Diplomatic sources revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is exerting direct pressure on UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed to push the Emirates toward deeper involvement in the war with Iran, aiming to draw Gulf states into a broader military confrontation that could reshape the region.
Sources stated that Netanyahu’s recent contact with the Emirati leadership included clear demands to expand Abu Dhabi’s role beyond what was described as an indirect logistical and intelligence support, seeking to turn the UAE into an active participant in military operations against Iran.
According to these sources, Israel views the UAE as a potential entry point to pull other Gulf countries into the conflict, transforming the war from a limited confrontation into a wider regional escalation involving Arab states.
Since the normalisation agreements in 2020, security and intelligence ties between the UAE and Israel have significantly deepened, with growing coordination that now extends toward potential military expansion.
Diplomatic officials indicated that Israel’s objective is to shift the conflict into a regional war, weakening Iran or potentially destabilising its political system, a long standing strategic goal within Israeli leadership.
In contrast, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have adopted a different approach, choosing restraint and focusing on diplomatic efforts to contain escalation. Both countries have limited their response to defensive measures, intercepting missiles and drones without engaging in direct military retaliation.
Sources noted that this position stems from a clear understanding that any direct strike against Iran would trigger reciprocal escalation, potentially leading to a wider and uncontrollable regional war.
Regional officials have also expressed concern about the formation of a new military coalition similar to that seen during the 2003 Iraq invasion, aligning with long term Israeli visions of restructuring the Middle East through conflict.
However, major Gulf states remain cautious, fearing that a large scale war with Iran would lead to severe security and economic instability across the region.
Within Abu Dhabi, there is reported frustration over the reluctance of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to engage militarily, alongside growing internal debate about the risks of deeper involvement.
The war has also exposed limits to the UAE’s strategic calculations. Despite expectations that its partnership with Israel would secure greater protection under U.S. backing, Iranian strikes have shown that the UAE remains vulnerable, like other Gulf states.
At the same time, sources indicate that Emirati leadership has pushed for intensified strikes on Iran, hoping to pressure Tehran into halting attacks on Gulf countries, though this approach faces implicit resistance from other regional actors.
Internally, discussions are intensifying in Abu Dhabi regarding the long term impact of the war on its regional standing, particularly as recent attacks have challenged its image as a stable financial hub.
There is also growing debate over future security arrangements in the region, including the role of U.S. military bases and the possibility of emerging alternative regional security frameworks.
Additionally, the normalisation agreement with Israel may come under renewed scrutiny, especially if the war fails to deliver clear strategic gains.
Amid these dynamics, the UAE finds itself in a delicate position, caught between Israeli pressure pushing toward escalation and Gulf positions favoring de escalation, as the risk of a full-scale regional war continues to grow.
