{
  "id": 14961389,
  "title": "UAE faced ‘sleeper cell’ threats during Iranian attacks, Al Nuaimi says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/uae-faced-sleeper-cell-threats-during-iranian-attacks-al-nuaimi-says",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T12:31:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/uae-faced-sleeper-cell-threats-during-iranian-attacks-al-nuaimi-says-1.500713205"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abu Dhabi - Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee at the Federal National Council, disclosed that the UAE faced numerous security threats during the recent Iranian missile and drone attacks, which extended beyond aerial assaults to encompass \"sleeper cells\" aiding the Iranian forces in directing their attacks. Speaking at the UAE Correspondents’ Council in Dubai, Al Nuaimi emphasized the importance of striking a balance between safeguarding residents and enabling daily life to proceed, as public facilities like shopping malls, restaurants, and beaches remained open while essential security measures were implemented. The Chairman highlighted the necessity of tackling multifaceted challenges, such as intercepting missiles and drones, identifying potential threats, particularly near sensitive areas, without causing undue disruption to residents' routines. He underscored the UAE's commitment to maintaining normalcy alongside protecting the community and managing security risks posed by the attacks. Al Nuaimi shared a video conversation with an Israeli acquaintance who was surprised to learn he was shopping at Abu Dhabi’s Galleria Mall during the attacks, illustrating how residents continued their lives amidst heightened security risks. He noted that visitors often arrived with preconceived notions about Arabs but found a more varied reality after interacting with Emiratis and residents from diverse Arab nationalities, including Palestinians, thereby challenging stereotypes and fostering a broader understanding of the Arab world. He also mentioned recent meetings with Israeli and Palestinian delegations, aiming to promote dialogue and bridge perspectives, stressing that political differences should not obstruct efforts to find common ground and offer younger generations the chance to build a future free from a prolonged conflict.",
  "summary": "Abu Dhabi: Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee at the Federal National Council (FNC), said the UAE faced multiple security challenges during the Iranian missile and drone attacks earlier this year, noting that the threats extended beyond aerial strikes to include what he described as “sleeper cells” that helped Iranian forces direct their…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}