Dubai, Abu Dhabi highlights: Qatar says attacks will disrupt 17% of LNG export; 3 drones intercepted in Saudi Arabia
Dubai, Abu Dhabi highlights: Tehran warned that it its energy facilities were attacked, "subsequent attacks against your energy infrastructure and that of your allies will not stop until their complete destruction, and our response will be far more severe than" last night's attacks."
Dubai, Abu Dhabi highlights: Crude loadings at Saudi Arabia’s key Red Sea port of Yanbu were briefly halted following a strike in the vicinity, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The disruption comes even as Iran issued a fresh warning that it would target energy infrastructure across the region if its own facilities are attacked. Iran military's operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya reportedly said "We warn the enemy that you made a major mistake.”...Read More
Several schools and universities in UAE have decided to go online amid the raging Iran-US war that has triggered simmering tensions in the region. Online classes will continue for two weeks after the spring break for the safety of students, the Khaleej Times reported.
Dubai residents on Thursday morning received fresh alert on their mobile phones about the possibility of Iranian missiles heading towards the city. Meanwhile, Kuwait said it had shot down Iranian drones on Thursday morning as the gulf war continues to rage.
Hong Kong aviation giant Cathay Pacific has suspended its flights to and from Dubai till April 30 in view of the simmering tensions in the Middle East.
Earlier, a projectile hit a vessel off the coast of the United Arab Emirates near the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire, a British naval maritime security agency said on Thursday. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report at 2300 GMT on Wednesday "that a vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile which has resulted in a fire on board" off the UAE port of Khor Fakkan in the Gulf of Oman, AFP reported.
Meanwhile the UAE has called Iran's attacks on its Habshan gas facility and Bab field 'a dangerous escalation.' The fresh round of offensive comes after Israel launched attacks on Iran's South Pars natural gas field, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warning of “uncontrollable consequences" that "could engulf the entire world.”
Here are the key points on situation in UAE and other Gulf nations:
- As Iran retaliated by hitting gas facilities in Qatar, Qatar in response ordered Iranian Embassy officials to leave the country within 24 hours.
- Tehran also struck the Habshan gas facility and Bab field in the United Arab Emirates, which the government there called a “dangerous escalation” in the Islamic Republic’s war against Israel and the United States.
- US President Donald Trump pledged Israel would not carry out attacks on Iran’s major South Pars gas field, but if Iran attacked Qatar again the US would retaliate and “massively blow up the entirety” of the field.
- Qatar foreign ministry condemned Iran's attack on the neighbouring Gulf nations and said that Iran had ‘crossed all red lines’ by targeting civilians, civilian objects, and vital facilities.
- Authorities in Abu Dhabi say the gas operations had been shut down after interceptions over the sites.
- Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has slammed Iran after overnight attacks. “What little trust there was before has completely been shattered,” Prince Faisal bin Farhan was quoted as saying by AP.
- Hong Kong aviation giant Cathay Pacific has suspended its Dubai operations till April 30. "In view of the developing situation in the Middle East, all Cathay Pacific flights to and from Dubai have been cancelled up to and including 30 April 2026," the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
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- 20 Mar 2026, 05:46:48 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Displacement, bombs and air raid sirens weigh on Mideast Eid celebrations
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: From Beirut to Dubai, Manama to Jerusalem, the holy month of fasting is ending on a bitter note for millions of Muslims unsettled by the Middle East war.
Aziza Ahmad who lives in Lebanon told AFP, “Maybe it’s different for the rich, but the joy of Eid is missing here. We have no money, and the displaced people can’t even go back home,” she said.
- 20 Mar 2026, 05:20:32 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Dubai’s safe-haven status being tested amid middle east conflict
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Dubai’s stability-first model is now being put to the test, with Tehran seen to be targeting airports, tech hubs and even residential buildings, Bloomberg reported.
