Dubai blllionaire Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor has issued a strongly worded open letter to Donald Trump, accusing the US president of dragging the Middle East into a dangerous conflict with Iran and demanding accountability for a decision he says threatens the entire region.
In the letter Al Habtoor directly questioned what authority Trump relied on to initiate military escalation involving Iran, asking whether the consequences for Gulf and Arab nations had been fully considered before action was taken. He warned that countries across the region now face risks they did not choose, despite being geographically and strategically exposed to any fallout from war.
Al Habtoor also questioned whether the move was made independently by Washington or under pressure from Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, suggesting regional leaders and citizens have a right to know whether external influence shaped a decision with major consequences for neighbouring states.
He argued that Gulf Cooperation Council countries have been placed in the centre of a conflict they did not initiate, adding that while regional states possess military and defence capabilities, the political question remains over who gave the United States the right to turn the region into a battlefield.
The letter also criticised the contradiction between earlier peace initiatives promoted by Trump and the current military confrontation, saying commitments made in the name of stability now appear undermined by escalating hostilities. Al Habtoor noted that much of the funding behind regional peace and development initiatives came from Gulf countries themselves, raising questions about whether those contributions are now indirectly supporting instability.
He further warned that the conflict could impose severe financial and political costs on the United States, arguing that American taxpayers would ultimately bear the burden of a war that could cost tens of billions of dollars if prolonged, while also placing American lives at risk.
Al Habtoor accused Trump of abandoning earlier promises to avoid foreign wars and prioritise domestic American interests, pointing to multiple military interventions and airstrikes carried out during Trump’s presidency as evidence that those pledges had been broken.
He concluded by saying true leadership should be measured by wisdom, restraint and respect for peace, calling for transparency and accountability over decisions that could reshape the security and future of the Middle East.
🇦🇪🇺🇸 Prominent UAE Billionaire Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor full letter to Trump.
Mr. President Donald Trump,
A direct question: Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran? And on what basis was this dangerous decision made?
Did you calculate the collateral… pic.twitter.com/3hzqfoNGi1
— ISHOLA (@BLISEARTH) March 5, 2026
You were attacked by Iran. You should be thankful USA fought to save you.