel deployed Iron Dome air defense batteries and Israel Defense Forces soldiers to the UAE, according to officials.

Israel also deployed a variant of its Iron Beam laser air defense system to the UAE during the recent hostilities to help shield the country from Iranian missile and drone strikes, The Financial Times reported.

Several senior Israeli top officials traveled to the UAE during the war, including Mossad Director David Barnea, Shin Bet Director David Zini, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also visited, though the UAE Foreign Ministry initially denied the trip before Netanyahu’s office confirmed it.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed expressed frustration with neighboring Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, after both refused to join a coordinated military response to Iranian attacks, Bloomberg reported earlier this month.

A political analyst, who asked not to be identified, told DubaiDiplomacy that the UAE has the full right to defend itself and that its strikes against Iran represented a brave move by the UAE leaders.

(With files from Agencies)

Copyright © 2026 Dubai Diplomacy. All rights reserved.

Your support matters! Consider buying us a coffee — every bit helps keep independent news alive.

Related posts:

Is a Gulf NATO Really Possible? Emirati official calls for closer Israel ties, criticizes Arab states Gulf states press Trump to continue war until Iran is fully weakened Israel deployed “Iron Dome” in UAE during Iran war: reports Gulf states say ending Iran war not enough, degrade its capabilities UAE gets Israeli laser system to counter Iranian missiles and drones: FT Could UAE Face Dirty Bomb Risk If Iran Falls? Saudi-UAE rift widens as Emirates quits oil cartel