Missiles Over Dubai: Iran Strikes the World's Busiest Aviation Hub in Sweeping Gulf Retaliation

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The war between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance has crossed into the Gulf, turning the world's most connected aviation and financial hub into a target zone. Dubai and Abu Dhabi came under sustained Iranian missile and drone attack on Saturday, sending shockwaves through a region that had long considered itself insulated from the conflict unfolding in Tehran.

The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 132 of 137 ballistic missiles and 195 of 209 drones launched toward the country since the start of the Iranian attack. Five missiles fell into the sea, while 14 drones landed within the country's land and waters, causing collateral damage. 

One civilian of Asian nationality was killed by falling debris in Abu Dhabi, with missile remnants landing across several areas including Saadiyat Island, Khalifa City, the Baniyas area and the Mohammed bin Zayed City neighbourhood. Both Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central were suspended until further notice, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. 

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Four people were injured in a fire at Palm Jumeirah after a high-end hotel was struck by parts of a missile that was either intercepted or knocked off its trajectory. Separately, debris from an aerial interception ignited a fire at one of the berths at Jebel Ali Port, with Dubai Civil Defence teams responding immediately to contain the blaze. 

The scale of the aerial assault was staggering. Iranian Shahed drones struck residential areas in Dubai, and a video circulating widely on social media appeared to show an explosion and smoke near the iconic Burj Khalifa, with an Iranian drone reportedly spotted in the vicinity. 

The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi issued an advisory urging all Indian nationals in the UAE to avoid unnecessary travel, remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines issued by UAE authorities. The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the U.S. Consulate in Dubai also issued shelter-in-place alerts for all staff and American citizens in the country.

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The UAE confirmed a temporary closure of its airspace as an exceptional precautionary measure, with flights already being diverted around the Dubai aviation hub. The attack has drawn widespread international condemnation, with the UAE Ministry of Defence calling it a blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law. As debris continues to fall and fires burn across the city's most iconic landmarks, the Gulf's era of relative stability has been shattered in a single night.