Will UAE, Saudi, and other Gulf States join the war as Iran strikes the region?

Trending:US-Isarel-Iran warT20 World CupDubai-Abu Dhabi updatesAir travel chaosLunar eclipseBridgerton S5advertisementWill UAE, Saudi, and other Gulf States join the war as Iran strikes the region?Anmol Singla • March 3, 2026, 10:58:02 ISTWhatsapp Facebook TwitteradvertisementAfter Iranian missiles and drones struck airports, oil facilities and US-linked bases across the Gulf, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and other GCC states are weighing their next move. Will they remain defensive, or enter the widening Iran-US-Israel conflict?AdvertisementSubscribe Join Us+ Follow us On GoogleThis satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC shows Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 1, 2026. File Image/Planet Labs PBC via APMissile strikes across the Gulf have ruptured the region’s long-standing strategy of balancing close security ties with Washington while cautiously rebuilding relations with Tehran. After a sweeping Iranian retaliation in response to a joint US-Israeli assault, Gulf capitals that once prided themselves on insulation from regional wars now find themselves directly hit. Airports, oil infrastructure, residential districts, ports and facilities linked to US forces have all come under fire. As anger rises and economic losses mount, leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are confronting a stark dilemma: whether to remain militarily uninvolved while absorbing continued attacks, or to respond in self-defence and risk being seen as entering a war that could redefine the geopolitical order in the region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADHow Gulf countries have been targeted by IranThe escalation followed a major joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran over the weekend that targeted military and government sites and resulted in the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior military figures. Tehran responded with an extensive missile and drone campaign directed at Israel and US military assets across the Gulf. The retaliation quickly spilled into densely populated urban areas and key economic zones, undercutting the Gulf states’ reputation for stability and security. More from Explainers How Europe has been drawn into Iran war as its military bases come under attack US embassy in Riyadh attacked, stranded Indians return from UAE… The latest as Iran war enters Day 4Among the confirmed targets:The headquarters of the US Navy in Bahrain was struck by an Iranian missile. Qatar said it intercepted missiles headed toward Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military base in the region. Kuwait reported that Iranian strikes hit Ali Al-Salem air base, which hosts US Air Force personnel. Saudi Arabia stated that the US embassy in Riyadh and its eastern region were targeted. The United Arab Emirates reported multiple missile and drone incidents across its territory. Reports also described impacts or debris affecting landmark buildings and the airport in Dubai, high-rises in Manama, Kuwait’s airport, and residential areas in Doha.