UAE Ambassador says more UK help 'always welcome' after Labour's dithering on Iran

The cry for help comes as the allied nation has suffered a string of attacks from the Iranian regime amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with major airports hit in strikes and thousands of citizens stranded over the past week.

The ambassador told GB News: "In terms of the UK government, I wouldn't want to comment on operation capability of the British government, but I would underline that this is an incredibly important relationship with the United Kingdom, both on the historical level but also on the people to people level.

"We have huge people to people connectivity. Our economic links are incredibly strong. United Arab Emirates is the largest trading partner with the UK. We have a big investment programme into the United Kingdom.

"We've had good support and communication from the UK Government - obviously in times of crisis and war, we'd welcome more as they would expect from us - as a friend would expect from us.

"We'd always welcome more from a close partner and ally like the United Kingdom".

He claimed the UAE's main concern is protecting territory, citizens and the expatriates that live in the country and "we're doing that", he added.

Mr Abulhoul added: "We will double down and ensure that we can bring this conflict to an end. There's no there's no interest in this conflict expanding for anyone in the region".

When asked whether the UAE would be willing to enact a military response to the "unjust" attacks, the ambassador simply said all options were being evaluated.

Dubai was directly affected by the conflict over the weekend as fragments from intercepted Iranian missiles landed across the city.

Debris struck the Fairmont hotel on Palm Jumeirah on Saturday evening, with footage showing flames erupting from the building’s atrium.

The following morning, Dubai International Airport was hit by further missile fragments.

Reports also suggested shrapnel damaged the Burj Al Arab, the Port of Jebel Ali and other civilian sites across the city.

Britain's response to the conflict so far has involved the deployment of air defence destroyer HMS Dragon to help protect Cyprus, but the Type 45 warship is not expected to sail until next week.

Yesterday the PM announced four Typhoon fighters will also be deployed to the region, however the PM has been heavily criticised for a lackluster response, having originally refused the use of UK bases for the US to defensively strike Iran.

It was put to Sir Keir’s spokesman that, with the HMS Dragon still being readied to sail to the Mediterranean next week, the UK was not fully prepared.

A No10 spokesman responded: “I don’t accept that. I think the fact is operational questions, operational decision-making is always kept under review".

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch critcised the Prime Minister's response to the crisis, and said: “Once our bases had been attacked, I think we became part of this, whether we liked it or not.

“I don’t want to see an escalation. But I think it is very important that where we have put bases in other people’s countries and they are being attacked, we do what we can to stop those attacks from taking place".

During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, she accused Sir Keir of "catching arrows instead of stopping the archer", and that more needed to be done to assist allies in the region.