UAE says it does not seek to be drawn into conflicts or escalation

The United Arab Emirates said it remains in a defensive posture following what it described as a large-scale and unprovoked Iranian attack involving more than 1,400 ballistic missiles and drones targeting infrastructure and civilian locations, resulting in deaths and injuries.

Abu Dhabi said the strikes represented a serious violation of international law and the UN Charter, infringing on the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while posing a direct threat to its security and stability.

The UAE stressed that it does not seek to be drawn into conflicts or further escalation, but reaffirmed its right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity, and to ensure the safety of its citizens and residents in accordance with international law.

The escalation follows the outbreak of a wider regional conflict after the United States and Israel launched major strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate against U.S. military assets and allied facilities across the Gulf. Several Gulf states hosting U.S. bases—including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar—have since faced waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting air bases, energy infrastructure and strategic facilities.

Regional air defence systems have intercepted most of the incoming weapons, but debris and some impacts have caused casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure in multiple Gulf countries, highlighting the risk of the wider war spilling across the region.