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Kuwait
The Role of the United Arab Emirates in the Iran-Iraq War
and the Persian Gulf War
The attitude of the UAE during attacks on international shipping
in the Iran-Iraq War was ambivalent. The amirates were profiting
from a brisk reexport trade with Iran; furthermore, they felt
vulnerable because their offshore oil facilities were exposed
to the danger of Iranian attack. Dubayy and Ras al Khaymah in
particular, with a substantial number of Iranians and native Shia,
leaned toward Iran and were reluctant to abandon their neutrality.
Abu Dhabi, however, as the richest oil state, adopted a pro-Arab
stance in the war favoring Iraq. An offshore oil platform belonging
to Abu Dhabi was hit by Iranian missiles in 1987; although denying
responsibility, Iran paid an indemnity. The Department of State
credited the UAE with supporting the United States Navy during
its convoy operations despite Iranian threats of retaliation.
Reversing its earlier policy of avoiding collaboration with foreign
military powers, the UAE, according to the Department of State,
was the first gulf state to propose combined military action to
deter Iraq when it threatened war against Kuwait. An air refueling
exercise between United States and UAE aircraft one week before
the invasion of Kuwait was intended as a warning signal to Iraq.
During the Persian Gulf War, UAE troops, reportedly numbering
several hundred, participated in the conflict as part of the GCC
Peninsula Shield force that advanced into the city of Kuwait.
United States aircraft bombed Iraqi positions from the UAE, and
United States ships, including aircraft carriers, operated out
of UAE ports. The UAE air force also carried out strikes against
Iraqi forces. A total of six UAE combat deaths were reported as
a result of the fighting.
The UAE defense budget remained fairly stable at about US$1.6
billion between 1988 and 1991. However, an additional US$3.3 billion
represented UAE contributions and pledges in 1991 to other countries
in connection with the war. Total UAE support to other countries
participating in the Persian Gulf War was reported to have reached
US$6 billion by mid-1991; payments of nearly US$3.8 billion had
been made to the United States, US$500 million to Britain, and
US$1.4 billion to Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and seven other nations,
combined, to offset their economic losses from the war. Oil prices
and UAE oil production rose significantly after the outbreak of
the gulf crisis; exports rose from US$15.5 billion in 1989 to
US$21.0 billion in 1990. However, the balance of payments was
negative for the first time as a result of UAE contributions to
other countries affected by the crisis and large capital transfers
out of the country during the period.
Data as of January 1993
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