Since the United States and Israel started bombing Iran nearly two weeks ago, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suffered more retaliatory attacks than any other country in the region.
The UAE has claimed neutrality and refused to enter the war. Officials there have called for Iran to stop its attacks, saying UAE bases are not being used in any US-Israeli offensives. While not a declared military base, Dubai’s Jebel Ali port is the US navy’s largest regional port of call and hosts US aircraft carriers and other warships.
Iran has fired 1,700 missiles and drones at the Emirates, 90 per cent of which have been intercepted, officials claim. Airports, tourist attractions, residential areas and the US Dubai consulate have been struck. At least six people have been killed and 122 have been wounded.
Tens of thousands of expatriate workers and professionals, who comprise 90 per cent of the population of about 11 million, have fled along with business visitors and tourists. Repatriation flights are partially functioning from Dubai and Al-Maktoum international airports despite drone attacks.
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Nevertheless, sources in the UAE told The Irish Times by phone that life is close to normal, with people going to offices and shops. Restaurants are open, despite dawn-to-dusk Ramadan fasting by devout Muslims.
A haven for business and investment, as well as an east-west transit hub, the UAE has already endured major war losses. It has closed Ruwais oil refinery, one of the world’s largest, and cut output. The Emirates holds six per cent of global oil reserves and exports between $114 billion and $120 billion (€103.74 billion) worth of petroleum products a year, accounting for about 30 per cent of GDP. The disruption of these exports is a serious blow.
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Iran’s chief rival for regional influence, Saudi Arabia, has also been targeted, but not as heavily. This may be because it is home to Islam’s two holy cities, Mecca and Medina, which receive tens of millions of pilgrims annually.
In the Saudi capital Riyadh and the eastern province, 10 drones and two cruise missiles have been shot down. Two civilians have been killed and 12 injured.
Last week, Riyadh closed the Ras Tanura refinery, its largest oil facility with an output of 500,000 barrels of oil a day. However, operations at Ras Tanura restarted on Tuesday.
The war has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz – a key route for roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. The kingdom’s national oil company Aramco has warned the situation would become “catastrophic” if the Strait remains heavily affected by the war. Saudi Arabia has diverted exports through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, but this can only partially compensate for the closure of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia has the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves and Aramco is the world’s largest daily oil producer. As oil exports account for 40-42 per cent of GDP, cuts would sabotage the ongoing process of diversification from oil and slow economic development.
