The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reportedly failed to persuade neighboring Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to join a coordinated military response against Iran following Tehran’s recent strikes across the region.
According to Bloomberg’s report on Friday, May 15, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, commonly known as MBZ, held calls with regional leaders shortly after the US and Israel began strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.
Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the discussions, said MBZ believed Gulf states needed to retaliate collectively in order to deter Iran after Tehran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at countries across the Gulf.
Iran targeted ports, airports, hotels, residential towers, and energy facilities while also shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting oil and gas exports.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar reportedly refused
According to Bloomberg, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders told MBZ the conflict “wasn’t their war.”
The report said the refusal frustrated Abu Dhabi and further worsened already tense relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
During the conversations, MBZ reportedly reminded his Gulf counterparts that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was originally created in 1981, partly due to fears surrounding Iran’s Islamic Revolution.
Despite the UAE’s efforts, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia ultimately avoided joining coordinated military action against Iran.
Qatar reportedly considered retaliation after an Iranian strike damaged the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in March, but later decided to focus on de-escalation efforts instead.
In late April, the UAE also announced decisions to withdraw from the OPEC and OPEC+ oil cartels.
UAE reportedly deepened cooperation with Israel
Bloomberg reported that the UAE later carried out limited strikes against Iran without broader Gulf support and expanded security coordination with Israel.
According to the report, the countries cooperated on intelligence sharing, early warning systems, and missile interception during the conflict.
The UAE has been the most heavily targeted Gulf state in Iranian strikes during the war, with Tehran launching nearly 3,000 drones and missiles toward the country before a ceasefire was reached in April.
Bloomberg said the Trump administration supported efforts to create a coordinated Gulf response against Iran, though Saudi Arabia and Qatar instead pushed for diplomatic de-escalation and mediation.
The report comes a day after Iran accused the UAE of supporting the ongoing US-Israeli war against Tehran.
Speaking at a BRICS summit in India on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the UAE “an active partner in this aggression,” according to AFP.
On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the UAE secretly conducted military strikes on Iran in the current conflict. The alleged attacks included a strike on a major Iranian oil refinery and marked a significant escalation in the UAE’s involvement.
US President Donald Trump said the “fragile” ceasefire between the US and Iran remains in place but is “barely holding,” while sharply criticizing Tehran’s latest peace proposal by calling it “totally unacceptable.”
Tensions between Iran and Gulf states have sharply escalated since the conflict began on Feb. 28. Tehran has repeatedly accused Gulf countries of assisting US operations, while Gulf governments deny allowing their territory or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran.