Key facts
- Senior national security officials from the UAE and Iran held their first face-to-face meeting.
- The meeting aims to de-escalate tensions amid the US-Israeli war against Iran.
- The UAE seeks to protect its economic ambitions, including investments in oil production and AI data centers.
- Iran values the UAE as a significant trading partner and a key conduit for sanctioned oil.
- The UAE views Iran's attacks as unprovoked acts of terrorism and has previously sought a joint Arab response.
- The UAE's current focus is on minimizing economic and security disruptions.
Senior national security officials from the United Arab Emirates and Iran convened for their first face-to-face meeting since the commencement of the US-Israeli war against Tehran. This engagement signifies a notable shift for both nations, driven by a mutual recognition of the importance of stabilizing bilateral relations.
The UAE's leadership is keen on maintaining its ambitious economic agenda, which includes substantial investments in expanding oil production and developing AI data centers. The relationship with Iran is also crucial for Tehran, as the UAE was one of its largest trading partners prior to the conflict and served as a vital channel for sanctioned Iranian oil.
Sources indicate that Abu Dhabi's recent outreach was primarily motivated by a desire for detente with a regime it considers an adversary but acknowledges cannot be easily removed from power. Despite being the most targeted country by Iran and its proxies since the war began in late February, the UAE appears to be adopting a diplomatic approach similar to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which have also experienced Iranian attacks but are pursuing de-escalation.
Riyadh resumed high-level contact with Tehran in early April following attacks on its energy facilities and military bases. Qatar, after a significant attack on its Ras Laffan natural gas facility, has been particularly enthusiastic about rapprochement and is increasingly mediating between Washington and Tehran.
All three Arab states are aware of the necessity to coexist with Iran, a nation of 90 million people with considerable military power, despite the damage it has sustained from US and Israeli bombardments. Iran's attacks had threatened the UAE's status as a hub for financial firms, impacting its oil sales and tourism sectors.
One individual familiar with the situation stated that the meeting was the result of multiple Iranian attempts to re-establish high-level dialogue. The UAE had initially delayed, seeking confirmation that any Iranian interlocutors had direct access to the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The war has led to the deaths of several Iranian leaders, including Khamenei’s predecessor and father, Ali.
The only other known contact between the UAE and Iran during the war occurred in mid-April, when UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed spoke with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf about easing regional tensions. Following that call and a visit by the UAE’s Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed to Chinese President Xi Jinping, a communication channel was reportedly opened.
An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the UAE's foreign policy prioritizes de-escalation and the advancement of lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. The UAE also supports international efforts to protect regional populations from the conflict's repercussions.
This week's meeting represents a further evolution in the UAE's stance. In late May, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed joined leaders from Qatar and Saudi Arabia in urging US President Donald Trump to avoid resuming full-scale hostilities against Iran and to allow negotiations more time.
Since the US-Israel war against Iran began, Iran has launched nearly 3,000 missiles and drones at the UAE, most of which were intercepted with assistance from allies. However, at least 13 people have been killed, and sites such as oil and gas facilities, ports, and hotels have sustained billions of dollars in damage. The UAE leadership characterized these attacks, including one on the Barakah nuclear power plant, as unprovoked acts of terrorism, prompting a hawkish initial response.
The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the fragile ceasefire since early April, and the slow pace of US-Iran negotiations have influenced Abu Dhabi's strategic calculations. The UAE's current priority is to minimize further economic and security disruptions. Evidence suggests these efforts may be yielding results, as Iran has not targeted the UAE since the Barakah plant incident. Recently, as US-Iran skirmishes intensified, Tehran targeted Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
On Thursday, President Trump indicated plans for further military action against Iran due to a lack of progress in negotiations. The UAE has maintained diplomatic ties with Iran but has closed several affiliated social, medical, and educational institutions, and revoked residency visas for some Iranians, while still hosting hundreds of thousands.
Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomatic adviser to the UAE's leader, has emphasized that trust with Iran has been shattered and that any meaningful re-engagement requires the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and reparations from Tehran. The UAE also insists that any US-Iran deal must address Iran's nuclear capabilities, ballistic missiles, and support for proxy militias, though the US appears likely to exclude the latter two from any potential agreement.