The president of the United Arab Emirates said his nation was in a time of war but was well and told his enemies it was no easy prey, in his first public comments since Iran launched missiles at its Gulf neighbour amid U.S.-Israeli strikes.
President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets an injured patient receiving treatment at a hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 6, 2026. Abdulla Al Bedwawi/UAE Presidential Court
The president of the United Arab Emirates said his nation was in a time of war but was well and told his enemies it was no easy prey, in his first public comments since Iran launched missiles at its Gulf neighbour amid U.S.-Israeli strikes.
"The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh - we are no easy prey," Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is also ruler of Abu Dhabi, said in comments, made on Friday when visiting those injured in strikes, aired on Abu Dhabi TV on Saturday.
"We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people, and our residents who are also part of our family," he said.
The UAE, which consists of seven emirates including Dubai, would protect everyone in the country, he said.
Reporting by Maha El Dahan
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, visited Friday the fieldwork teams and defence personnel stationed at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ), a facility that was among the targets struck during Iran's sweeping missile and drone offensive against Gulf states earlier this week.
When Samuel Lait launched his private flights firm focused on pet travel in Dubai on Saturday, he was expecting to receive queries from owners looking to travel with their pets between the glitzy Gulf hub and the United Kingdom.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has laid bare how heavily global air travel relies on a handful of hubs led by Dubai, the world’s busiest international airport, after the shutdown of Gulf airspace rippled quickly across airline networks worldwide.
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