A growing number of asset managers, hedge fund founders, celebrities and influencers have made Dubai their home in recent years
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- 20 Mar 2026, 05:01:44 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Terrorist network dismantled by UAE was working under fictitious commercial cover
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: United Arab Emirates authorities said on Friday they had dismantled a "terrorist network" funded and operated by Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iran, and arrested its members.
"The network had been operating within the country under a fictitious commercial cover and sought to infiltrate the national economy and carry out external schemes threatening the country's financial stability," the UAE state news agency said.
- 20 Mar 2026, 04:40:09 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: EU calls for moratorium on strikes against energy facilities
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: The European Union, following a meeting of the bloc's leaders in Brussels, called for a "moratorium" meanwhile on strikes against energy and water facilities.
"The European Council calls for de-escalation and maximum restraint, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and full respect of international law by all parties," they said.
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- 20 Mar 2026, 04:16:44 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: UAE says it dismantled “terrorist network” funded by Hezbollah
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: United Arab Emirates authorities said on Friday they had dismantled a "terrorist network" funded and operated by Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iran, and arrested its members.
According to the state news agency, the network was involved in “money laundering, financing terrorism and threatening national security.”
- 20 Mar 2026, 03:46:15 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: UAE dismantles ‘terrorist network’
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: UAE says it dismantled a “terrorist network” funded and directed by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran.
It also said that the network was involved in ‘money laundering’ and terrorism financing.
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- 20 Mar 2026, 03:31:50 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: PM Modi discusses West Asia conflict with leaders of Qatar, France, Jordan
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to leaders from Qatar, France, Jordan, Oman and Malaysia on Thursday, and expressed concern over the evolving situation in West Asia.
In separate telephonic conversations with five leaders, the prime minister highlighted the need for dialogue and diplomacy for an early restoration of peace, security and stability in the region, and laid stress on safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
- 20 Mar 2026, 03:14:36 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Natural gas prices in Europe surge amid Iran, Israel strikes
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Natural gas prices in Europe surged as much as 35% on Thursday as Iranian and Israeli strikes targeted some of the Middle East's most important gas infrastructure, doing damage that will likely take years to repair.
The strikes on energy facilities since the onset of the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran have brought to life some of the energy industry's worst fears - that a conflict in the region will leave long-term damage and shortages in global energy supplies.
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- 20 Mar 2026, 03:00:39 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Saudi Arabia has the right to take military action, foreign minister says
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Saudi Arabia reserves the right to act militarily against Iran and any trust with Tehran has been shattered, the Saudi foreign minister said early on Thursday, after Riyadh was targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles.
In the harshest comments to come out of the Gulf kingdom since the war started, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan accused Iran of premeditated hostile actions against its neighbours, both directly and via an array of regional proxies which he urged Tehran to rein in.
- 20 Mar 2026, 02:44:39 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: After Qatar LNG Plant outage more buyers turn to US suppliers, says report
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: An increasing number of purchasers and importers scrambling to secure liquefied natural gas turned to the US on Thursday after the latest attack on Qatar’s massive LNG complex further strained global supplies of the fuel.
Companies looking to import LNG have gone directly to US fuel sellers, either producers or offtakers with long-term contracts, according to people with knowledge of the matter, Bloomberg reported.
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- 20 Mar 2026, 02:06:28 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Qatar Energy says attacks to disrupt 17% of LNG export capacity
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Qatar Energy on Thursday said that the Iranian attack on the oil facility disrupted 17 per cent of the LNG export capacity.
Earlier. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also condemned Iran’s attacks on Qatar’s main gas hub, following strikes that targeted Gulf energy infrastructure a day earlier.
- 20 Mar 2026, 01:31:00 AM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: UAE welcomes IMO Council decision strongly condemning Iran's attacks
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: The United Arab Emirates welcomes the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Council decision during its 36th extraordinary session to strongly condemn Iranian threats and attacks against vessels and its purported closure of the Strait of Hormuz as contrary to the purposes of the IMO and representing a grave danger to life, particularly seafarers, and serious risk to the marine environment.
