Al Dhafra Air Base
Joint UAE-US military air base near Abu Dhabi, hosting US Air Force strike and tanker aircraft; key staging point for Gulf operations.
Last refreshed: 29 March 2026
Is Al Dhafra drawing the UAE into the Iran war?
Latest on Al Dhafra Air Base
- What is Al Dhafra Air Base?
- Al Dhafra Air Base is a joint UAE-US military facility near Abu Dhabi hosting F-35s, F-22s, and KC-135 tankers. It is the primary US air hub in the Gulf and a key staging point for operations during the 2026 Iran conflict.Source: enrichment
- What aircraft are based at Al Dhafra?
- Al Dhafra hosts F-35A stealth fighters, F-22 Raptors, KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, and various reconnaissance and support platforms operated primarily by the US Air Force.Source: enrichment
- Why does Iran threaten to target Al Dhafra Air Base?
- Iran considers Al Dhafra a forward operating base for the US-led Coalition and has cited it as justification for threatening UAE territory. Tehran argues that hosting strike aircraft makes the UAE a co-belligerent in the 2026 conflict.Source: enrichment
Background
During the 2026 Iran-Israel-US Conflict, Al Dhafra emerged as the primary staging hub for Coalition air operations. French Rafale jets redeployed to the base
after France authorised use of its Gulf facilities to US-led forces , significantly expanding the base's multinational character.
Al Dhafra Air Base is a joint United Arab Emirates and United States military facility located approximately 20 kilometres south-west of Abu Dhabi. Established as an Emirati installation, it became a cornerstone of US power projection in the Gulf following a bilateral defence agreement in the early 1990s. Today it hosts the largest concentration of advanced US Air Force assets in the region, including F-35A stealth fighters, F-22 Raptors, KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, and reconnaissance platforms.
Iran has repeatedly cited Al Dhafra as justification for targeting UAE territory, framing it as a forward operating platform for what Tehran calls an aggressor Coalition. The base's dual military-civilian adjacency to Abu Dhabi gives it both strategic and symbolic weight in the conflict.
