Full Breakdown
UAE Adviser Anwar Gargash Calls for Rebuilding Trust and Strategic Autonomy Amid Iran’s Missile Campaign
9/7/2026, 10:59:10 PM
The Conflict’s Immediate Impact
The war in the Gulf began after U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran responded with a missile and drone offensive that targeted all six Gulf states. Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates, said Iran launched roughly 3,300 missiles and drones at the UAE, the majority aimed at civilian infrastructure. Gulf air-defence systems intercepted many weapons, but some strikes damaged power, water and desalination facilities in Kuwait, energy installations at QatarEnergy’s Ras Laffan plant, and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain. The attacks also closed the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that moves about a quarter of global seaborne oil, sending energy prices higher and disrupting supply chains.
Gargash’s Assessment of Trust and Strategic Autonomy
Speaking at the Hili International Forum, scheduled for September 7, Gargash emphasized that “relations can be restored more quickly than trust.”
Economic Resilience and Diversification
Despite the security shock, the UAE’s economy continued to grow. Non-oil foreign trade rose 13 % in the first half of the year, reflecting the country’s ability to sustain development plans amid the crisis. To guard against future disruptions, the UAE is expanding port capacity on its eastern coast and developing alternative pipelines, railways and trade corridors, asserting that “our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity.”
Diplomatic Outlook and Regional Cooperation
Gargash called for a unified Gulf response, noting that while individual states showed “strength and resolve,” collective coordination fell short of the level achieved after the 1990-91 Gulf War. He urged Gulf states to treat the Strait of Hormuz as an international waterway whose navigation must not be subject to coercion and to pursue a long-term diplomatic approach that includes credible security guarantees and a clear path on Iran’s nuclear program.
Official Statements & Responses
- The UAE adviser described Iran’s aggression as “a serious strategic miscalculation” that deepened Tehran’s isolation.
- He stressed that any future dialogue must go beyond transactional issues to address security, non-interference, freedom of navigation and economic cooperation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Relations can be restored more quickly than trust,” — Dr Gargash
- “Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity,” — Dr Gargash
- “Freedom of navigation is not a concession to be granted, nor a principle to be renegotiated under pressure,” — Dr Gargash
What’s Next
The UAE will continue constructing alternative export routes and expanding eastern-coast port facilities to reduce vulnerability to future Strait-of-Hormuz disruptions. Ongoing diplomatic efforts aim to revive the stalled peace process, though a preliminary cease-fire reached in June has already unraveled.
