A senior UAE official expresses cautious optimism about U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations mediated by Qatar, while acknowledging the persistent threat of military conflict in the region.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A senior official from the United Arab Emirates has expressed cautious optimism regarding ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, facilitated by Qatari mediation. This sentiment comes amid rising concerns about potential military confrontations in the Middle East.
“We see some progress. … We hope that both sides will be able to reach a point where they will start building trust and engaging in a way to avoid war and find a political solution,” Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, chairman of the Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the UAE’s Federal National Council, stated in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. He added, “I am a little bit optimistic, but I don’t exclude the other option.”
Al Nuaimi’s comments follow a report by Reuters on November 5, indicating that Iran has submitted a new nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar. However, Tehran has maintained that the U.S. must meet seven conditions before negotiations can advance, including sanctions relief and the cessation of the American naval blockade.
President Donald Trump has not dismissed the possibility of further military operations, while Iran has threatened broader retaliation if hostilities resume. For the UAE, which has faced thousands of Iranian missile and drone attacks earlier this year, the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough offers a glimmer of hope. Nonetheless, UAE leaders emphasize that hope must be accompanied by preparedness.
“We plan for the worst. We hope for the best. … We always make sure that we are ready to deal with all the challenges or threats,” Al Nuaimi remarked.
This blend of optimism and caution was evident during a recent reporting trip by Fox News Digital across the Emirates, where daily life appeared remarkably normal despite the surrounding uncertainties. In downtown Dubai, restaurant terraces were bustling, tourists filled the streets, and crowds gathered around a fountain show set to a mix of Arabic songs and Western pop hits.
Businesses continued to operate, international visitors arrived, and the city projected an image of prosperity and openness. The contrast was equally striking in Abu Dhabi, where Fox News Digital attended the opening of ADIPEC 2026, one of the world’s largest energy conferences, amid ongoing tensions with Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Days before the conference, executives from ExxonMobil and Chevron canceled their planned appearances due to security concerns, as reported by Reuters on October 29. Yet, within the exhibition halls, delegates from around the world convened to discuss investments, announce partnerships, and explore technological solutions to the energy crisis. This gathering underscored the UAE’s determination to maintain economic momentum while preparing for a dramatically altered security environment.
The UAE has already borne a significant cost due to its proximity to the conflict, with over 3,000 Iranian missiles and drones targeting the Emirates during the war, according to figures cited by The Associated Press on November 2. These attacks resulted in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. Although no new Iranian attacks have occurred since May, the threat of renewed confrontation keeps the nation on high alert.
Al Nuaimi emphasized that while the UAE is committed to peace, it will not hesitate to protect its citizens. “Every nation, when it is attacked, has the right to defend their people, their sovereignty, their nation,” he asserted. He also distinguished between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people, acknowledging the latter’s rich culture and values.
Despite the ongoing confrontation with Iran, Al Nuaimi rejected the notion that the UAE’s relationship with the United States should be evaluated solely through the lens of current conflicts or specific administrations. “We don’t see our relationship with the United States through these conflicts, through security and defense. No, it’s a partnership. It’s a strategic partnership. It is a sustainable partnership,” he stated.
He emphasized that this relationship encompasses various sectors, including education, medicine, technology, energy, and investment, and is designed to endure political changes in Washington. “We don’t look at the United States through a certain administration. Our engagement and partnership with the United States … is with the nation. It’s with the people,” he added.
These remarks come at a critical juncture for Gulf governments, whose security ties with Washington have grown increasingly significant as Iran threatens regional infrastructure and international shipping. During the opening ceremony of ADIPEC on November 2, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’s minister of industry and advanced technology and chief executive of state-owned energy giant ADNOC, highlighted that the country’s resilience in facing crises is the result of years of preparation.
“We did not write our resilience playbook during this disruption. We wrote it years before,” Al Jaber told the audience. This message resonated with officials and analysts throughout Fox News Digital’s visit, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to remaining a reliable international partner despite the looming possibility of regional escalation.
In a separate exclusive interview with Fox News Digital in Dubai, Mohammed Baharoon, director general of the Emirati research center B’huth, argued that the confrontation with Iran has fundamentally redefined the concept of national security. “Our resilience now becomes our deterrence,” Baharoon explained.
The UAE’s security strategy extends beyond missile and drone interception, encompassing reliable energy supplies, food security, functional infrastructure, and the ability to sustain international commerce during crises. Baharoon noted that the conflict cannot be viewed merely as a single confrontation between Washington and Tehran, but rather as three interconnected wars involving the initial American-Israeli campaign against Iran, Tehran’s attacks on Gulf states, and Iran’s disruption of international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite his criticisms of Tehran, Baharoon contended that Iran should not be permanently regarded as an enemy. He argued that the Iranian population, economic potential, and geographical significance could make it a valuable contributor to regional prosperity if its leadership were to shift away from confrontation.
As the UAE navigates the challenges posed by potential confrontations, it aims to maintain the diplomatic and economic relationships it has cultivated over decades. The vibrant streets of Dubai and the bustling exhibition halls of Abu Dhabi reflect a nation determined to progress, even as the specter of war looms. Whether the latest negotiations with Iran yield a breakthrough or lead to renewed conflict, the Emirates is banking on its resilience to weather the next crisis while remaining focused on the future it seeks to build, according to Fox News.