The United Arab Emirates has officially condemned in the strongest terms the Iranian attack on the Qatari vessel Al-Rakiyat, which was targeted early Tuesday, July 7, 2026, while passing near the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs explicitly described the attack as Iranian aggression, calling it a serious threat to the safety and security of international shipping. The Ministry emphasized that such an action represents a dangerous escalation aimed at undermining the security and stability of one of the world's most vital waterways.

In its statement, Abu Dhabi expressed full solidarity with Qatar, affirming its support for any measures taken by Doha to protect the security and safety of its vessels and national interests, and to ensure the freedom of navigation in territorial and international waters. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also characterized the attack as a blatant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which emphasizes the protection of freedom of navigation and rejects the targeting of commercial ships or the disruption of international maritime routes. According to the Ministry, targeting commercial shipping or using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool for pressure and economic blackmail is unacceptable and poses a direct threat to regional stability, global energy security, and the integrity of international trade flows.

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The LNG carrier Al Rekayyat suffered an engine room fire after being struck by a projectile, with sources telling Reuters that the vessel remained at risk of explosion for several hours. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the incident took place approximately 8 nautical miles east of Lima off the coast of Oman, adding that there have been no reports of casualties or environmental pollution to date.

This attack was not an isolated incident. According to Reuters, a Saudi supertanker named Wadiyan was also damaged today after being targeted by a missile near the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, the UK maritime agency reported a drone strike on a third vessel in the same waterway, bringing the total number of ships targeted in less than 24 hours to three.

Qatar has held Iran fully legally responsible for the attack and all associated damages and consequences, while the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the action, noting that the lives of the crew were endangered. Although Tehran has not officially claimed responsibility, Iranian state television quoted anonymous sources stating the vessel was targeted after ignoring warnings. Iran has repeatedly maintained that only its own approved route through the Strait of Hormuz is secure.