UAE joins Saudi Arabia in naval security coalition

ABU DHABI (AA) - The United Arab Emirates on Thursday joined an international maritime coalition to protect commercial ships amid heightened tensions with Iran.

"UAE's accession to the alliance comes in support of regional and international efforts to deter threats to maritime navigation and global trade, and in order to secure the flow of energy supplies to the global economy and contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security," news agency WAM reported citing a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

The coalition will provide safe navigation to ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, Sea of Oman and Gulf of Arabia

UAE's move came a day after its close ally, Saudi Arabia made the same decision.

The idea of establishing maritime coalition was first discussed by the U.S. Marine Corps General, Joseph Dunford in July after two oil tankers were attacked at the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. held Iran responsible for the attacks, an accusation denied by Tehran.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara