The United Arab Emirates affirmed the necessity of ensuring freedom and safety of navigation, including through the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international law, stressing that any threat to commercial shipping or any attempt to obstruct the flow of trade and energy supplies through vital international waterways is unacceptable.
This came in a UAE statement delivered at the meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea by Mr Abdullah Saeed Al Ajili, Second Secretary, in which the UAE affirmed the importance of the established principles of the law of the sea, including the relevant rules of customary international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as published by the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations.
The UAE expressed deep concern in its statement over the serious threats targeting freedom and safety of maritime navigation in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, noting that the Strait represents a vital artery for international trade, energy markets, supply chains, and global economic stability.
In light of the announcement of the agreement reached between the United States and Iran, the UAE stressed the importance of prioritising dialogue, diplomacy, and commitment to international law in ways that enhance regional security and stability, and ensure full implementation of the agreement's provisions, including an immediate and comprehensive cessation of hostilities, protection of maritime corridors, freedom of international navigation, and ensuring the continuity of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz without interruption.
The UAE's statement also categorically condemned the threats, attacks, and destabilising acts carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran, including acts that endanger civilians, civilian infrastructure, energy facilities, commercial vessels, and the safety of seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz and other waterways used for international navigation, affirming that such behaviour is unacceptable and must be firmly rejected, and that vital international waterways for the global economy must not be used as tools of coercion, escalation, or political pressure.
The UAE reiterated its affirmation of the necessity of respecting freedom and safety of maritime navigation and the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation in accordance with international law, noting that the legal regime governing these straits, including the Strait of Hormuz, constitutes a fundamental element of the stability of the international maritime order.
The UAE referred to the resolution of the Council of the International Maritime Organization issued on 19 March 2026, which called on Iran to immediately refrain from any acts or threats aimed at closing, obstructing, or interfering with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz or targeting commercial vessels in and around the Strait.
The UAE recalled in its statement UN Security Council Resolution 552 of 1984 and Resolution 2817 of 2026 concerning maritime security and the rights and freedoms of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, noting that the latter resolution affirmed that any attempt to obstruct the right of legitimate transit passage or freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz or the Bab al-Mandab constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security.
The UAE affirmed that threats or measures aimed at obstructing international navigation, undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, or settling disputes through coercion are incompatible with the UN Charter and international law.
The UAE also reiterated its sovereignty over the three occupied UAE islands — Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa — and called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to end its occupation and respond to the UAE's call to settle this dispute by peaceful means, either through direct negotiations or by referring the matter to the International Court of Justice in accordance with international law.
The UAE concluded its statement by affirming that ensuring the safety, security, and stability of navigation in straits used for international navigation and in international maritime corridors in general represents a shared responsibility and a fundamental requirement for achieving peace, security, and sustainable development at both the regional and international levels, reiterating its commitment to working with all states and partners to enhance maritime security, protect the marine environment, and consolidate respect for international law, including the law of the sea.