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UAE turns to Israel for missile defense amid Iran attacks deepening Gulf rift
International
Published on 15 May 2026
UAE got Iron Dome during the war
Facing repeated Iranian missile barrages that threatened its economy, the UAE has pulled closer to Israel, even widening a rift with Saudi Arabia. Abu Dhabi reportedly received Israeli Iron Dome air-defence support, viewing it as protection essential to economic recovery. The move increases pressure with Tehran, which the UAE sees as its main threat, while also complicating relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states that still treat Israel normalization as highly sensitive, especially after Gaza.
- UAE sought Israeli air-defence help after Iran missile and drone barrages
- Analysts say the goal was preserving stability and protecting economic recovery
- The US confirmed Israel sent Iron Dome batteries and personnel to the UAE
- The UAE has only normalized ties with Israel alongside Bahrain
- Saudi-UAE tensions grew over whether Israel or Iran is the greater threat
- Netanyahu claimed a secret UAE visit during the war, which Abu Dhabi denied
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times