UAE Suspends Trade and Financial Relations With Iran Until Further Notice

The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (28 Mordad 1405) that all trade activity, economic relations and financial transactions with Iran are suspended until further notice. According to Khabar Online, citing ISNA, the decision came hours after the UAE's Ministry of Defense claimed it had detected two Iranian ballistic missiles, which the ministry said had targeted maritime traffic and were not deliberately fired at the UAE.

Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, rejected and denied the claim. The Al Alam news network also reported that the allegation of an Iranian missile attack on the UAE was untrue, noting that during the current war, Iran has publicly claimed responsibility whenever it has taken action. The developments follow an earlier UAE Defense Ministry warning that it had intercepted a missile threat over Dubai's skies on the evening of Tuesday, August 18 (27 Mordad).