UAE businessman Khalaf Al Habtoor rejects calls for Gulf states to join war

ABU DHABI: UAE businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor has publicly rejected calls for Gulf countries to join the ongoing regional conflict, saying the region should not be dragged into a war that does not serve the interests of its people.

In a statement on X, Al Habtoor criticized remarks by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who urged countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to enter the conflict, arguing that they were also under attack and should join the fight.

Al Habtoor said Gulf states understand the challenges facing the region but warned against escalating tensions further. He claimed that rapid decisions by the United States had contributed to the current crisis without proper consultation with regional allies.

While acknowledging what he described as the Iranian threat, Al Habtoor stressed that the conflict has turned into a power struggle involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, each pursuing its own strategic interests rather than those of the wider Middle East.

He said Gulf countries should prioritize diplomacy and political solutions instead of sending their citizens into a war that could have been avoided.

Al Habtoor added that no international alliance is worth risking the lives of Gulf citizens, emphasizing that regional governments must put the safety and interests of their people first.