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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Presidential Diplomatic Adviser Anwar Gargash declared Thursday that Gulf states view Iran as their "main enemy" following its attacks on UAE territory with more than 2,800 missiles and drones over the past 40 days.
He asserted that the UAE "emerged stronger, more resilient, and more confident"—and demanded guarantees that such attacks will never happen again as part of any negotiated settlement.
Speaking at a media briefing organized by the Dubai Press Club, Gargash addressed the divergence between Gulf and broader Arab perceptions directly.
"We are fully aware of the position of many Arab societies in viewing Israel as the primary enemy, but the view in the Gulf states may be different. Iran is the one that attacked the Gulf states with thousands of missiles and drones, and for this reason we do not trust it, and we view it as a primary enemy," Gargash said.
He added that the UAE has serious questions over Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missiles and drone capabilities, and said that just as Tehran is seeking guarantees and war reparations, the UAE also wants assurances that such "cowardly" attacks will not be repeated.
Gargash provided a detailed account of the UAE's military and national response to the Iranian strikes.
"Today we are facing a war of narratives, and it is a war aimed at mobilizing the public. Yes, Iran lost, and yes, the UAE won. We were subjected to more than 2,800 Iranian rockets and drones, and we shot down 96% of them," the UAE adviser said.
"Iran believed that the UAE was an exposed space, but we confronted the attack with complete efficiency and superiority. We are proud of our country, our leadership, our society, and proud of our national economy," he added.
He said the UAE had operated as "a fully integrated national system" across its military, diplomatic and economic dimensions.
"Our preparations were advanced in the fields of monitoring, interception, and confrontation, and those efforts coincided with an intensive diplomatic movement," Gargash noted.
Gargash said the 40-day assault had failed to break the UAE's economic or social resilience.
"After 40 days of the Iranian aggression, we emerged stronger, more resilient, and more confident that we are capable of defending ourselves. Life and movement continued in a normal manner, the supply chains were strong, financial solvency was stable, and services continued at all their levels," Gargash said.
"The Emirati model has triumphed," he concluded.
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