United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the nation was now “in a time of war” in his first public remarks since the escalation of the conflict with Iran in the Persian Gulf.
While visiting people injured in recent strikes, he said the UAE was resilient and warned the country had “thick skin and bitter flesh – we are not easy prey”. He added that the government will protect all citizens and residents and call them part of the nation’s family.
He said the leadership “will fulfill our duty to our country, our people and our residents who are also part of our family”.
The remarks come as tensions in the Gulf intensify following missile and drone attacks linked to the wider Iran-US conflict, with several Gulf states increasing defense measures and warning of further escalation in the region.
The United Arab Emirates calls for an end to attacks on the Gulf states
An Emirati official told Reuters that the UAE wanted Iran’s attacks on the Gulf states to stop immediately.
“Any escalation is worrisome. We want to limit the war. We don’t want the war to spread,” the official said.
“We want to start with the Iranians realizing that they’re not helping themselves by attacking their entire neighborhood, and stop there and realize that.”
Air defense intercepts missiles and drones
The United Arab Emirates announced new missile and drone strikes on Saturday as Iran continued its retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.
The UAE Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems are responding to incoming threats.
“UAE air defenses are currently responding to missile and drone threats from Iran,” the ministry said.
“The sounds heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting missiles and drones.”
Dubai Airport closed briefly during the attacks
The gunfire forced a brief shutdown at Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs for international travel.
An unidentified object was spotted near the airport, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend flights as a precaution.
The United Arab Emirates is among the most targeted countries in the Gulf conflict
The United Arab Emirates – a close US ally that hosts US military installations – has been one of the most targeted countries in the Persian Gulf since the conflict began.
According to the Ministry of Defense, 16 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones targeted the ground on Saturday.
Officials said 15 missiles were intercepted, while one fell into the sea. Of the 121 drones detected, 119 were shot down, with two falling on Emirates territory.
Hundreds of missiles and drones have been launched since the start of the war
The latest fire brings the total number of ballistic missiles detected by the UAE since the start of the war last week to 221, while the number of drones launched towards the country has exceeded 1,300, the Ministry of Defense said.
Iranian strikes in recent days have hit several high-profile locations, including Abu Dhabi International Airport, the luxury Burj Al Arab hotel and the luxury Palm Jumeirah development.
Debris from a drone also sparked a fire at the US consulate in Dubai earlier this week.
Attacks reported across the gulf
Elsewhere in the region, Qatar said its military had intercepted a missile attack aimed at the country.
In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Defense said three ballistic missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US troops, were destroyed along with 17 drones over the Shaybah oil field.
Kuwait also announced the capture of a drone and announced a precautionary curtailment of oil production due to threats to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
Jordan claims it was directly targeted
Further north, Jordan has accused Iran of directly targeting locations inside the kingdom.
“These missiles and drones were targeting vital facilities inside Jordan and did not fly through our territories,” military spokesman Mustafa Hayari said.
Jordan says Iran has fired 119 missiles and drones at the country in the past week, underscoring the widening scope of the conflict in the Middle East.