The Council further condemned in the strongest terms Iran's attacks against the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States and Jordan, calling the attacks a breach of international law.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 11:53:29 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Qatar, Saudi, UAE denounce Iranian attacks amid rising oil prices
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE denounced the Iranian attacks. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called them a “dangerous escalation.”
Brent crude oil, the international standard, briefly surged above $119 a barrel, up more than 60% since Israel and the United States started the war. The European benchmark for natural gas prices also rose sharply and has roughly doubled in the past month.
- 19 Mar 2026, 11:30:10 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Trump tells Israel not to repeat strikes on Iranian energy as crisis deepens
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had told Israel not to repeat its attacks on Iranian natural gas infrastructure as tit-for-tat strikes on energy plants sent energy prices spiralling, sharply escalating the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Trump's comment came as energy prices jumped sharply higher on Thursday after Iran responded to an Israeli attack on a major gas field by hitting Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 11:18:55 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: UAE authorities, businesses strive to keep prices of commodities in check
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Authorities and businesses in the UAE and across the Gulf region are working overtime to ensure supplies of essential goods amid an unprecedented spell of conflict and uncertainty following the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28.
While calm has prevailed on the ground and no instances of hoarding have been reported, concerns remain about tightening supplies, leading to a marginal price rise.
- 19 Mar 2026, 10:57:51 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Three drones intercepted in Saudi Arabia
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Saudi Arabia’s ministry of defence said that three drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Region, reported Khaleej Times.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 10:48:35 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Trump says no ground troops in Iran
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he is not deploying ground troops to Iran.
“If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you. But I'm not putting troops,” Trump told reporters as he met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
- 19 Mar 2026, 10:26:58 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Kuwait detects 18 drones in 24 hours
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Kuwait said its air defence systems detected a total of 18 hostile drones within its airspace over the past 24 hours, reported Khaleej Times.
Of these, 13 drones were destroyed, while two targeted operational units affiliated with the National Petroleum Company, causing limited fires.
Authorities confirmed that no human casualties were reported.
Additionally, three drones fell outside the designated threat area, the statement added.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 09:51:06 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Trump says Netanyahu agreed not to strike Iran energy fields
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Donald Trump said he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to target Iranian energy fields, adding that Netanyahu had agreed to the request.
“I told him, ‘Don’t do that’, and he won’t do that,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
- 19 Mar 2026, 09:16:50 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Iran says it targets wherever US forces assemble
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Tehran will target locations where US forces gather, including areas close to urban centres, in remarks during an interview with Al Jazeera.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 08:59:23 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Qatar rejects Iran claim, calls gas hub strike proof of wider targeting
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Qatar has rejected Iran’s claim that recent attacks on its gas facilities were aimed only at US-linked interests, saying the strikes clearly show otherwise amid rising regional tensions.
The Qatari leadership said the attack on the country’s main gas hub is “clear proof” that Iran is not limiting its actions to US targets, but is instead striking broader regional infrastructure, reported AFP.
- 19 Mar 2026, 08:41:35 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Qatar PM condemns Iran attack on Ras Laffan gas hub
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has condemned Iran’s attacks on Qatar’s main gas hub, following strikes that targeted Gulf energy infrastructure a day earlier.
Speaking at a press conference after damage to the Ras Laffan facility, he said the attack has significant consequences for global energy supplies.
“This attack has significant repercussions for global energy supplies. Such attacks bring no direct benefit to any country, rather, they harm and directly impact populations,” he said.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 08:29:06 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Israel says it struck Iranian naval vessels in Caspian Sea
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: The Israeli military said on Thursday that its fighter jets reportedly struck several Iranian naval vessels in the Caspian Sea the previous day, including ships equipped with anti-submarine missiles.
According to the military, the targets included missile-equipped ships, support vessels and patrol craft, along with a port command centre. It said the vessels were also fitted with aerial surveillance systems.
