Cyber Incident Victim: Government of the United Arab Emirates
Date:
Sep 2017
Location:
United Arab Emirates
Summary
A leaked email correspondence attributed to the Emirati ambassador to the US revealed discussions with a former US diplomat regarding potential military action against Qatar, including assertions that Saudi Arabia had previously considered such measures. The communications suggested that conquering the Gulf state would resolve regional concerns, with participants speculating about foreign worker non-interference and potential US administration support under specific leadership. The UAE embassy declined to confirm or deny the authenticity of the emails, which were released by an unidentified source.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 2 motives | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
In May 2017, a series of leaked emails attributed to Yousef al-Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to the United States, revealed discussions about potential military action against Qatar. The emails were released overnight on September 13, 2017, by an unidentified party and obtained by Middle East Eye. The correspondence occurred between Otaiba and Elliott Abrams, a former US diplomat, focusing on Saudi Arabia's historical consideration of intervention in Qatar. Otaiba claimed King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia had nearly executed a plan to "conquer" Qatar several months before his death in January 2015, stating this action would "solve everyone's problems." Abrams expressed surprise at this revelation, responding "I didn't know that. Dramatic!" and questioned the operational feasibility given Qatar's small citizen population of 250,000-300,000.
Abrams suggested exploiting Qatar's demographic composition by offering incentives to migrant workers and police to minimize resistance, noting "Foreigners won't interfere." Otaiba concurred with this assessment, describing a potential intervention as "an easy lift." The exchange then shifted to US political dynamics, with Abrams contrasting President Obama's likely opposition to President Trump's potential support for such action. The emails originated from Abrams' initial proposition that Jordan's Hashemite monarchy should invade Qatar to address financial issues and counter Doha's alleged support for extremism. When contacted by Middle East Eye, the UAE embassy declined to authenticate the emails, stating they were "not in a position to confirm or deny" their validity. Abrams' representatives did not respond to requests for comment by the article's publication date. The leaked correspondence exposed diplomatic tensions among Gulf Cooperation Council members and raised questions about regional power dynamics during the early months of the Trump administration.