The United Arab Emirates took part in an extraordinary meeting of Foreign Ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union, held via videoconference on 5 March 2026, to discuss Iran’s aggression against GCC member states.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Chair of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council, and Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
During the session, Lana Nusseibeh, UAE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed appreciation to European partners for condemning Iran’s unjustified, unprovoked and unlawful attacks, as well as for their strong messages of solidarity and support.
She also underlined the magnitude of the attacks directed at the UAE, noting that the country had successfully intercepted more than 1,000 Iranian drones and missiles, many of which targeted civilian infrastructure. She strongly condemned what she described as ongoing violations of the UAE’s sovereignty, international law and international humanitarian law.
Nusseibeh reaffirmed that the UAE’s foremost priority is ensuring the safety and security of everyone within its borders, including citizens, residents and international visitors, among them a significant number of European nationals.
She also briefed counterparts on the UAE’s extensive measures to support foreign nationals during the current crisis. Several European foreign ministers acknowledged these efforts, particularly thanking the UAE for close coordination in assisting transit passengers from across Europe to safely return to their home countries.
Nusseibeh further stressed that the UAE has consistently pursued diplomatic channels to prevent escalation and remains committed to dialogue and diplomacy. At the same time, she reiterated that the UAE reserves its inherent right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter in order to protect its sovereignty and ensure the safety of those within its territory.
