Al-Qa‘ida Threatens Attacks on UAE Over Sudan Conflict, Framing Emirati Policy as Part of ‘Zionist War’
Executive Summary
Al-Qa‘ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has issued a direct call for attacks on United Arab Emirates (UAE) interests worldwide, accusing Abu Dhabi of orchestrating “systematic crimes” against Muslims in Sudan as part of an alleged “Zionist” campaign. The threat, released November 7, 2025, comes amid heavy fighting between Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF)—which AQAP describes as Islamist and “brotherly”—and the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This marks the first time AQAP has explicitly linked the Sudan war to the Israel-Gaza conflict, portraying the UAE as both “Arab Zionist” and a primary enemy of Islam. The group’s rhetoric signals an expanding ideological campaign to merge regional conflicts into a single anti-Emirati and anti-Israeli narrative.
Analysis
AQAP’s statement indicates a renewed strategic focus on the UAE, likely driven by the country’s normalization with Israel under the Abraham Accords and its perceived opposition to Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. This escalation also underscores AQAP’s attempt to exploit regional instability in Sudan and Gaza to revive its global jihad narrative and inspire attacks through its transnational supporter base.
On November 7, AQAP published a two-page communiqué titled “A Statement Regarding the Systematic Crimes of the Arab Zionists Against Our Muslim People in Sudan,” accusing the UAE of “murder, rape, and displacement” of Muslims in Sudan and calling on “every capable person inside or outside the UAE” to attack Emirati interests.
The statement frames the UAE as a “cheap agent of the Jews,” alleging Emirati involvement in a “Greater Israel” project extending from the Nile to the Euphrates, and vows retribution for Sudanese civilians killed in El Fasher and Darfur.
The group calls for attacks not only on UAE government and economic targets but also on “Jews, Christians, and Western interests” globally, highlighting the UAE as the “enemy’s eye, ear, and hand.”
The release coincides with expanding violence in Sudan, where the UAE-backed RSF continues to battle the SAF, which has received military aid from Iran and Turkey. The conflict has displaced over 10 million people since April 2023.
Analysts note AQAP’s language mirrors that used in its Inspire publications, suggesting the statement is intended to radicalize sympathizers and potentially inspire lone-actor attacks in the Gulf and Western countries.
The UAE’s strong anti-Islamist policies, including the designation of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas as terrorist organizations, its diplomatic alignment with Israel, and its humanitarian outreach to Gaza, have made it a recurring target in extremist propaganda.
The call for global attacks represents AQAP’s most direct threat against the UAE in nearly a decade and reflects the group’s effort to rebuild credibility after years of military setbacks in Yemen. By invoking the Sudan war, Gaza conflict, and anti-Israel sentiment, AQAP seeks to unify disparate extremist audiences under a common ideological banner. Western and Gulf security officials are likely to heighten vigilance around UAE diplomatic, economic, and aviation assets, particularly given AQAP’s historic targeting of aviation and government figures .
