United Arab Emirates Federal National Council Speaker Saqr Ghobash has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed the UAE’s full solidarity with the Kingdom. In a message to Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, Speaker of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council, Ghobash described the assaults against civilians and civilian and economic facilities as a violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to regional security.
Ghobash said the UAE supported measures Saudi Arabia takes to safeguard its security, stability and population. He also offered condolences to those affected by the attacks and wished the injured a swift recovery. The statement, issued in Abu Dhabi on 15 October, adds the UAE’s parliamentary leadership to the wider regional expressions of support for Riyadh following a wave of Houthi strikes.
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What Ghobash’s statement says
The FNC Speaker’s message was directed to the head of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council, underlining the parliamentary and diplomatic dimension of the response. Ghobash condemned attacks on civilians as well as civilian and economic infrastructure, and reiterated support for Saudi measures aimed at preserving security and stability.
The statement does not announce a new military operation or specify additional UAE deployments. Its significance is political: Abu Dhabi is publicly backing Riyadh’s right to protect its population and infrastructure while expressing sympathy for those affected. That distinction matters as regional governments weigh how to respond without allowing the conflict to widen further.
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A wider wave of attacks has raised regional concern
The statement follows a recent escalation in Houthi attacks affecting Saudi territory and strategic infrastructure. Regional and international reporting has described strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and other important sites, disrupting normal operations and causing civilian casualties. The airport attacks have also contributed to travel disruption and uncertainty for residents, businesses and international visitors.
The Houthis, who control much of northwestern Yemen and are supported by Iran, have repeatedly used missiles and drones in cross-border attacks. Their ability to threaten distant infrastructure creates a difficult security challenge for Saudi Arabia: critical airports, energy assets and commercial facilities are geographically spread out, while successful attacks can carry consequences well beyond the immediate damage.
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Why civilian and economic infrastructure matters
Attacks on airports and economic facilities can disrupt more than transport or production. They can affect passenger confidence, emergency response, supply chains and investor perceptions of the region’s stability. For Gulf states seeking to maintain trade, tourism and investment, the threat can have an outsized impact even when damage is geographically limited.
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in transport, energy and economic diversification as part of its long-term development plans. Persistent security threats raise the cost of protecting those assets and complicate efforts to project the Kingdom as a stable destination for international business and visitors. The UAE’s statement places its concern in that broader context, stressing sovereignty, public safety and the protection of critical facilities.
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UAE–Saudi ties and the regional response
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have extensive economic, political and security ties, although they do not always take identical positions on every regional issue. Public expressions of solidarity following attacks reinforce the shared interest in protecting civilians, maintaining state sovereignty and preventing further instability across the Gulf.
Other regional governments have also condemned the attacks, while international discussions have focused on the risk of broader escalation and on safeguarding critical infrastructure. Diplomatic support does not, by itself, establish what military steps a government may take next. Any concrete response would depend on decisions by the governments involved and on developments on the ground.
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What to watch next
The immediate questions are whether attacks continue, whether Saudi Arabia announces further protective measures, and how regional partners translate statements of solidarity into practical coordination. Protection of civilians and critical infrastructure will remain central concerns as governments seek to deter further strikes without widening the confrontation.
For now, Ghobash’s message is a clear diplomatic endorsement of Saudi security and a public expression of sympathy for victims. It signals UAE solidarity, but leaves the operational details of any future response to the governments responsible for those decisions.
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Also Read
- Saudi Arabia’s $83 Billion Military: Why Houthi Attacks Persist
- Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Sign Mecca Defence Pact
- Indian Umrah Pilgrims Urged to Check Saudi Flight Status as Cancellations Continue
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