ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday said it will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for attacks against Iran, as senior officials outlined a series of security, economic and humanitarian measures during a media briefing in Abu Dhabi.
Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, said the UAE’s position was clear and measured.
“The UAE will not permit its airspace or land to be used in any attack against Iran,” she said, adding that the country had the right to defend itself to safeguard its sovereignty and ensure the safety of citizens, residents and visitors.
She described Iran’s ballistic missile programme as a threat to the wider region and stressed that the security of Gulf states was “indivisible”. Al Hashimy said there was no military solution to the crisis and warned that further escalation would undermine regional stability.
The minister confirmed that the UAE had closed its embassy in Tehran and withdrawn its ambassador in response to recent Iranian attacks.
Separately, Major General Abdul Nasser Al Humaidi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, said the UAE would “never accept its sovereignty and security being compromised”.
He said the sounds heard in recent days were the result of missile interceptions and confirmed that the armed forces were at a high level of combat readiness. The UAE possesses strategic defence reserves capable of countering aerial threats for an extended period, he added.
On the economic front, Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy and Tourism, said the country holds sufficient strategic reserves of basic food and essential goods to meet demand for between four and six months.
“There is no risk of shortages,” he said, adding that authorities were closely monitoring markets to prevent unjustified price increases and urging residents to avoid panic buying.
Bin Touq also announced that 80 flights per day would operate during the current phase to facilitate travel for those wishing to leave.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said daily life across the UAE continues as normal, with all essential services fully operational.