Dubai shaken as Iranian missiles and drones strike

The weekend in Dubai began as usual, with beach clubs full and the Dubai Mall busy, while across the Gulf the largest regional war since 2003 was intensifying. That carefully maintained normality held until sunset, when Iranian drones and missiles approached and air defences in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain activated.

Many residents and tourists were caught off guard. “At first we thought it was fireworks,” said Natalia Veremeenko, who was staying near the Fairmont The Palm after its entrance caught fire in what appeared to be a drone strike. Later, fires and thick plumes of smoke were reported at Dubai’s and Abu Dhabi’s airports after drone debris struck the sites, killing one person and injuring about a dozen others.

Dense columns of smoke also rose from the Jebel Ali port and falling debris struck the Burj Al Arab, prompting a brief fire. It remains unclear whether hotels and other landmarks were specifically targeted rather than the US military facilities Iran had vowed to strike.

UAE, Dubai

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