The UAE has stated it will not allow the use of its airspace, territory, or waters in any military operations against Iran, amid escalations in tensions between the US and Iran over the last few weeks.
On Monday, January 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Emirates would not provide any logistical support for an attack despite recent reports suggesting otherwise.
The authority emphasised the UAE's approach of resolving disputes through diplomatic means. Enhancing dialogue, reducing escalation, adhering to international laws, and respecting state sovereignty are the optimal foundations for addressing current crises, it added.
In a similar statement a week ago, Saudi Arabia also stated it would not allow its airspace or territory to be used to attack Iran. The comments came among threats of a "hard" response by the US if Iran continued to crack down on anti-government protests.
In light of the heightening geopolitical situation, some airlines have halted operations on routes to the region. This included two European airlines which suspended flights to cities in the Middle East, with Air France saying it will temporarily stop service to Dubai due to the geopolitical situation in the region.
Dutch airline KLM also halted flights until further notice to cities in the Middle East and would not fly through the airspace of several countries in the region, including Iraq and Iran, according to the Netherlands' state broadcaster.
Meanwhile, India's Indigo airline announced it would be cancelling some flights in light of latest events. IndiGo flights scheduled to operate on January 25 from Delhi to Tbilisi and from Mumbai to Almaty were cancelled.
"In view of the prevailing situation and after careful assessment, IndiGo flights scheduled to operate on January 26, 27 and 28, to and from Tbilisi, Almaty, Tashkent and Baku, have been cancelled," the carrier said.
Airlines have also urged passengers to keep tabs on latest developments in the region while monitoring flight status.
The prospect of military action appeared to recede last week after the White House said Tehran had halted planned executions of demonstrators, but Trump on Thursday confirmed continuing military preparations.
"You know we have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case... We have a big force going toward Iran," he said.
Meanwhile, an Iranian official on Saturday said the country would treat any attack "as an all-out war against us", ahead of the arrival of a US military aircraft carrier strike group and other assets in the Middle East in the coming days.
"This military buildup — we hope it is not intended for real confrontation — but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario. This is why everything is on high alert in Iran," said the senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
