Criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump is growing in the United Arab Emirates as Iran continues launching missiles and drones toward Gulf countries, raising concerns among business leaders about the economic and security impact of the conflict.
The UAE has long been a close U.S. ally and had pledged about $1.4 trillion in investments in the United States, while maintaining strong commercial ties with businesses linked to Trump’s family. But the ongoing conflict with Iran has sparked rare public criticism from some figures in the country’s business community.
Dubai billionaire and hotel magnate Khalaf Al Habtoor publicly questioned Washington’s decision to launch military operations against Iran. In a post on social media on March 5, he asked who gave the United States the authority to draw Gulf nations into a conflict they did not choose.
“Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? And on what basis did you make this dangerous decision?” Khalaf Al Habtoor said in a post on X on March 5. “You have placed the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab countries at the heart of a danger they did not choose.”
Iran has carried out repeated missile and drone strikes across the Gulf in retaliation for the U.S.-led campaign. The UAE’s air defenses have intercepted most of the projectiles, though the attacks have caused damage from falling debris and shaken investor confidence in the region’s stability.
The tensions are also affecting key sectors of the UAE economy. Travel and tourism, major drivers of growth in cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have been disrupted as flights are canceled or diverted across the region. Thousands of passengers have been stranded while authorities work to establish safe air corridors to gradually restore flights.
Financial markets have also reacted to the escalating conflict. Dubai’s benchmark stock index is heading for its worst weekly performance since May 2022, reflecting investor concern about prolonged instability.
Despite the tensions, daily life in the UAE has largely continued. Shops, restaurants and public transportation remain open, though traffic in major cities is lighter than usual and many companies have allowed employees to work from home.
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Arpita Ghosh (She/Her) is an Assistant Editor at Times Now Digital, with over eight years of experience in digital journalism. She has worked across v...View More
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