From Tuesday night to early Wednesday, the Gulf region experienced one of its most alarming nights in modern history as missile sirens and explosions disrupted normal life from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi. The brief two-week ceasefire has raised uncertainty about whether the Iran war has truly ended or merely paused. The conflict has turned long-discussed security risks into reality, exposing the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global energy supply passes.

Over the past six weeks, multiple attacks similar to the earlier Aramco refinery strike have hit oil facilities, airports, and data centers across Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. The war has severely affected tourism in Dubai and challenged Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification plans. The region’s ambition to become an artificial intelligence and data hub has also suffered setbacks as technology firms now view Europe as safer.

Foreign professionals, a key part of Gulf economies, are reportedly preparing to leave amid growing insecurity, threatening housing and local businesses. Gulf states are reconsidering their reliance on U.S. protection and exploring new security partnerships with European countries.