Senior Israeli officials say that one of the most notable features of Iran’s recent escalation against Gulf states is the concentration of attacks on the United Arab Emirates.
Security sources say the war between Iran, the US, and Israel — which has quickly expanded to the Gulf arena — is not focused solely on military bases and security targets. One of the most striking developments is the significant number of Iranian attacks directed at the UAE, raising the question: why has it become such a central target?
According to these officials, the answer lies in the UAE’s unique status in the regional and global system. The country is not just another oil producer in the Gulf — it is one of the world’s key economic, logistical, and financial hubs. As a result, striking it is viewed in Tehran not merely as a tactical move but as a pressure tool with regional and international consequences aimed at convincing President Donald Trump to halt the war.
Over the past two decades, the UAE has built an economic model heavily based on non-oil sectors. A large share of its GDP now comes from international trade, financial services, aviation, tourism, and logistics. The country’s non-oil trade has reached record levels in recent years, turning it into a major commercial gateway between Asia, Europe, and Africa.