Anwar Gargash talks about the relationship between the UAE and Saudi Arabia and warns of renewed war

Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the President of the Emirates, confirmed on Sunday that the security of the Gulf states is interconnected, and that what affects any of them affects the Emirates, noting that confidence in Iran was shaken after it launched attacks on its neighbors. In his speech during the 22nd edition of the “Manama Dialogue” in the Bahraini capital, Anwar Gargash expressed his hope that new rounds of confrontations would not break out, stressing the need to give priority to political solutions and the return of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to what it was before February 28, 2026.

Gargash also expressed his hope to achieve a "diplomatic breakthrough" regarding the war in the Middle East, and stressed that any new confrontation is not in the interest of the region or Iran, stressing readiness for "the worst eventualities to protect the country, its citizens, its achievements, and its residents." Anwar Gargash said: “We in the United Arab Emirates do not believe that a military solution is a viable option, but at the same time, we must stress that this matter is not guaranteed if political initiatives are unable to bridge the existing gap.” The Emirati official pointed out that the divergence between the American and Iranian positions raises concern, and added that the regional scene is still shrouded in ambiguity, warning that “if efforts do not succeed in bringing viewpoints closer together, we must worry about the possibility of the worst happening.”

Gargash called for starting to “rebuild Gulf confidence,” and said that the Gulf countries did not collectively rise to the level of the challenge, and that steadfastness was individual or bilateral, while confidence in collective ability “was in many cases just a perception that was not based on reality.” Anwar Gargash described the relationship with Saudi Arabia as “strategic par excellence,” and stressed that the UAE’s security, stability, and prosperity cannot be imagined without Saudi Arabia enjoying the same security and stability. He stressed the UAE’s solidarity with it against any attacks targeting airports and civilian facilities, pointing out that there is no justification for targeting airports and civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia, and stressed that the security of the Gulf states is interconnected.

Gargash stressed the importance of establishing a new relationship with Iran, as it is a neighboring country that shares the same geostrategic space with the countries of the region. He said: “We do not want to see Iran enter into a long-term crisis,” but he explained that confidence in Iran was “shaken” after it attacked its neighbors, stressing that “work to rebuild this confidence will take a very long time.”