Today's Edition
By: Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali*
The United Arab Emirates, along with the other Arab Gulf states, has been subjected to blatant Iranian attacks — acts that cannot be justified even from the standpoint of Iran’s own interests.
From the very beginning of the crisis, and even before it escalated, these countries repeatedly declared that they opposed further escalation, that they would not take part in it and that they would provide no logistical support to any potential war. Yet these very states suddenly found themselves the primary theater of Iranian attacks, as if the aim were to destabilise the entire region rather than merely respond to the American-Israeli strike.
What is particularly striking is that the Iranian aggression has focused heavily on the United Arab Emirates, which has borne the largest share of these attacks. Up until yesterday, more than 1,400 ballistic missiles and drones had been launched, targeting infrastructure and civilian sites.
These attacks have resulted in civilian deaths and injuries. This constitutes not only a grave breach of international law and the United Nations Charter, a violation of state sovereignty and territorial integrity and a direct threat to the country’s security and stability, but also a flagrant act of aggression that has no justification other than blind hostility and an attempt to undermine one of the most successful development models in the region and the world.
But such attempts will fail. The UAE Armed Forces have demonstrated that they are indeed among the most capable—if not the most capable—military forces in the world. They have successfully intercepted and neutralised more than 95% of these attacks, maintaining the high level of safety and security that the country continues to enjoy.
Perhaps the most important role in managing this crisis has been clearly embodied by the UAE’s wise leadership, both through its proactive efforts to strengthen the country’s defensive capabilities and through its many reassuring messages to all those living on this blessed land. These messages have reflected the country’s resilience and its determination to emerge from this confrontation stronger than before and even more stable and prosperous.
The tour of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, may God protect him, through Dubai Mall, and his eagerness to greet shoppers and interact with them during the visit, showed the level of confidence in the country’s security and stability. His visit to those injured in the attacks, and his personal concern for checking on their condition, clearly demonstrated that the UAE is a “model,” as His Highness expressed during the visit—because its leadership itself is a model, particularly in times of crisis.
Our wise leadership, may God preserve it, has also shown an exceptional ability to strengthen public confidence through clear communication with citizens and residents and by appearing directly among them. The UAE’s determination was powerfully demonstrated during His Highness the President’s visit to some of those injured in the attacks. In firm and resolute terms, His Highness affirmed that “the UAE is doing well” and that the country will emerge from this crisis stronger than before. He also delivered a strong message to the enemy, stating that “the UAE has thick skin, and its flesh is bitter and cannot be eaten.”
The response of the UAE, through all its institutions, to the Iranian attacks has revealed the strength and resilience of the Emirati people’s will, the renewed determination of the nation, the steadfastness of its wise leadership and the clarity of its vision and foresight. It has also demonstrated the unity of the people with their leadership in confronting challenges. The events have further highlighted the high level of international respect enjoyed by the UAE’s leadership and the effectiveness of Emirati diplomacy. The country has received broad international support, reflected in condemnations of the Iranian attacks by states and international and regional organisations around the world.
It was, therefore, not surprising that international newspapers — foremost among them the British Daily Mail—have described the experience of Dubai’s and Abu Dhabi’s leaders in confronting Iranian attacks as an inspiring model from which the Mayor of London could draw lessons. Such calls to learn from the UAE’s example of decisive leadership, long-term economic vision and effective management of major crises undoubtedly reinforce the UAE’s global reputation as an oasis of stability, security and safety and further strengthen its standing as a leading global centre for development, investment and economic competitiveness. The crisis will pass, and the UAE will emerge from it, just as it has from every previous crisis, stronger than before, guided by a wise leadership that accepts nothing less than fulfilling its vision of making the UAE number one globally, no matter the challenge or the scale of the threat.
May God protect the UAE and its wise leadership, and may its security and prosperity endure.
*CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory
