INTERVIEW: UAE envoy calls for 'reliable partners' against Iran

The United Arab Emirates wants “genuine support” not empty words from European allies as it faces the threat of further attacks from Iran, according to the Emirates’ top diplomat in Germany.

The comments by UAE’s ambassador to Germany reflect broader frustration in the Gulf over the reluctance of European capitals to confront Iran amid its war with US and Israel. Tehran has responded to US-Israeli attacks by bombing its neighbours, including UAE, which it accuses of colluding with the US.

On Monday evening, UAE interceptor systems were active once again, as the country’s authorities warned about incoming aerial threats. After an Iranian UAV attack a fire broke out in the  ⁠Fujairah Oil ​Industry Zone.

Speaking to Euractiv in Berlin before the current attacks, Ambassador Ahmed Alattar said widespread Iranian strikes following the US-Israel air campaign against the Iranian regime in late February proved that Tehran has “offensive, long-range strike capabilities that can threaten countries well beyond the region”.

While Iranian strikes primarily hit Israel and Iran’s Arab neighbours, a British military base on European-Union-member Cyprus was also hit.

“Any future deal with Iran must therefore be comprehensive and address not only the nuclear file, but also Iran’s ballistic missiles, drones, military capabilities, and the threat posed by the IRGC and its terrorist proxies,” Alattar said.

Gulf states failed to coordinate their response to the crisis, with the UAE exiting the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

“Despite Iran’s terrorist attacks, the UAE’s economy remains stable, resilient, and globally connected“, Alattar insists, pointing to ongoing diversification of the country’s economy, with approximately 75% of GDP derived from non-oil sectors and substantial sovereign wealth assets.

Abu Dhabi has found partners farther afield. In late March, Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Emirates and announced new defence cooperation. Israel supplied an Iron Dome battery, a defensive system used to intercept incoming missiles. Germany’s response, by contrast, has been limited to expressions of solidarity lacking any tangible commitments.

Alattar said that over 179 countries and international organisations have either condemned Iran’s attacks or affirmed solidarity with the UAE. Yet, he said, “positions have varied, ranging from genuine and highly valued support to statements without corresponding action.”

“The UAE continues to emphasise the importance of clear positions and trusted partnerships in navigating this moment,” he added.

(vc, mk)