“It is one of the most significant strikes conducted by the IDF since the start of Operation Roaring Lion,” the military said in a statement.
Military spokesman Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said this was the first time Israel had carried out strikes in northern Iran in the Caspian Sea.
“This is the first time we have done that in our history... We were able to target their naval shipyard where they can fix or build new ships,” he said, adding that more than 200 targets across Iran were struck over the past 36 hours.
- 19 Mar 2026, 08:12:51 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Dubai Police warns against fake update links
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: The Fraud Prevention Centre at the General Department of Criminal Investigations and Criminal Detection in Dubai Police has warned residents against opening suspicious links sent via text messages, local media reported.
The message claims to provide the latest updates from the Dubai government, but authorities said such links are fraudulent and should not be accessed.
Officials stressed that all news and information should be followed only through approved official channels, and urged the public to report any cyber fraud attempts via the Dubai Police Smart App, by calling 901, or through the eCrime platform.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 08:11:27 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: US weighs easing Iran oil sanctions to curb rising energy prices
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States is considering removing sanctions on Iranian oil in an effort to bring down surging energy prices amid the ongoing Gulf conflict.
Speaking to Fox Business on Thursday, Bessent said the US could also consider a unilateral release of its own oil reserves if needed.
“In the coming days, we may unsanction the Iranian oil that’s on the water,” he said, adding that around 140 million barrels of Iranian oil are currently afloat, equivalent to roughly 10 days to two weeks of supply.
The move, if implemented, would mark a significant shift in long-standing US policy, which has used sanctions on Iranian oil as leverage in nuclear negotiations.
- 19 Mar 2026, 08:03:44 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Israel says it struck Iranian naval ships in Caspian Sea
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: The Israeli military said it has struck several Iranian naval ships in the Caspian Sea, marking a further escalation in the ongoing conflict, reported AFP.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 07:56:05 PM IST
Qatar news LIVE updates: Qatar says Iranian attacks hit 17% of LNG capacity, says report
Iranian attacks have knocked out 17% of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity, with an estimated $20 billion in annual revenue losses and potential risks to supplies to Europe and Asia, QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi told Reuters.
Kaabi said two of Qatar’s 14 LNG trains and one of its two gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities were damaged in the strikes. He added that repairs could sideline about 12.8 million tons per year of LNG for three to five years.
“I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that Qatar would be - Qatar and the region - in such an attack, especially from a brotherly Muslim country in the month of Ramadan, attacking us in this way,” Kaabi said.
- 19 Mar 2026, 07:37:13 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: China calls for end to Gulf conflict, flags global energy risks
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: China has called for an end to the conflict in the Gulf, saying the safety of key waterways must not be disturbed amid rising tensions.
Speaking at a regular news conference on Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the situation in the Middle East has disrupted global energy security,reported Reuters.
He added that China is ready to work with Southeast Asian countries to help address energy shortages as oil markets continue to reel from supply shocks.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 07:31:44 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Kuwait suspends refinery operations after attacks
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation has suspended operations at the Mina Abdullah and Mina Al-Ahmadi refineries following recent attacks, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
- 19 Mar 2026, 07:13:37 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: UAE activates air defences to intercept missiles, drones from Iran
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: The UAE Ministry of Defence said air defence systems are actively responding to missile and drone threats originating from Iran.
The ministry said the sounds heard across parts of the United Arab Emirates were due to air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, while fighter jets were engaging drones and other aerial threats.
Authorities urged residents to remain in safe places and follow official updates and warnings.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 07:00:45 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Kuwaiti emir, Saudi crown prince discuss regional attacks
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmad al-Sabah held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following recent Iranian attacks, reported Al Jazeera citing Kuwait News Agency.
The two leaders stressed they would “devote all their capabilities and resources to preserving the security and stability of the region”.
The development comes as a wave of Iranian attacks has targeted Gulf energy sites in recent hours and days, including in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
- 19 Mar 2026, 06:45:29 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: US war secy says Iran should not ‘create pain’ by targeting Arab allies
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran against targeting its allies in the Gulf region, saying such actions would only escalate tensions.
