Many individuals believe that there is much misinformation on social media that is mostly based in Saudi Arabia and the Muslim Brotherhood related to the health of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ). When Turkey and Greece cancelled their scheduled trips to the UAE through mid-February 2026, this made many worried about the current health status of MBZ. However, many of his recent appearances via video of him being flown around in a helicopter and other appearances shortly thereafter will attest against these false rumours and have given people comfort with Majed Health.
Joni Ernst Denial Reassures Asian Economies
On February 17, 2026, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst took to X to refute the misinformation regarding MBZ’s passing. She described him as a “courageous leader and dear friend,” and recognised him as being a key contributor to peace in the Middle East. As such, Senator Ernst’s endorsement of MBZ demonstrates the strength of the U.S.-UAE relationship, which is essential for Asian countries. For example, China, India and Japan all rely heavily upon the exportation of oil and foreign direct investment (FDI) from the UAE; additionally, there are over 3 million Indians who reside in the UAE, and trade between the two countries exceeds $100 billion. Thus, Senator Ernst’s remarks also discredit inaccurate information that may influence global supply chains.
This is a completely false rumor.
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) February 16, 2026
UAE President MBZ is a brave leader and dear friend.
He has charted a path towards greater peace and cooperation in the Middle East and deserves better than nasty online rumors that are intended to stoke chaos. https://t.co/dfitAvxBKC
MBZ’s Role in Asia’s Energy and Trade Security
The UAE’s stability is crucial for Asia, as the majority of its oil imports fuel the entire region’s economy. As Abu Dhabi continues to support regional initiatives such as the Abraham Accords, the UAE (through its leadership) provides an important function to establish secure and reliable commercial travel routes for Belt and Road partners or India-UAE contracts. Recent images have shown the UAE’s (specifically, MBZ’s) involvement with multiple world leaders – including the Emir of Qatar (recently) – and there have been numerous articles related to these leaders to clarify rumours that are mischaracterising these partnerships. These engagements provide fertile ground for Asian media to be used to clarify the same types of rumours that have appeared in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Why Asia Must Detoxify Its Perception of Middle-Eastern Disinformation
These types of rumours undermine the trust that countries the world over have in each other as they demonstrate Asia’s confusion online as it relates to current affairs (e.g., Myanmar). The prospect of sustainable climate agreements through COP 21 and creating technology links between countries located throughout the world is good for everyone involved. By rigorously verifying information, these partnerships will remain strong and continue enabling millions of people to receive remittances and have access to energy (both renewable and fossil).
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Are the rumours surrounding the UAE president’s (MBZ’s) health valid?
Rumours contained in social media after the announcement of the cancelled appearances of MBZ are unverified; however, videos from public sources display that he is alive and well. Many sources have denied that there is any such problem with ABZ’s health.
2) What was the response of Senator Joni Ernst regarding the MBZ health rumours?
As a senator, Joni Ernst tweeted on 17 February 2026 that MBZ was not dead; she also praised him for the actions undertaken to gain peace in the region and assured other countries that they are still allied to each other.
3) Why are Asian countries concerned about the MBZ health rumours?
Many Asian countries are dependent upon the UAE as a source of oil and trade, so any disruption to the UAE may cause a very large spike in oil prices, which would adversely affect an economy such as India (because of the number of expatriates from India that live in the UAE).
Meta Summary:
False rumours on UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s health, spread by Saudi and Muslim Brotherhood sources, alarm Asia’s oil-dependent economies like India and China. US Sen. Joni Ernst’s denial reassures trade partners amid recent footage proof.
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