The UAE's dilemma in the Iran conflict.

VTV.vn - Following the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28, 2026, relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran entered a new phase of escalation.

(Photo: Getty)

Formally, the UAE declared neutrality in the war waged by the US and Israel against Iran, emphasizing that Abu Dhabi did not provide its territory, airspace, or waters for attacks against Iran. However, the rapid development of the conflict showed that Tehran no longer believed those claims. The UAE remains a key US partner in the Persian Gulf, a party to the Abraham Accords with Israel, and a vital financial and logistical hub for Western infrastructure in the region. For that reason, in Iran's perception, the UAE increasingly appears to be a participant in the anti-Iran coalition.

Following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, numerous media reports documented secret contacts between Israeli officials and UAE leaders at the height of the conflict. CBS News reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the UAE and met with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. However, the UAE has not commented on this information.

According to the same source, the fact that the meeting took place at the end of March gave Iran further justification for accusing Abu Dhabi of secretly coordinating with Tel Aviv.

The Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Photo: Emirates Nuclear Power Corporation/WAM/AP)

The Axio news agency reported that Israel had sent the UAE the Iron Dome air defense system and military personnel to operate it. This information was later confirmed by the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. For Iran, Tehran views this as the UAE's integration into Israel's military infrastructure in the Gulf.

This shows that the UAE-Israel relationship after the Abraham Accords is no longer limited to diplomacy , trade, and technology. In wartime conditions, that relationship has direct military strategic significance.

As a result, the UAE's neutral stance is becoming increasingly unstable. Abu Dhabi is unwilling to openly engage in war, but it also cannot completely detach itself from the US and Israel. This is because that relationship provides the UAE with missile defense capabilities, military support, and strategic guarantees in the Gulf. This contradiction transforms the UAE from a potential arbiter in the crisis into one of the most vulnerable participants.

Source: https://vtv.vn/the-kho-cua-uae-trong-xung-dot-iran-100260529124512794.htm