Excellent post; thanks for the ping, onyx.
Another freeper wondered if the UAE had given us permission for air space with regard to Iran or some other similar deal. My stepson was stationed in Jordan in early 2003 before we went into Iraq, although Jordan's cooperation was not publicized at the time at their specific request.
Air space? The U.S. operates a permanent military facility (Al Dhafra Air Base) just outside of Abu Dhabi.