The United Arab Emirates has introduced new restrictions on the entry and transit of Iranian citizens, amid growing strains between Tehran and several Gulf states over Iran’s regional activities and proxy networks.

Under the new rules, Iranian nationals are no longer permitted to enter the UAE or transit through its airports, according to an advisory posted on Emirates Airline’s official website. However, holders of the UAE’s prized Golden Visa — a long-term residency status granted to investors and specialized talent — are exempt from the ban, Flydubai’s website says, and may enter or transit under defined conditions. 

Officials framed the policy shift as a response to heightened geopolitical sensitivities and the need to preempt potential security risks. In a phone interview with Kataeb.org, a senior Emirati journalist described the decision as rooted less in broad hostility toward Iranian people and more in a sober assessment of the current regional context.

“Risk management is taking precedence over other considerations,” he said, stressing that the priority is to avoid unintended escalation in an already volatile environment.

He noted that similar restrictions are not unusual when political and security tensions rise, and are often used as preventive measures to contain potential threats before they materialize.

“Limiting entry for specific categories or regulating transit isn’t a new tool in cases of political-security friction,” he said. “It’s meant to reduce the chances of direct threats emerging, especially as friction grows between Tehran and Gulf capitals, notably the UAE.”

The exemption for Golden Visa holders, the journalist added, reflects an effort to differentiate between long-term residents with established ties and short-term or transient movements that may carry higher risks under current circumstances.

“This decision is closer to reorganization than to rupture,” he said, emphasizing that it preserves economic and social links while tightening security protocols.

The message, he said, is twofold: domestically, it asserts a firm stance on national security; internationally, it conveys a controlled and measured capacity to manage tension without escalating it.

“It allows a balance between deterrence and restraint,” he said.

Experts say the UAE’s decision fits into a broader pattern of “quiet” measures being adopted across the Gulf. These include stepped-up border controls and closer monitoring of individuals’ movements, while traditional diplomatic channels remain open in an effort to manage tension without fueling it.

Christian Taoutel, head of the International Relations Department at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, offered a sharper interpretation. He argued that Iran’s expanding influence through proxy networks — including armed groups such as Hezbollah — has become increasingly unacceptable to Gulf states.

 “Iran’s behavior in several Gulf arenas is no longer tolerable,” Taoutel told Kataeb.org, citing Tehran’s support for allied armed groups as a major source of concern.

Taoutel warned that the scope of regional tension could widen further if Iran-linked networks embedded within various Middle Eastern societies continue to grow. That, he said, is prompting some countries to contemplate tougher measures regarding residency and the presence of individuals with militia-related ties.

In this context, he highlighted a particularly sensitive idea gaining traction: the potential deportation of ideologically aligned Shiite individuals connected to militias, including Hezbollah, from Gulf countries or other affected areas. Such a step, he said, would reflect a broader strategy of addressing the human dimensions of these networks as part of deterrence and prevention policies.