Yousef Al Otaiba’s Response to the Conflict in the Middle East
In March 2026, Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba responded to Iran’s attacks on the UAE and the Middle East in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. The Ambassador continued to reflect on his time in the UAE during the crisis and the country’s relationship with the US. In his response below, he highlights the extent of Iran’s attacks against the UAE and the professionalism and preparedness of the nation’s defense forces, its leadership and its people. The article also reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to its economic partnership with the US and its focus on building a future-facing nation.
Over the past several weeks, the UAE has faced one of the most serious tests in its history.
Iran has unlawfully and without provocation launched more than 2,000 missiles and drones at our country, targeting the UAE more than any other nation in the region, including Israel. These attacks were aimed at civilian infrastructure, airports and energy facilities. I was in the UAE during the first days. I witnessed firsthand the extraordinary professionalism and resolve of our defense forces, who intercepted the vast majority of these threats.
This is not a war we wanted. Even in the final hours before the first strike, Emirati officials were actively pursuing diplomacy. That effort reflects a principle that has long guided the UAE; we seek stability, not escalation.
Being Prepared
But we also prepare.
For decades, the UAE has invested in resilience, building layered defense systems, strengthening infrastructure and diversifying our economy. Those investments are now being tested, and they are holding.
Across the UAE, essential services have continued uninterrupted. Markets remain open. Trade and travel are resuming. Life, for most, continues with calm determination. The goal of these attacks was to create fear. What they have encountered instead is confidence.
That confidence is rooted in experience.
We have faced crises before (financial shocks, regional instability and a global pandemic), and each time, the UAE has adapted and moved forward. This moment will be no different.
Strength in Partnerships
It is also reinforced by our partnerships.
Global confidence in the UAE remains strong. International partners continue to invest and operate without hesitation. Many governments, including the United States (US), scaled down evacuation plans because so few of their citizens chose to leave.
The US-UAE partnership is built on trust, shared interests and a long-term commitment to progress. The UAE’s $1.4 trillion investment framework in the US remains firmly on track, supporting American jobs and strengthening both economies. The stronger our economic ties to the US, the stronger both nations become and the clearer our message to those who seek to destabilize the region.
In my conversations with Americans living and working in the UAE, I have heard a consistent message: not fear, but solidarity. People asking how they can help, not how they can leave.
That speaks volumes about the relationship between our two countries.
Focused on the Future
At the same time, we remain focused on the future.
The UAE will absorb this moment and continue to invest in innovation, expand global partnerships and strengthen our role as a hub for trade, technology and connectivity.
We are a country that has chosen a different path: openness over isolation, coexistence over division and development over destruction. That choice defines us, especially in times of uncertainty. It is precisely because of this commitment. We are a modern, progressive and prosperous Muslim society that delivers for our people, markedly different from Iran, and we are under attack.
I often say that partnerships are tested not in moments of calm but in moments of pressure. This is one of those moments.
And what it has shown, clearly, is that the UAE remains steady, resilient and forward-looking.
We will endure this period. And, as we have before, we will emerge stronger, together with our partners in the US and around the world.