TEHRAN - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands as a primary example of a regional actor suffering staggering losses due to its deep complicity in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli aggression against Iran. Despite the mounting economic and strategic costs, Abu Dhabi appears unwilling to break from its disastrous course.

Not only does the UAE continue to allow American and Israeli forces to utilize its territory as a launchpad for strikes against Iran, but it has also reportedly been hosting U.S. troops and commanders within its urban centers—a reckless act that flagrantly endangers the safety of its own citizens for the sake of foreign belligerence.

The economic repercussions for the UAE have been both swift and severe. In a stark reflection of collapsing investor confidence, the country’s stock markets have shed over $120 billion in value. Dubai, long celebrated as a global nexus for tourism and aviation, now faces significant disruptions at its airports alongside a dramatic slump in hotel bookings. The real estate sector, a cornerstone of the Emirati economy, is also reeling, with shares of major developers plummeting. Analysts warn that the war has inflicted potentially irreparable damage to the UAE’s carefully cultivated reputation as a safe haven for international business and tourism. The country has also been unable to sell its energy products for the past month, as Iran has barred any party involved in the U.S.-Israeli war to pass through the Strait of Hormuz until further notice.

Rather than halting its cooperation in the aggression against Iran to address these mounting losses, the UAE has resorted to increasingly hostile and illegal measures. In a blatant act of economic warfare, Abu Dhabi has seized billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian assets. In a particularly egregious move, the majority of these seizures have targeted the assets of ordinary Iranian citizens rather than state entities. Compounding this injustice, the UAE has reportedly canceled the of thousands of Iranians after confiscating their wealth, effectively robbing them of their livelihoods and legal status.

Given these self-destructive policies, many observers struggle to comprehend why the UAE continues to escalate tensions rather than amend ties with Tehran. However, the story of Emirati hostility toward Iran is long and multifaceted, characterized by years of duplicity.

For years, the UAE attempted to play a double game. Publicly, it maintained a façade of neutrality and cooperation—engaging in $5.8 billion in bilateral trade with Iran last year alone and hosting regular diplomatic meetings with Iranian officials. Yet behind these smiles, Abu Dhabi was quietly laying the groundwork for war. Leaked U.S. military documents, published by The Washington Post, exposed a secret coalition known as the “Regional Security Construct.” Formed in 2022 under U.S. Central Command, this alliance—comprising the UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar—was explicitly designed to “counter Iran.”

The UAE’s covert activities intensified dramatically in the lead-up to the latest conflict. Reports indicate that before the outbreak of war, Abu Dhabi actively lobbied the Trump administration to pursue military action against Iran, urging Washington to abandon diplomatic solutions. This aggressive lobbying stood in stark contrast to the public assurances Emirati officials gave to their Iranian counterparts. In private meetings, UAE diplomats claimed they were working to deter the Americans from war and promised that they would never allow their territory or airspace to be used for attacks against the Islamic Republic. These promises were ultimately broken.

Now, with sources indicating that the U.S. and Israel are preparing for a potential ground invasion, the UAE is once again emerging as a central hub for hostilities. Iran has already been forced to act against the gathering of U.S. commanders and troops within the UAE who are preparing for such aggressive plans.

Experts now assert that the UAE must come to terms with a fundamental reality: Iran has historically exercised remarkable restraint, treating its neighbor with respect and cordiality—even when Abu Dhabi laid claims to Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf. Analysts warn that the UAE fails to recognize that its continued integration into the anti-Iran Axis will ultimately yield nothing but disadvantage and destruction. To secure its own future, Abu Dhabi must distance itself from this destructive alliance and reconsider a path of genuine cooperation rather than covert -and now overt- hostility.