Dubai, March 8 — UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited five civilians injured during recent tensions across West Asia and the Gulf, reaffirming the country’s commitment to protect its people and promising national resilience.
At the hospital, the president said the wounded include two Emiratis, one Indian, one Sudanese and one Iranian. He stated, “They are all our responsibility, and, God willing, they will make a full recovery.”
He thanked the armed forces, the Ministry of Interior, security services and Civil Defence for their efforts and emphasized the state’s duty to safeguard residents and citizens alike. He said, “We are in a time of war, and I promise them that we will fulfil our duty, because it is our obligation to protect our people and our country. We will carry out our duty towards our country, our people, and our residents who are also part of our family. May God protect the UAE, protect its people, and safeguard everyone who lives in it with dignity and security. I promise everyone that we will emerge stronger than before.”
Speaking directly to adversaries, the president warned that the country’s calm exterior should not be mistaken for weakness: “The UAE is attractive; the UAE is beautiful. The UAE is a model. But I say to them: Do not be misled by the UAE’s appearance. The UAE has thick skin and bitter flesh – we are no easy prey.”
He also posted on X that the UAE prioritises its security, sovereignty and the safety of its people, residents and visitors, saying it is capable of confronting aggression and again thanking the armed forces and security agencies.
The Dubai Media Office said on X that operations at Dubai International (DXB) had been temporarily suspended “for the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew,” and that procedures were being managed in line with established safety protocols.
These developments follow reports that US and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and several senior military and security officials, after which Iran reportedly launched ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and regional allies. The strikes and retaliatory actions have been reported to have affected locations across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, widening the conflict in West Asia and heightening risks to civilians and expatriates.
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
