FDD Morning Brief FDD Morning Brief SITREP | The Iran war is testing the Gulf
Mar 9, 2026
Eyal Hulata, former Israeli national security advisor with deep military and regional strategy experience, and Ebtesam AlKetbi, Emirati political scientist focused on Gulf security and resilience. They discuss Gulf civilian defenses and UAE alarm responses. They compare Israel’s air-defense systems and long-range attack experience. They explore Gulf political unity, UAE–US military coordination, and shifting regional partnerships.
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UAE Maintains Public Normalcy Amid Heavy Strikes
- The UAE is experiencing direct multi-domain attacks yet projects civilian normalcy to show resilience.
- Ebtesam AlKetbi notes Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain full of people despite alarms, reflecting deliberate public messaging and confidence in defenses.
Israel's Shelters and Alerts Mitigate Heavier Strikes
- Israel faces larger warheads and cluster munitions from Iran, but has robust sheltering and alert systems.
- Eyal Hulata contrasts Israel's hardened civil defenses with the UAE's lack of shelters while praising Emirati resilience.
Gulf Shifts Toward Integrated Regional Air Defense
- Gulf states are moving from ad hoc defenses to integrated regional architecture to counter saturation attacks.
- Ebtesam AlKetbi describes linking early warning, intelligence coordination, and integrated missile defenses as a core deterrent shift.