Dubai Billionaire Slams Trump Over Iran Strikes: 'Who Told You to Drag Us Into War?'

A prominent UAE business figure has publicly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump after American and Israeli strikes on Iran sent shockwaves through the Middle East.

Dubai billionaire Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor condemned the U.S. military action on Sunday, saying it has pushed the entire Middle East to the brink, according to the Wall Street Journal and other major outlets.

Al-Habtoor controls a vast business empire spanning hotels, automobiles, and real estate. Forbes ranks him 335th among the world's wealthiest individuals with a net worth of $2.3 billion.

In a lengthy Arabic post on X, formerly Twitter, the businessman directly targeted Trump over the geopolitical crisis triggered by Washington's unilateral decision.

"Gulf and Arab nations find themselves in the middle of a danger they did not choose," Al-Habtoor wrote. "Who told you to make the decision to drag our region into a war with Iran?"

The remarks reflect deep concern and anger that the military operation—conducted without prior consultation—has exposed Gulf allies to potential Iranian retaliation.

Al-Habtoor specifically questioned the effectiveness and funding of the "Peace Committee" led by Trump and involving Gulf Cooperation Council members including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

"Most of the operating funds came from Arab Gulf nations' pockets," he noted. "Where did this money go? Are we funding a peace initiative or a war that puts us at risk?"

This is not the first time Al-Habtoor has publicly criticized Trump. The two were once business partners. Al-Habtoor joined a Trump Group subsidiary's Palm Jumeirah hotel development project in Dubai in 2008.

However, he abruptly ended the partnership in 2015 after Trump adopted an overtly anti-Muslim stance during his presidential campaign.

"I cannot tolerate insults to our religion," Al-Habtoor told the Financial Times at the time, announcing the business split.