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Dubai Business Leader Publicly Questions Trump Over Iran War

Khalaf Al Habtoor criticized Trump for escalating the Iran conflict without Gulf consent and warned Gulf states face economic and security risks, citing billions pledged to peace efforts.

  • On March 5, 2026, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor posted on X condemning the Iran strike as dangerous and asking 'Who gave you permission to turn our region into a battlefield?'
  • Habtoor, once a Trump supporter, questioned Gulf contributions to the Board of Peace, which charges a $1 billion fee and is chaired by Trump.
  • Habtoor alleged that the US and Israel launched an illegal war against Iran before the ink dried on the Board of Peace, citing over 658 foreign airstrikes ordered by Trump.
  • Gulf officials are reviewing overseas investments amid budget strains as exports, shipping, and tourism suffer, and Al-Monitor sought comment from the White House on Habtoor's criticisms.
  • Habtoor's criticism marks the first high-profile Gulf businessman rebuke since the war began, linking US military actions to a nine percent approval ratings decline since Trump's first 400 days.
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16 Articles

Lean Right

Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor is not a keyboard warrior, but a multimillionaire of the United Arab Emirates establishment. He is not an opponent of Donald Trump, but a former diplomat who thought he could do even better business thanks to the President of the United States. And yet, on Thursday, March 5, he published a letter in which he addresses a series of incisive questions and observations to the White House tycoon: “Did you calculate collateral …

·Chile
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Lean Right

UAE billionaire Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor has written an open letter to US President Donald Trump questioning his decision to go to war with Iran, saying the conflict is having the greatest impact on Gulf countries and is increasing tensions in the region.

Lean Right

He is regularly ranked as one of the world's richest businessmen and has a heavy influence in the Arab world. Now Dubai-based Khalaf Al Habtoor, 77, is writing an open letter to Donald Trump: "Who gave you the authority to drag our region into a war with Iran?"

·Stockholm, Sweden
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The Libertarian Institute broke the news in on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
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