RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held separate telephone conversations on Sunday with his counterparts from the UAE and Egypt and discussed regional developments.
During his call with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Prince Faisal discussed actions being taken in response to the recent attack on a nuclear facility in the UAE, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The Saudi minister strongly condemned the attack and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the UAE in addressing security challenges.
In a separate conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Prince Faisal reviewed the latest regional developments and ongoing joint efforts aimed at reducing tensions and advancing diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the Middle East.
The discussions also touched on Pakistani mediation initiatives between the United States and Iran as part of broader regional de-escalation efforts.
Earlier, Saudi Foreign Ministry in a statement strongly condemned the drone attack targeting the United Arab Emirates, which sparked a fire outside the secured perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant, as Emirati authorities continued investigations into the origin of the strike.
#بيان | تعرب وزارة الخارجية عن إدانة المملكة العربية السعودية بأشد العبارات للاعتداء على دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة الشقيقة بمسيرات، مما أسفر عن اندلاع حريق خارج المحيط الداخلي لمحطة براكة للطاقة النووية. pic.twitter.com/DkOSTCX0MF
— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) May 17, 2026
The UAE Ministry of Defence announced that its air defensce systems had successfully intercepted two drones, while a third drone hit an electrical generator near the nuclear facility located in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region.
According to the ministry, the drones entered UAE airspace from the “western border,” though no additional details were disclosed.
In an official statement, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry denounced the attack as a “blatant act” that threatens regional peace, security, and stability.
The Kingdom also reiterated its full solidarity with the UAE and affirmed its support for all measures taken by Abu Dhabi to protect its sovereignty, national security, and territorial integrity.
The UAE Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack, describing it as a “dangerous escalation” that threatens regional security and stability.
In a statement, the ministry stressed that the UAE “will not tolerate any threat to its security and sovereignty under any circumstances,” reaffirming the country’s determination to protect its national interests and the safety of its citizens.
UAE air defences intercept 3 UAVs.
The Ministry of Defence announced that on 17th May 2026, UAE air defence systems intercepted three UAVs that entered the country from the western border direction.
The ministry said that two of the UAVs were successfully intercepted, while the… pic.twitter.com/Ca6JRwc8w8
— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) May 17, 2026
Later on Sunday, UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash labeled the targeting of the Barakah nuclear plant a “terrorist act.”
He said that whether the attack was carried out directly by Iran or through one of its regional proxies, it marked “a dangerous and dark escalation” that violates international laws and norms.
Gargash added that the incident reflected a “criminal disregard” for the lives and safety of civilians in the UAE and the wider region.
