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Watch: 5 moments where UAE leaders showed life was normal despite regional conflict
This is not incidental, it’s a form of governance, one that communicates through action rather than announcement, through visibility rather than statement
- PUBLISHED: Thu 5 Mar 2026, 9:37 AM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid Israeli, US strikes on Iran for the latest regional developments.]
Since the early hours of February 28, US and Israeli forces have launched Operation 'Epic Fury' against Iran, with Tehran responding with a wave of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Gulf states.
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Alerts have been sent to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, missiles have been intercepted mid-air, and the country’s airports were shut down. Yet, through it all, something remarkable has been happening, with UAE leaders not retreating but instead showing up for the community.
From the racecourse on the very first night Iranian missiles were intercepted over UAE's airspace, to a stroll through Dubai Mall on Day 3 of the conflict, to Ramadan Iftar gatherings that carried on without interruption, these five videos capture a leadership that is choosing presence over caution, and calm over alarm.
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1. Dubai's Ruler celebrates at Meydan as horse ‘Meydan’ wins the Al Maktoum Classic
On February 28, 2026, the same day that US and Israeli forces struck Iran and Iranian missiles were first intercepted over the UAE airspace, Meydan Racecourse went ahead with Super Saturday as planned. And Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was there.
Sheikh Mohammed was present at Meydan just hours after reports that Iranian missiles had been intercepted within UAE airspace and he stayed to celebrate.
A video shared on social media captured Sheikh Mohammed on the track, visibly elated, savouring the win. With the country’s air defences active and airports shut, here was the ruler of Dubai, at the races, smiling.
2. UAE President and Sheikh Hamdan walk through Dubai Mall
On the evening of March 2, 2026, the third day of the Iran conflict, on which explosions were reported in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, visitors to Dubai Mall had an encounter they will never forget.
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, accompanied by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, walked casually through the corridors of the world’s most visited mall, smiling and unhurried.
The Dubai Media Office posted a video of the moment, captioned with words that would resonate across the country: “Close to the people. Steady in leadership.”
In a separate video that circulated on social media, the President was seen greeting a man in the mall. “Are you happy?” Sheikh Mohamed asked him. The man replied that he was, and that he felt safe in the UAE.
3. Dubai Ruler joins iftar at Al Majlis in Madinat Jumeirah
As the conflict entered its second and third days and the UAE’s skies continued to see missile interceptions, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was seen breaking his fast at Al Majlis in Madinat Jumeirah, one of Dubai’s most iconic venues, and one that carries deep cultural significance during Ramadan.
The video, which circulated widely on social media, showed the Dubai Ruler at the Iftar gathering, relaxed and engaged with those around him.
4. Mansour bin Zayed hosts Ramadan Iftar for Islamic Affairs, banking, and media leaders
In a video shared during the conflict period, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, was seen hosting a Ramadan Iftar banquet at the iconic Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.
The gathering brought together representatives from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Awqaf), the Zakat Fund, the banking sector, and senior media leaders a deliberate assembly of the institutions that hold the country’s social and economic fabric together.
The message was unmistakable. While Iran’s drones and missiles had struck targets across the UAE including near the Etihad Towers complex in Abu Dhabi and an AWS data centre that was temporarily knocked offline, Abu Dhabi’s leadership was gathered at a dinner table, reinforcing the bonds between government, faith, finance, and media.
Sheikh Mansour wrote in the caption: “Ramadan is a generous guest, bringing with it the tranquility of homes and the warmth of gatherings, and awakening within us the meanings of mercy and giving. A month in which the national spirit is renewed, and the cohesion of our society grows stronger and purer.”
5. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed joins national service recruits for Iftar in Al Ain
In Al Ain, Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, participated in the 'Your Iftar at Your Children’s Home' initiative alongside national service recruits and their families.
The initiative, which brings together young Emiratis serving in the national service with their loved ones for a shared Iftar, took on a particular resonance during the conflict.
These are the men and women who form part of the UAE’s defence fabric and here was a senior member of the ruling family sitting with them and their families, breaking bread during Ramadan, in a gesture that honoured their service and affirmed the bond between leadership and those who protect the nation.
The video was a quiet but powerful reminder that the UAE’s response to the conflict was not only about missiles intercepted and airports closed, it was also about a society that holds together, from the highest levels of leadership down to the families of those in uniform.
This is not incidental, it’s a form of governance, one that communicates through action rather than announcement, through visibility rather than statement.
The UAE intercepted 148 drones, nine ballistic missiles, and six cruise missiles in the first days of the conflict. Life went on. And as Sara Al Amiri , the UAE’s Minister of Education, observed: “In challenging times, our leadership reminds us that resilience means continuing with confidence, preserving the rhythm of life, and trusting our government’s decisions.”
Ruqayya Alqaydi is a Special Correspondent with an endless curiosity to learn. Like a journalist on a caffeine overdrive, she is fuelled by passion and on a mission to uncover every gem in the UAE.