PM condemns ‘missile, drone’ attacks on civilian infrastructure in UAE

• Premier Shehbaz expresses full solidarity with Emirati people and President Mohamed bin Zayed

• Warns escalation could undermine regional stability, urges strict ceasefire observance

• Calls for diplomatic space, continued dialogue for lasting peace

• Fresh strikes on Fujairah energy facility injure three, UAE blames Iran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned the reported missile and drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, expressing full solidarity with the Emirati leadership and people.

In a statement posted on X, the prime minister conveyed Pakistan’s support for the UAE and extended solidarity to President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Pakistan strongly condemns the missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates last night. I express full solidarity with His Highness @MohamedBinZayed. Pakistan stands firmly with our Emirati brothers and sisters as well as with the Government of…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 5, 2026

“Pakistan stands firmly with our Emirati brothers and sisters as well as with the Government of the United Arab Emirates at this difficult time,” he wrote.

PM Shehbaz also stressed the importance of respecting the ceasefire, warning that any escalation would undermine regional stability. He urged all parties to preserve diplomatic space and prioritise dialogue to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.

“It is absolutely essential that the ceasefire be upheld and respected, to allow necessary diplomatic space for dialogue leading to enduring peace and stability in the region,” he added.

The statement comes a day after a drone strike on an energy facility in Fujairah injured three Indians, with the UAE blaming Iran for the attack, while Iranian state media said the Islamic Republic had “no pre-planned programme” to target oil facilities in the UAE.

In a statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry called the attacks “a serious escalation and a direct threat to the country’s security,” adding that it reserved its “full and legitimate right” to respond.

The drone strikes have disrupted a period of relative calm in the region since a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire between Washington and Tehran took effect on April 8, pausing more than a month of intense fighting in the Gulf region.

This was not the first attack on Fujairah’s energy infrastructure. A previous drone strike on March 14 had hit the Port of Fujairah, triggering fires and forcing the suspension of some oil-loading operations.

Fujairah plays a strategic role in UAE oil exports, as it sits at the end of the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, which transports crude from inland fields to the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

This strategic route has enabled the UAE to continue exporting oil to global markets even amid heightened tensions in the waterway.

Fresh hostilities

The latest wave of missile and drone activity followed renewed tensions in the Gulf, where US President Donald Trump announced a new initiative aimed at clearing stranded tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint that has been largely disrupted since US and Israeli strikes on Iran began in February.

The conflict, which has killed thousands across the region, has severely impacted maritime traffic. Before Monday ended, several merchant vessels in the Gulf reported explosions or fires. The US said it had destroyed six small Iranian military boats, while an oil port in the UAE—home to a major US military presence—was set ablaze by Iranian missiles.

Trump described his initiative as “Project Freedom,” aimed at enabling safe passage through the Strait, but gave limited details when announcing it on social media—two days after a legal deadline under US law had passed requiring congressional authorisation for military action.

He told Congress the war was “terminated,” arguing the deadline was no longer relevant—a claim disputed by several lawmakers.

The move marked the first apparent use of force since last month’s ceasefire announcement to reopen the world’s most vital energy shipping route. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously said passage through the strait requires its approval, while shipping insurance costs have surged sharply amid the crisis.

For weeks, the US Navy has reportedly blocked Iranian maritime trade routes, which Tehran describes as an act of war.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday’s developments demonstrated that there was no military solution to the crisis. He said peace talks were progressing with Pakistan’s mediation, while warning the US and UAE against being drawn into what he called a “quagmire by ill-wishers.”

Criticising the US initiative to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said: “Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.”