Iran – UAE War 2026: “Dubai at Risk if UAE Joins War,” Warns Top US Economist Jeffrey Sachs
New Delhi: Leading US economist Jeffrey Sachs has issued a stern warning to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) about the risks of entering a regional conflict, emphasizing that Dubai and Abu Dhabi could face direct danger. Speaking to Asian News International (ANI), Sachs highlighted that these cities are designed as tourist hubs and financial centers, not fortified war zones.
“Dubai and Abu Dhabi could be destroyed if the UAE gets involved in the war. These are resort cities, tourist destinations, places where wealthy people come to invest and enjoy. Turning them into a war zone defeats their very purpose,” Sachs said. He described the UAE’s current geopolitical alignment with the US and Israel as an “absurd mess” that the country continues to compound.
Sachs criticized the UAE’s reliance on the US for protection under the Abraham Accords, calling it a “fatal friendship” in the words of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. “By siding with the US and Israel, the Emirates effectively invited disaster. They bet everything on American military protection, thinking it would let them act freely. That’s a fundamental miscalculation,” he added.
The economist urged UAE policymakers to reconsider their position and avoid “doubling down on a losing proposition,” stressing the need to prioritize national security over political alignment.
This warning comes amid escalating tensions in the region. On March 20, Iran formally called on West Asian nations to prevent the US from using local military bases for strikes, warning that allowing such operations could make host countries complicit in aggression. Meanwhile, Gulf states have condemned Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure, indicating support for the US in the ongoing crisis.
Sachs concluded with a cautionary note: “To be an enemy of the US is dangerous, but to be a friend under these circumstances can be fatal. The UAE needs to protect itself and fully understand the stakes before further involvement.”
