ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a formal statement on Thursday reaffirming the respected and valued role of the Iranian community living within the Emirates, directly addressing what it described as “inaccurate media claims” regarding Iranian nationals’ residency status amid escalating regional tensions.

The statement, published on the Ministry’s official media hub, declared the UAE home to more than 200 nationalities — a figure the government regularly cites as evidence of its enduring commitment to coexistence and tolerance. The Iranian expatriate community, one of the UAE’s largest and longest-established foreign resident groups numbering an estimated 500,000 to 560,000 individuals, was specifically named as an integral part of the country’s social fabric.

The Ministry’s communiqué comes amid a period of heightened UAE-Iran diplomatic friction. Starting in late March 2026, numerous media reports — particularly from expatriate Iranian outlets — began circulating claims that residency visas for some Iranian nationals had been quietly cancelled, leaving individuals stranded abroad and unable to return. Reports also alleged broader disruptions including asset freezes and restrictions on Iranian-linked property transactions.

UAE authorities have not confirmed any policy of blanket revocations. Thursday’s statement was careful in its language, neither acknowledging individual cases nor announcing new policies, but instead emphasizing that all residency matters follow “well-established procedures and frameworks” that apply equally to all residents regardless of nationality. No mass expulsion or blanket policy change was announced.

The historical depth of the Iranian presence in the UAE lends weight to the Ministry’s framing. Persian traders and settlers were among the first to establish commercial ties across the Gulf, dating back to the early 19th century. In modern Dubai, Iranian entrepreneurs and investors have long contributed to the emirate’s rise as a global trade hub. Many hold long-term residency through the UAE’s Golden Visa programme — a 10-year investor visa pathway introduced to attract and retain high-value residents.

The statement reaffirmed the UAE’s overarching commitment to “fostering a safe and stable environment based on the rule of law, ensuring the protection of the rights of all residents, and reflecting its enduring values of tolerance and coexistence” — language drawn directly from the Ministry’s official release.

Regional observers note that the diplomatic context remains sensitive. Reports from earlier this year cited Iranian military activity affecting Arab states, contributing to a deterioration in bilateral relations. In what some analysts described as a reciprocal measure, Iran reportedly revoked residency permits for approximately 1,200 UAE nationals. Neither government has provided detailed official comment on those specific developments.

For the hundreds of thousands of Iranian families and business owners who have made the UAE their home — often for generations — Thursday’s statement offers an official reassurance from the highest diplomatic authority. Whether it fully resolves the anxieties prompted by March’s media reports remains to be seen. Faith & Freedom News will continue monitoring developments as they unfold.