US media analysis: Why has the UAE become a key target for Iran?

How does the Iran attack impact the UAE’s attractiveness for tech investment?

Reference News Network, March 18 — According to the U.S. Consumer News and Business Channel website on March 15, at least 11 countries have been targeted in retaliatory actions launched by Iran against ongoing strikes on the U.S. and Israel; among these countries, aside from Israel, the most severely affected is the UAE.

The UAE reports that it has successfully intercepted over 90% of missiles and drones from Iran. As of March 12 (the 13th day after the conflict began), official statistics from the UAE Ministry of Defense show that its air defense systems intercepted a total of 268 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,514 drones; according to the report on the 15th, the conflict has resulted in 6 deaths and 142 injuries within the country.

Iran’s firepower directed at the UAE is significantly higher than that of other Gulf neighbors, nearly comparable to the level of force faced by Israel. Although the Iranian government told this channel that its attacks on Gulf neighbors are limited to U.S. military bases in the region, the facts suggest otherwise.

For Iran, the UAE is a highly strategic target: attacking the UAE can pressure Washington, disrupt global energy flows, shake international financial markets and business confidence, and quickly draw widespread global attention.

Last May, U.S. President Donald Trump visited Gulf countries, making the UAE one of the first countries he visited in his second term. As early as 2024, the U.S. had already designated the UAE as a major defense partner, deepening bilateral coordination and cooperation not only in defense but also in artificial intelligence technology and investment.

UAE scholar and political scientist Abdul-Halik Abdulrahman told this channel on the 15th, “There is no convincing explanation yet as to why the UAE suffers more intense attacks than any other country in the region,” but it is worth noting that “the UAE has performed extremely well in defending against these continuous missile and drone attacks — now entering the third week, all signs indicate that the country has been preparing for such assaults.”

When asked why the UAE has become a key target for Iran, Mohammed Abbar, founder of Emaar Properties, told this channel, “This is a global business hub. It embodies the way life should be, the way success should look, prosperity, and a positive spirit — this place is exactly that.”

Despite Iran’s strikes, the UAE government has been trying to maintain a sense of normalcy, but several major international banks have evacuated staff from Dubai offices this week. Last week, Iran launched two consecutive attacks targeting Dubai International Financial Centre. Dubai media offices confirmed these incidents but stated that no casualties occurred.

As the region strives to promote economic diversification away from over-reliance on oil, the UAE also aims to become a core hub for artificial intelligence. However, after Iran attacked an Amazon data center located in the UAE, causing cloud service disruptions, doubts have arisen about the region’s attractiveness as an investment destination for “tech giants.”

Additionally, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s refinery in Ruwais — one of the largest refineries in the Middle East — was hit by a drone attack that caused a fire, and has been shut down as a precaution.

Attacks on energy infrastructure are not new, but the direct hit on the Ruwais refinery indicates that Iran’s targets are no longer limited to facilities related to the U.S. (Translation by Zhao Feifei).