UAE billionaire scolds Trump over reckless war on Iran

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, the Emirati billionaire behind the Al Habtoor Group, wrote a long post on X in Arabic questioning Trump’s wisdom. In addition, his post showed cracks in the US-Gulf states alliance.

The billionaire wrote:

True leadership is not measured by war decisions, but by wisdom, respect for others, and pushing toward achieving peace.

Imagine being told off by the parasitic billionaire class – Trump must have truly fumbled.

The US and Israel have launched an illegal war of aggression against oil-rich Iran. As a result, petro-dictatorships across the Arabian Gulf, including the UAE, which hosts US military facilities, have become a target for Iranian retaliation.

He accused the US and Israel of starting the current war “before the ink has dried” on the Board of Peace initiative launched by Trump in January. Furthermore, Al Habtoor also openly questioned whether the decision was Trump’s alone or the result of “pressures from Netanyahu and his government.”

سيادة الرئيس دونالد ترامب،

سؤال مباشر: من أعطاك القرار لزجّ منطقتنا في حرب مع #إيران؟ وعلى أي أساس اتخذت هذا القرار الخطير؟

هل حسبتَ الأضرار الجانبية قبل أن تضغط على الزناد؟ وهل فكّرت أن أول من سيتضرر من هذا التصعيد هي دول المنطقة!

من حق شعوب هذه المنطقة أن تسأل أيضاً: هل كان…

— Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor (@KhalafAlHabtoor) March 5, 2026

He also noted that Trump has ordered more than 658 foreign airstrikes in his first year alone. This matches the total from Biden’s entire term. Moreover, there are military operations now spanning seven countries including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Iran.

Habtoor dropped a different kind of bomb – one aimed straight at Trump’s political standing. The billionaire noted that the president’s approval ratings have dropped nine percent since his first 400 days in office. He attributed it to Trump’s foreign intervention binge (read war crime binge).

People have been resharing the post on X.

UAE billionaire Habtoor lambasts Trump: “A direct question: Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with #Iran? And on what basis did you make this dangerous decision? Did you calculate the collateral damage before pulling the trigger?” https://t.co/tTv2s60CsN pic.twitter.com/TEJKb0sCmK

— Jorge Martin ☭ (@marxistJorge) March 6, 2026

Joe Guinan said on X: Trouble for Trump with his base – the billionaire class.

Trouble for Trump with his base—the billionaire class. https://t.co/WF2ybyKWSe

— Joe Guinan (@joecguinan) March 5, 2026

Al Quds New Network said

UAE billionaire Khalaf Al‑Habtoor, chairman of Al Habtoor Group, publicly criticized Donald Trump for dragging Gulf countries into a dangerous war with Iran without their consent. He questioned who authorized Trump to escalate the war and warned that Gulf nations would suffer first from the consequences. He also asked whether Trump was incited by war criminal Netanyahu. Habtoor argued that the war contradicts U.S. promises of peace initiatives in the region, including plans to rebuild Gaza Strip, which Gulf states were expected to fund. He also accused Trump of breaking his pledge to avoid new wars and risking American lives and regional stability.

UAE billionaire Khalaf Al‑Habtoor, chairman of Al Habtoor Group, publicly criticized Donald Trump for dragging Gulf countries into a dangerous war with Iran without their consent.

He questioned who authorized Trump to escalate the war and warned that Gulf nations would suffer… pic.twitter.com/Hiip9orRVM

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) March 6, 2026

Middle East Eye (MEE) highlighted the comments from the Emirati billionaire.

‘Funding peace or war?’: UAE billionaire slams Trump for dragging Gulf into Iran war

UAE billionaire Khalaf al-Habtoor accused US President Donald Trump of dragging the US’s energy-rich Gulf partners into “danger” by unleashing a war on Iran

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) March 5, 2026

According to MEE, the billionaire was once a Trump ally. He also embraced and welcomes Trump’s Abraham Accords with open arms.

The Financial Times reported that Gulf states are quietly reviewing their overseas investments, including pledges to the US, sports sponsorships, and corporate contracts, as the Iran war strains their budgets.

Drop Site News reshared the FT article along with Al Habtoor’s post, saying officials say reduced energy exports, disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, declining tourism and aviation, and rising defence spending are squeezing finances.

Gulf states are reviewing overseas investments and contracts as the US-Israeli war with Iran strains their budgets, including possible use of force majeure clauses and reassessment of investment pledges, the Financial Times reports.

➤ Officials say reduced energy exports,… https://t.co/wcXsJQp44y

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) March 6, 2026

What do we know – even billionaires make valid points sometimes.

Featured image via the Canary