Dubai-based businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor has publicly criticised calls for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to become involved in the ongoing regional conflict, warning against what he described as attempts to draw the region into a war driven by external interests.
In a post published on social media platform X and translated into English from Arabic, Al Habtoor responded to remarks by US Senator Lindsey Graham suggesting that GCC countries should join the conflict.
“I heard the statements of US Senator Lindsey Graham, in which he calls on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to enter this war,” Al Habtoor wrote. “And I say to him clearly: We know full well why we are under attack, and we also know who dragged the entire region into this dangerous escalation.”
سمعت تصريحات السيناتور الأمريكي لينزي غراهام، التي يدعو فيها دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي إلى دخول هذه الحرب، ويقول فيها أننا نتعرض للضرب أيضاً وأن علينا أن ننضم إلى القتال. وأقول له بوضوح: نحن نعرف تماماً لماذا نتعرض للضرب، ونعرف أيضاً من أدخل المنطقة كلها في هذا التصعيد الخطير دون…
— Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor (@KhalafAlHabtoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/KhalafAlHabtoor/status/2030961911089729555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>March 9, 2026
Al Habtoor, chairman of the Dubai-based Al Habtoor Group, said that while Gulf states recognise security threats in the region, they should not be compelled to participate in conflicts shaped by geopolitical rivalries.
“We thank God that the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries are doing well, and we have no need for someone who claims he came to the Middle East to save us,” he wrote.
The businessman argued that recent developments reflected a broader struggle among global and regional powers, saying the interests of Middle Eastern populations were often sidelined.
“We do not deny the Iranian threat to the region, which has become clear in recent days. We do not trust Iran. But this is a dirty game in which several powers clash at the expense of our region,” the translated post said.
He also rejected suggestions that Gulf states rely on external military protection, emphasising that defence cooperation and arms purchases are commercial arrangements rather than acts of charity.
“We invest in our security and pay billions of dollars for these weapons, and it is a massive trade and industry built on these deals,” he wrote.
Al Habtoor added that regional countries should prioritise diplomacy and stability rather than becoming involved in conflicts they did not initiate.
“We want peace and stability. We will not accept being forced down the path of war, nor will we accept being fuel for others’ battles,” he said.
The comments follow an earlier post by Al Habtoor on X in which he directly addressed US President Donald Trump, questioning the decision to escalate tensions with Iran and warning that Gulf states could bear the consequences of a broader regional conflict.
In that message, he asked: “Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? And on what basis did you make this dangerous decision?”
سيادة الرئيس دونالد ترامب،
سؤال مباشر: من أعطاك القرار لزجّ منطقتنا في حرب مع #إيران؟ وعلى أي أساس اتخذت هذا القرار الخطير؟
هل حسبتَ الأضرار الجانبية قبل أن تضغط على الزناد؟ وهل فكّرت أن أول من سيتضرر من هذا التصعيد هي دول المنطقة!
من حق شعوب هذه المنطقة أن تسأل أيضاً: هل كان…
— Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor (@KhalafAlHabtoor) March 5, 2026
Al Habtoor’s posts come amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, with governments across the region emphasising stability, security coordination and efforts to avoid further escalation.