“Iran has the ability to make the right choices. It should not, going forward target Arab allies, Arab countries, trying to create pain,” he said at a press briefing at the Pentagon.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 06:06:14 PM IST
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: Bahrain condemns attack on UAE's gas facilities and field
Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE updates: The Kingdom of Bahrain has issued a strong condemnation and denunciation of Iran's attack which targeted the Habshan gas facility and the Bab field in UAE.
In a statement issued by the country's foreign affairs ministry, Bahrain called the attack a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and stability.
- 19 Mar 2026, 05:55:45 PM IST
Explosion heard near Iraq's Erbil airport
An explosion was heard near Iraq's Erbil airport, AFP journalists reported.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 05:50:45 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: UK PM condemns attack on Qatar gas facility
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has strongly condemned the overnight Iranian strike on a gas facility in Qatar.
“We are working towards a swift resolution to the situation in the Middle East,” he said, reported Reuters.
- 19 Mar 2026, 05:41:16 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Egypt’s Sisi discusses regional tensions with UAE president
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi held talks with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his visit to the country, reuters reported citing the state news agency.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 05:38:41 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Abu Dhabi national oil company's CEO says energy ‘being weaponised’ amid attacks
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, has condemned the latest attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, including facilities he said were linked to ADNOC.
“This is an unjustified, unprovoked and illegal attack on a peaceful nation,” Al Jaber said in a post on LinkedIn. “But it is not just a regional issue – it is global economic warfare. Energy flows are being weaponised.”
- 19 Mar 2026, 05:32:52 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Airstrikes hit Iraq's PMF headquarters near Kirkuk
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Airstrikes targeted a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) headquarters south of Kirkuk, with smoke seen rising from the site, Reuters reported citing security sources.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 05:14:57 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Saudi Aramco briefly halts crude loadings at Yanbu after strike
Dubai, Abhu Dhabi news live: Saudi Aramco briefly suspended crude loadings at the Red Sea port of Yanbu on Thursday following an Iranian strike in the vicinity, reported Bloomberg citing people familiar with the matter.
Yanbu has become a key logistics hub for the kingdom, serving as a crucial export route as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz impact shipments from the Persian Gulf.
- 19 Mar 2026, 04:58:42 PM IST
Qatar news live updates: Air quality near Ras Laffan, Al Dhakhira remains normal
Qatar news live updates: Qatar’s civil defence council has said air quality levels near Ras Laffan Industrial City, Al Dhakhira and Al Khor remain within normal limits, reported Khaleej Times.
The council said all recorded readings are within approved standards, with no violations of national air quality norms reported.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 04:44:58 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Tehran calls attack on its energy sites a ‘major mistake’
Dubai, Abhu Dhabi news live: ran’s military on Thursday reiterated its warning that it would target energy infrastructure across the region if its own facilities are attacked again amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict.
“We warn the enemy that you made a major mistake in attacking the energy infrastructure of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the response is underway and not yet finished,” the Khatam Al-Anbiya operational command said in a statement carried by Fars news agency.
It added that if such attacks are repeated, strikes on the energy infrastructure of its adversaries and their allies “will not stop until their complete destruction,” warning that the response would be “far more severe” than previous attacks.
- 19 Mar 2026, 04:39:41 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: UAE intercepts 7 missiles, 15 drones in fresh attack
Dubai, Abhu Dhabi news live: The UAE’s air defences intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 15 drones on March 19, the ministry of defence said.
It added that since the start of the Iranian attacks, the country’s air defence systems have dealt with 334 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,714 drones.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 04:11:31 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Iran MPs propose tolls on Strait of Hormuz shipping, says report
Dubai, Abhu Dhabi news live: Iranian lawmakers have put forward a proposal to impose tolls and taxes on ships passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to local media reports on Thursday.
