Iranian strategists publicly called on October 13 for strikes on UAE oil infrastructure and Dubai airport, framing the Emirates as a key adversary alongside Israel and the United States due to its alliances and territorial claims. This rhetoric follows documented Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf facilities earlier in 2026, including UAE sites like Fujairah, with a Reuters investigation confirming over 135 precision strikes across the region since February. A fragile ceasefire has held since spring, yet recent reports of ballistic missile detections near Emirati waters, trade suspensions, and renewed island disputes sustain tensions. UAE officials have signaled heightened preparedness and distrust, while diplomatic efforts remain stalled amid broader regional escalation risks.