UAE forms committee to document Iran’s attacks, pursue accountability

ABU DHABI – The United Arab Emirates has established a national committee tasked with documenting Iranian attacks, alleged international crimes and the human and economic damage caused by the strikes, in a move reflecting Abu Dhabi’s increasingly institutional and legal response to the regional conflict with Tehran.

The committee was formed by decree from Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. The move comes after months of escalating tensions in the Gulf following the outbreak of war between Iran on one side and Israel and the United States on the other in late February.

According to the decree, the committee will be chaired by the UAE Attorney General and mandated to document “Iranian acts of aggression, international crimes and the damages resulting from them” affecting the UAE, its citizens, residents and visitors.

Officials said the body would operate according to the “highest legal and technical standards” in order to establish a comprehensive national record based on verified and legally admissible evidence.

The committee includes representatives from a broad range of federal and local institutions, bringing together judicial, security, technical and economic authorities in what Emirati officials described as an integrated institutional framework designed to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the documentation process.

The decision grants the committee sweeping powers to record and monitor all incidents linked to Iranian military attacks, including missile and drone strikes, while carefully verifying the timing, nature and operational circumstances surrounding each incident.

It is also tasked with assessing the full scale of human, material and economic losses caused by the attacks, including casualties, injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure, energy facilities and commercial assets.

The committee will collect and analyse forensic, engineering, medical and intelligence reports, alongside physical and digital evidence, while ensuring the legal chain of custody is preserved in line with internationally recognised standards for documenting international crimes.

Authorities said a dedicated technical secretariat and a secure central database would also be established to store, classify and protect all collected evidence and documentation.

The system will include advanced safeguards designed to prevent tampering, track access and modifications, and preserve backup copies of sensitive material, particularly evidence that could later be used in national or international legal proceedings.

The UAE government said the initiative reflected the country’s commitment to the rule of law, the protection of human rights and the pursuit of justice and accountability through recognised legal mechanisms.

The committee’s findings are expected to support possible future legal action against Tehran and strengthen Emirati efforts to seek reparations and international accountability for the attacks.

Last month, the UAE publicly called for Iran to be held accountable and to provide “full compensation” for the losses and damage caused by the strikes.

The move follows renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks earlier this week, which Abu Dhabi said targeted the UAE despite a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran that took effect on April 8 after Pakistani mediation.

Although Tehran denied responsibility for the latest strikes, Emirati officials accused Iran of carrying out a dangerous escalation that threatened regional stability.

The UAE has been among the Gulf countries most heavily affected by the regional conflict since fighting erupted on February 28.

According to official Emirati figures, Iran launched more than 2,000 drones, hundreds of ballistic missiles and dozens of cruise missiles toward the UAE during the war.

While most of the projectiles were intercepted, at least 13 people were killed and more than 200 wounded, according to Emirati authorities. Critical civilian infrastructure, including energy installations and landmark buildings, also sustained damage.

The latest committee announcement came a day after the UAE condemned what it described as hostile rhetoric from Tehran accusing Abu Dhabi of cooperating with the United States against Iran.

The UAE Foreign Ministry rejected those accusations, insisting that the country’s international partnerships and defence relations were “a purely sovereign matter.”

Officials in Abu Dhabi have increasingly framed the documentation effort not only as a national security measure but also as part of a broader attempt to create a structured legal archive capable of underpinning international accountability mechanisms.

Analysts say the establishment of the committee signals that the UAE is preparing for a potentially prolonged legal and diplomatic confrontation with Tehran, even as regional powers continue to explore diplomatic avenues to prevent a return to full-scale war in the Gulf.