“We in parliament are pursuing a plan under which countries will pay tolls and taxes to the Islamic republic if the Strait of Hormuz is used as a secure route for transit, energy and food security,” Tehran lawmaker Somayeh Rafiei was quoted as saying by ISNA.
- 19 Mar 2026, 04:06:35 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: US embassy urges Americans to leave Saudi Arabia
Dubai, Abhu Dhabi news live: The United States Embassy in Riyadh has asked American citizens to leave Saudi Arabia immediately, citing heightened security risks amid escalating tensions in the region.
In a security alert issued on March 19, the embassy said it is closely monitoring the situation and advised citizens to take necessary steps for their safety, including considering departure if possible.
“If you want to leave the Middle East, the US government is ready to assist by providing you the latest information about the departure options available. President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the Department of State have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens,” the advisory said.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 03:56:28 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Fires at Kuwait refineries brought under control
Dubai, Abhu Dhabi news live: Kuwait said six firefighting teams have fully contained fires at two operating units in the Mina Al-Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries, after the facilities were targeted in drone attacks, said local media report.
Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported in the incident.
- 19 Mar 2026, 03:48:02 PM IST
Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Air travel chaos deepens as airlines suspend Middle East ops
Dubai, Abhu Dhabi news live: Global air travel remains heavily disrupted after the Iran war forced the closure of major hubs like Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, leaving thousands stranded. According to a Reuters report, here’s the update:
- Qatar Airways: Operating limited revised schedule between March 18–28.
- Turkish Airlines: Cancelled wide range of Middle East flights till March 19; Iran routes till March 20.
- IndiGo: Suspended flights to multiple Gulf destinations till March 28.
- Japan Airlines: Suspended Tokyo–Doha routes till end-March/early April.
- Emirates: Operating reduced schedule after partial airspace reopening.
- Etihad Airways: Running limited commercial flights from Abu Dhabi.
- Air Canada: Cancelled Tel Aviv flights till May 2; Dubai till March 28.
- Air Europa: Cancelled Tel Aviv flights till April 10.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 03:29:21 PM IST
UAE, Qatar news LIVE: Oman condemns attacks on Gulf energy facilities
UAE, Qatar news LIVE: Oman has strongly condemned the attacks targeting energy facilities in Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported.
- 19 Mar 2026, 02:38:15 PM IST
UAE, Qatar news LIVE: Iran war eclipses Eid preps in Gulf region
UAE, Qatar news LIVE: Preparations for Eid al-fitr, one of the most important Islamic festivals, have been muted in the Gulf region as it continues face Iran drone onslaught for nearly three weeks now. While Eid is being celebrated tomorrow, the region witnessed a fresh escalation on Thursday as Iran targeted key oil facilities in Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, in retaliation to Israel's attack on Iran's South Pars field.
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- 19 Mar 2026, 02:28:34 PM IST
UAE, Qatar news LIVE: Iran's strike on world's largest LNG plant in Qatar makes Trump restrain Israel
UAE, Qatar news LIVE:: As tensions in the US–Israel–Iran conflict escalated, the war took a dramatic turn on Thursday when Iran targeted Qatar’s key energy infrastructure. Qatar Energy, the country’s largest energy company, confirmed that Ras Laffan Industrial City, which is home to the world’s biggest LNG facilities and the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) plant, was hit by Iranian missiles.
In the aftermath of the attacks, former US President Donald Trump appeared to soften his tone, distancing the United States from the Israeli strike on South Pars. He has also asked Israel to avoid such strikes in future, promising that no more attacks will be made by Israel on this facility.
- 19 Mar 2026, 02:17:12 PM IST
UAE, Qatar news LIVE: European gas prices jump 35% after Iran attack on Ras Laffan
Abu Dhabi, Dubai news LIVE: European natural gas prices jumped after Iran intensified attacks to energy infrastructure in the Gulf, causing damage to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export plant. Benchmark futures rose as much as 35% on Thursday.
via Bloomberg
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