Arrests come after United Arab Emirates bore the brunt of Iranian assaults on Gulf neighbours.
Printed On 20 Apr 2026
The United Arab Emirates has arrested members of an Iran-linked group that authorities accuse of plotting ‘systematic terrorist and sabotage acts’.
The State Safety Service stated in an announcement posted on social media on Monday that it had detained members of a cell linked to Iran’s Velayat-e Faqih (“Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist”) – a doctrine underlying Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and fealty to the supreme spiritual chief.
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The transfer got here amid the continuing US-Israeli war with Iran, throughout which Tehran has focused neighbours internet hosting United States navy belongings. The UAE has weathered extra Iranian strikes than some other nation – though most have been intercepted.
The names and mugshots of the 27 alleged members of the unit have been posted on-line, with authorities saying they’ve been charged with “establishing and working a secret organisation, working it from the UAE, pledging allegiance to international entities, and harming nationwide unity and social peace”.
The State Safety Service added that the group had collected funds and transferred them to “suspicious international entities”, and had “adopted extremist terrorist ideologies and concepts”.
They’re additionally accused of finishing up covert “recruitment and indoctrination operations” and holding conferences inside and outdoors the nation with “terrorist parts and suspicious organisations”.
“Their goal was to unfold deceptive concepts amongst Emirati youth and recruit them to serve international loyalties, incite towards the nation’s international coverage and inner procedures, and try to painting the nation in a damaging mild,” the assertion asserted.
Iran’s barrage of assaults rattled a rustic lengthy seen as a protected haven, focusing on US belongings but additionally civilian infrastructure together with airports, power infrastructure and vacationer hubs.
Earlier this month, the UAE stated that Iran ought to pay for harm attributable to its Gulf assaults.
Final month, the UAE stated it arrested not less than 5 members of a “terrorist community” linked to Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
