On the shores of the United Arab Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah’s usually bustling industrial port sits eerily silent. Ships that once ferried goods and energy supplies across the globe are docked and idle, while a backlog of hundreds of tankers lines up just beyond the horizon. The cause of this sudden maritime paralysis? The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery for global energy—by Iran, amid the ongoing US-Israel war on the Islamic Republic. The region, and indeed the world, is feeling the shockwaves.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway linking the Gulf to the open ocean, is often described as the world’s most treacherous strip of water for shipping. As of March 2026, it has become a flashpoint in a conflict that Gulf states had desperately tried to avoid. According to DW, expert Noam Raydan emphasized the global significance of securing the strait, noting that its closure has triggered a worldwide crisis reverberating far beyond the Middle East.
Just over 20 nautical miles from Ras Al Khaimah, the dangers are all too real. Between March 9 and 14, two oil tankers attempting to navigate the strait were struck by Iranian missiles, with one tanker erupting in flames. The violence escalated further on March 14, when Fujairah—the UAE’s main oil port—was targeted by a drone attack, sending thick black smoke billowing from its terminal. These incidents are just a few of the many consequences now facing the Gulf states as they find themselves drawn deeper into a war that, by all accounts, they neither initiated nor wanted.
For decades, the Gulf nations—Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Oman—have hosted US military bases and invested heavily in American weapons and technology. In return, the US has long been their closest military partner and protector. But as the conflict with Iran escalates, many Gulf leaders are openly questioning the nature of this relationship.
Analysts point to a growing sense of unease among Gulf officials, especially after former US President Donald Trump was seen to have “wilfully torpedoed peaceful diplomatic negotiations in favour of starting a war in the Middle East,” as reported by The Guardian. Khaled Almezaini, an associate professor of politics and international relations at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, told The Guardian, “The perceived Iran threat to the Gulf only became a reality when the US declared the war – Iran did not fire first.” He added, “There is strong condemnation of the Iranians but at the same time there’s a message to the Americans and the Israelis that, well, we have to find a way to end this. This is not our war.”
In the weeks leading up to the outbreak of hostilities, Gulf leaders worked tirelessly to broker peace, repeatedly warning the US president of the severe consequences that would follow any attack on Iran. Despite these warnings, Trump pressed ahead with military strikes, reportedly without consulting or even warning his Gulf allies. The result has been a wave of Iranian retaliation, with thousands of drones and missiles launched at airports, military bases, oil refineries, ports, hotels, and office buildings across the Gulf.
Gulf states have reassured Tehran that their bases would not be used for attacks, but this has not prevented Iran from targeting their infrastructure. The economic fallout has been swift and severe. Aviation in the region is now highly restricted, leading to billions of dollars in losses for airlines. Bahrain faces an economic crisis, and the UAE’s reputation as a safe haven for tourism and Western investment has been badly damaged.
Efforts to defend against Iranian attacks have come at a steep price. Gulf Cooperation Council countries have spent upwards of $2 billion on interceptors and air defense systems, according to The Guardian. Yet, the most significant blow has come from Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow passage is the only sea route connecting the Gulf with the open ocean and is responsible for transporting a fifth of the world’s energy supplies. Its closure has drastically reduced oil and gas exports, with experts estimating daily losses between $700 million and $1.2 billion.
As Noam Raydan explained to DW, the security of the Strait is not just a regional concern—it’s a global one. The sudden reduction in energy exports has sent ripples through international markets, raising fears of fuel shortages and price spikes worldwide.
The diplomatic fallout has been just as profound. Omani foreign minister Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, who served as a mediator in previous Iran-US talks, delivered some of his strongest remarks yet on the conflict. “Oman’s view [is] that the military attacks against Iran by the United States and Israel are illegal, and that for as long as they continue to pursue hostilities, those states that launched this war are in breach of international law,” he said, as reported by The Guardian. Al Busaidi argued that the US decision to strike Iran, even as diplomatic progress was being made on Iran’s nuclear program, showed the conflict was “solely an attempt to reorder the Middle East in Israel’s favour.”
Gulf states now find themselves caught in a deeply conflicting position. On one hand, they are desperate to de-escalate the war and minimize its impact on their own economies and populations. On the other, they are pressuring the US to “finish the job” in Iran, fearing the prospect of being left with a weakened, volatile Islamic Republic on their doorstep. Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, described the situation as “the Gulf’s worst nightmare.” She told The Guardian, “There’s deep anger and frustration at the United States because this is not their [the Gulf states’] war, and yet they’re bearing the brunt.”
Vakil noted that Gulf leaders had long sought a security partnership with the US akin to that enjoyed by Israel. Now, however, it is clear that such an arrangement may never materialize. “The Gulf is not going to move quickly, nor can they, in finding alternatives to the US. But they’re also not going to just double down with an unreliable partner,” she said. Instead, the region is likely to pursue greater strategic autonomy, though this will be a slow and cautious process.
On the ground, the economic pain is palpable. Sumon, a 27-year-old worker at a boat and jetski rental firm near Ras Al Khaimah port, described how business has dried up entirely. “For many days, our boats and jetskis aren’t allowed to go out because of all these problems and fighting with Iran in the sea,” he told The Guardian. “It’s very bad news, we don’t have customers and my boss can’t give me a salary.” Glancing at the empty port, he added, “No boats are moving any more. No one knows when it will end.”
As the crisis deepens, the Gulf states are left grappling with an uncertain future—caught between superpower rivalries, economic hardship, and the urgent need for security in one of the world’s most volatile regions.