Report: UAE Tried to Persuade Saudi Arabia to Launch Joint Attack on Iran, Riyadh Refused

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) failed to convince Saudi Arabia and Qatar to launch a joint military response to Iranian attacks in the Gulf, Bloomberg reported on Friday, as cited by MEE on Saturday (16/5/2026).

According to the report, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed held a series of phone calls with Gulf leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, shortly after the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February.

Tehran responded by launching thousands of missiles and drones towards Gulf countries. The UAE, which normalised relations with Israel in 2021 under the Abraham Accords, bore the brunt of the retaliation, with nearly 3,000 missiles and drones hitting the country.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders rejected Mohamed bin Zayed’s request for a coordinated Gulf attack on Iran.

The report underscores how the war against Iran has deepened tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, rather than uniting Gulf rivals around a common enemy.