Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the UAE Federal National Council, said the country was prepared to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and citizens in the event of another Iranian attack.

Speaking at a meeting with foreign journalists in Dubai on Thursday, October 15, 2026, he said all options remained on the table to address potential threats when asked how the UAE might respond to another attack by Iran.

Asked whether such measures could include a direct response to an Iranian attack, Al Nuaimi said: “Everything.”

However, he provided no details about the nature or timing of any potential UAE action.

UAE Reaffirms Right to Defend National Sovereignty

The remarks followed months of regional tensions and Iranian missile and drone attacks on the UAE and other countries in the region.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously said the country’s air defence systems had intercepted an Iranian drone over UAE territorial waters on August 31, 2026.

Condemning the incident, the ministry said the UAE reserved its legitimate right under international law to respond to security threats and defend its national sovereignty.

Will the Conflict With Iran End Before Year-End?

Al Nuaimi also said he did not expect the conflict with Iran to continue for several years, as the Russia-Ukraine war has.

He predicted that the crisis could end before the close of 2026, but did not rule out the possibility of another large-scale war.

He said future developments would largely depend on the decisions and actions of Iran’s leaders and their adherence to their commitments.

UAE Continues to Prefer a Diplomatic Solution

Al Nuaimi stressed that since the start of the crisis, the UAE had favoured resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy and had sought to prevent tensions from escalating before the conflict began on February 28, 2026.

The UAE said in January that it would not allow its territory, airspace or territorial waters to be used for military action against Iran and would not provide logistical support for such operations.

Al Nuaimi also said rebuilding trust between Tehran and Abu Dhabi would require genuine change and concrete action from Iran, adding that merely resuming talks would not be enough.

He stressed that the responsibility for changing course rested with Iran’s leaders.