Blasts hit Dubai and Abu Dhabi as UAE sucked into US-Israel conflict with Iran
Explosions hit Dubai and Abu Dhabi on Saturday as the UAE was one of several Gulf states sucked into the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
The United Arab Emirates has intercepted at least three rounds of missiles and drones launched towards the country from Iranian territory since US and Israeli strikes started raining down on Iran.
However, some missiles and drones appear to be making it through the UAE air defences.
Residents of Dubai said they saw plumes of smoke near the Fairmont the Palm and above the Dubai Marina neighbourhood. And video footage on Saturday evening appeared to show an Iranian Shahed drone hitting the city.
In Abu Dhabi, residents heard the sound of several missile interceptions.
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The UAE is one of several Gulf states, including Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, that has come under Iranian fire presumably aimed at US military bases in the region.
Despite previous tensions with Saudi Arabia, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke to the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as the situation escalated.
He also spoke to the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. All sides condemned Tehran’s attacks on the region.
Al Dhafra Air Base, just outside Abu Dhabi, is home to 5,000 US military personnel.
Officials have gone to great lengths to state that they have been able to deal with the missile strikes “with high efficiency, [and] without any serious material damage”, and that “the situation remains under full control”.
The Ministry of Economy also urged residents not to “stockpile” basic commodities, saying the local markets are more than capable of maintaining a healthy supply of everyday staples, including food.
The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority has told residents not to approach or photograph any fallen shrapnel.
However, one Pakistani national was confirmed to have lost his life from the shrapnel in Abu Dhabi.
'The sounds came from right above us'
Initially, aviation authorities urged passengers not to head to Dubai International and Dubai World Central Al Maktoum international airports, but by the afternoon both had suspended all flights indefinitely.
Mariam, a mental health professional whose family splits their time between Dubai and the UK, said her relatives inadvertently found themselves among the confusion when they arrived at Dubai International for a flight to London Heathrow.
“I was dropping off my parents when my phone started to buzz with alerts and messages,” said Mariam, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym due to the UAE’s request that residents not share unverified information with the media.
Mariam said they waited for about four hours in the airport until they finally received word that all flights had been grounded. She said her parents' luggage “is still at the airport”.
Omar, who also asked to be identified by a pseudonym, said he heard the sound of at least three missile interceptions above his Abu Dhabi apartment.
“The sounds came from right above us,” he said.
By 6pm, Omar received a text message from the Ministry of Interior telling him to seek shelter in the nearest secure building and avoid windows, doors and open areas. He said the alert was location-based and was not sent to all Abu Dhabi residents.
Though life in both of the Emirates’ biggest cities continues largely as normal, in Dubai there were some signs of unease.
Speaking to Middle East Eye around 7pm local time, Akhtar, a ridesharing driver, said traffic in the city was much lighter than normal “because of the Iran-America situation”.
In the Dubai Mall, the sprawling Apple Store, which overlooks Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain landmarks, was closed, with no workers or customers in the two-floor shop.
A sign on the entrance doors read: “Our store will be temporarily closed until further notice.”
Apple wasn’t the only store that was shut, despite this being the busy Ramadan and pre-Eid buying seasons.
Luxury brands like Maison Margiela, Kenzo, Christian Louboutin, Givenchy, Rimowa, Tumi and Sephora were also all shut, though nearly every other store and restaurant in the shopping centre remained open.
Because people were warned that the spread of unconfirmed news reports could result in a fine of at least 200,000 dinars (around $55,000), residents and citizens remain hesitant to speak openly to the press, but the news has certainly caught their attention.
At a shisha bar in the Business Bay area of Dubai, a group of young Emiratis were seen showing pictures of smoke plumes and posting stories of support to the state’s security services on Instagram.
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