The United Arab Emirates made its position very clear over the July Fourth weekend, opting to skip the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral in Iran in favor of a red, white, and blue flyover for America 250 celebrations in New York City.
NBC News showed footage of the flyover, which featured the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Flight Demonstration Team Al Fursan in a tight, seven-plane formation trailing red, white, and blue smoke. They flew alongside the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force in a stunning display.
While some were mourning Khamenei, the UAE was busy celebrating America’s 250th Independence Day in New York.Those queuing in Iran were nowhere to be seen. In this region, the UAE has proven itself to be the strong, brave, and reliable ally.
Now you know who the real friend is. pic.twitter.com/6NJtoxMraO— Amjad Taha أمجد طه (@amjadt25) July 5, 2026
Navy Vice Admiral John Gumbleton described the scene as they flew over Liberty Island in New York Harbor: “We got the United Arab Emirates Flight Demonstration Team, and they’re flying the smoke of the red, white, and blue in honor of the nation’s 250th — and looking quite professional going by.”
According to several reports, in addition to not sending a delegation to the late Iranian Supreme Leader’s funeral, the UAE also opted not to send condolences to the regime.
As The Daily Wire previously reported, the funeral is expected to be a massive spectacle designed to draw large crowds and give what is left of the regime legitimacy.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as previously reported, called on citizens “of every ethnicity, religion, preference and political tendency” to attend, adding, “Your widespread presence will be a decisive response to the logic of terrorism, violence, and bullying, and a clear message to the world that the Iranian nation stands united and in solidarity in defending its independence and dignity.”