RIYADH (The Thursday Times) — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has strongly condemned Iran’s attacks on the United Arab Emirates, telling UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan that the Kingdom stands firmly with Abu Dhabi in defence of its security and stability.
The message came during a telephone call between Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, following Iranian attacks that have sharply raised tensions across the Gulf.
According to the statement, the Saudi Crown Prince expressed the Kingdom’s “strong condemnation and denunciation” of the attacks, describing them as unjustified and directed against a sisterly state. The language was direct, deliberate and politically significant, placing Riyadh firmly beside Abu Dhabi at a moment when Gulf capitals are watching the risk of regional escalation with increasing concern.
Prince Mohammed also affirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for the UAE as it defends its security and stability. That phrase carries weight in a region where diplomatic wording is often carefully measured. It signals not only solidarity with the Emirati leadership but also a wider Saudi view that attacks on Gulf security cannot be treated as isolated events.
The call also included a review of regional developments and ways to enhance security and stability in the region. While the statement did not provide further details, the timing suggests that both leaders are focused on containing the fallout from the attacks while coordinating their response to a rapidly shifting security environment.
For the UAE, the Saudi statement offers important regional backing. Abu Dhabi has long positioned itself as a state built around stability, commerce, energy security and international connectivity. Any attack on Emirati territory, particularly from across the Gulf, carries implications far beyond national security. It touches global energy routes, investor confidence and the fragile architecture of Gulf diplomacy.
For Saudi Arabia, the call allows Riyadh to draw a clear line without abandoning the language of regional stability. The Crown Prince’s message was one of condemnation, but also one of coordination. By pairing support for the UAE with a review of broader regional developments, Riyadh appeared to frame the issue as part of a larger struggle to prevent the Gulf from sliding into a wider confrontation.
