UAE President Bin Zayed: 'We Are No Easy Prey' — First Statement Since Iranian Strikes

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan broke his public silence on Day 8, making his first comments since Iranian strikes struck UAE territory including the area around Dubai international airport. Reuters reported the president's remarks, in which bin Zayed said: The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh — we are no easy prey. He continued: We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people, and our residents who are also part of our family. The statement is carefully calibrated. The phrase thick skin and bitter flesh is a traditional Gulf Arabic idiom conveying resilience and the cost of aggression — that attacking the UAE will not be painless. Bin Zayed avoided explicit attribution of the Dubai airport attack to Iran, or an explicit declaration of support for the US-Israeli campaign. However his decision to speak at all — and in defiant rather than conciliatory terms — signals UAE will not seek a separate accommodation with Tehran or distance itself from the US alliance. The statement comes on the same day as Pezeshkian's Gulf apology, creating an interesting diplomatic juxtaposition: Iran apologising to Gulf states that are simultaneously signalling they will not be intimidated. The UAE hosts significant US military infrastructure including Al Dhafra Air Base.