UAE Upset With Pakistan For Backing Iran, $2 Billion Support May Be At Risk | Exclusive

Last Updated:April 03, 2026, 13:49 IST

Sources said the UAE was particularly upset that while Pakistan engaged extensively with Saudi Arabia during the crisis, it did not show similar outreach to Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan’s delicate balancing act in West Asia appears to be under strain, with the United Arab Emirates expressing strong displeasure over Islamabad’s perceived support for Iran during the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.

According to exclusive details accessed by CNN-News18, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir held a key meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday, where he conveyed concerns raised by the UAE leadership during his recent visit to Abu Dhabi.

UAE Flags Concerns Over Pakistan’s Iran Tilt

Top diplomatic sources said UAE authorities questioned Islamabad’s stance during the conflict, particularly its perceived closeness to Tehran despite the Emirates facing direct fallout from the war.

“Iran hit the UAE hard for no reason, and Pakistan is supporting Tehran," UAE authorities conveyed to Munir, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The concerns were raised during Munir’s meeting earlier this week with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other senior officials.

Sources indicated that the UAE leadership was particularly upset that while Pakistan had engaged extensively with Saudi Arabia during the crisis, it had not demonstrated similar outreach towards Abu Dhabi.

“Pakistan’s prime minister and you (Munir) visited Saudi Arabia multiple times in solidarity, but did not show the same support for the Emirates," a top source in the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office said, citing the UAE’s message.

‘We Were Hit Hard, Pakistan Didn’t Show Up’

UAE officials are learnt to have conveyed that the Emirates bore significant damage during the conflict but did not receive visible political backing from Islamabad.

“We have been damaged more than anyone else in this war, but unfortunately Pakistan didn’t show up or visit the Emirates," UAE authorities told Munir, according to sources.

The unease was further compounded when Pakistan hosted a foreign ministers’ summit in Islamabad without consulting the UAE, and was seen as taking a clear position aligned with Iran while not adequately acknowledging the impact on the Emirates.

“UAE has always stood with Pakistan, but in this tough time Islamabad appears to prefer Saudi Arabia and Iran. Why?" a source quoted the Emirati side as saying.

Officials also pointed to the UAE’s long-standing economic support for Pakistan, especially during financial crises, as a key concern in the current context.

“We understand your defence agreements with Saudi Arabia, but the UAE has repeatedly bailed out Pakistan economically," the source added.

Economic Concerns, Possible Fallout

The diplomatic strain could have significant economic implications for Pakistan, which is heavily reliant on Gulf support.

Sources in Pakistan’s economic ministry indicated that the UAE may consider asking Islamabad to return nearly $2 billion that was recently rolled over as part of financial support.

Such a move could deepen Pakistan’s economic challenges, given that the UAE is a key guarantor in its International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme.

Additionally, around 1.8 million overseas Pakistanis living in the UAE could face uncertainty if tensions escalate further, with diplomatic sources warning that Islamabad’s “double standard" policy between Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran may have broader consequences.

The developments underscore growing fissures within Pakistan’s Gulf relationships at a time when regional alignments are being reshaped by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

News world UAE Upset With Pakistan For Backing Iran, $2 Billion Support May Be At Risk | Exclusive

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