The fallout of the Iran war is reshaping Gulf geopolitics, with the United Arab Emirates signalling unease over the continued presence of United States troops. Influential voices in Abu Dhabi now argue American bases are becoming a liability rather than a security asset, especially after sustained Iranian missile and drone strikes exposed regional vulnerabilities. With Donald Trump’s Iran policy under scrutiny and financial strains mounting, the war’s aftershocks could redefine U.S.–Gulf ties and regional security architecture.