UAE Attempted to Rally Gulf States for Joint Military Action Against Iran, Saudi Arabia Refused

May 15, 2026

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed lobbied Gulf leaders including Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for coordinated military action against Iran after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026, but was rebuffed. Iran retaliated with almost 3,000 missiles and drones striking the UAE. The UAE struck Iran's Lavan Island in early April 2026 and exited OPEC in May 2026 as tensions deepened between Gulf states.

UAE lobbying Gulf states

▪Abu Dhabi lobbied publicly and privately for the US to continue its war on Iran.
▪The UAE floated a failed proposal at the United Nations that would have authorised the use of force to respond to Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz.
▪UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed held a series of calls with Gulf leaders, including Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, shortly after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2026.
▪UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash heavily criticised the Gulf Cooperation Council for its weak response to Iran's attacks.
▪UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed requested Gulf leaders to launch a coordinated Gulf attack on Iran.

Saudi Arabia refused coordination

▪Saudi Arabia quickly pivoted to supporting mediation efforts by its ally Pakistan after launching strikes on Iran.
▪Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders rebuffed UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed's request for a coordinated Gulf attack on Iran.
▪Saudi Arabia's strikes on Iran have been described by analysts as measured.
▪The war on Iran has deepened tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as opposed to uniting the Gulf rivals around a common enemy.

Independent strikes on Iran

▪The UAE strike on Iran's Lavan Island triggered a large fire and disabled much of the facility's capacity for months.
▪Iran launched thousands of missiles and drones at Gulf states in response to the US and Israel attacking Iran on February 28, 2026.
▪Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE launched retaliatory strikes on Iran independently rather than in coordination.
▪The UAE hit Iran's Lavan Island in the Gulf in early April 2026, around the time the US was announcing a ceasefire.
▪The UAE bore the brunt of Iran's retaliation with almost 3,000 missiles and drones striking the country.

UAE economic exposure

▪Saudi Arabia has the East-West pipeline to export oil via the Red Sea, while the UAE is more exposed to Iran.

Israeli Iron Dome deployment

▪Abu Dhabi denied that Benjamin Netanyahu visited the UAE during the war on Iran.
▪Israel sent Iron Dome air defence batteries to the UAE to defend against Iranian attacks.
▪US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that Israel sent Iron Dome batteries and personnel to the UAE at an event in Tel Aviv in early May 2026.
▪The UAE normalised ties with Israel in 2021 under the Abraham Accords.
▪Israel sent soldiers to the UAE to operate the Iron Dome batteries deployed there.

Perspective of United Arab Emirates

▪Abu Dhabi lobbied publicly and privately for the US to continue its war on Iran.
▪UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash heavily criticised the Gulf Cooperation Council for its weak response to Iran's attacks.

Perspective of Saudi Arabia

▪Saudi Arabia quickly pivoted to supporting mediation efforts by its ally Pakistan after launching strikes on Iran.
▪Saudi Arabia's strikes on Iran have been described by analysts as measured.