Dubai, Abu Dhabi news highlights: Saudi Arabia intercepts 10 drones in east

Dubai news LIVE: Israeli jets strike southern Lebanon towns, state media says, AFP reported.

Dubai news LIVE: Authorities in Abu Dhabi said they are responding to incidents at the Habshan gas facilities and the Bab field caused by falling debris from intercepted missiles.

The affected gas facilities have been shut down, and no injuries have been reported, according to the Abu Dhabi media office.

Officials urged the public to rely only on official sources for information and avoid spreading rumours or unverified reports.

Dubai news LIVE: Here are the latest updates:

• Drone attacks triggered fires at Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery on Friday, with no casualties reported. Kuwait News Agency, citing the national oil company, said multiple “hostile drone attacks” hit the facility, forcing the shutdown of several refinery units while firefighters worked to contain the blaze.

• Iran has escalated attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure in recent days, targeting refineries and Qatar’s major gas facilities in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its South Pars gas field.

• Bahrain’s interior ministry said shrapnel from what it called “Iranian aggression” caused a warehouse fire, which was later controlled without injuries.

• Kuwait’s army said its air defence systems were responding to missile and drone threats.

• UAE state media also reported incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.

Dubai news LIVE: Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy CEO, Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi, said Iranian attacks have disrupted about 17 percent of the country’s liquefied natural gas export capacity.

The damage is estimated to result in nearly $20 billion in annual revenue losses and poses a risk to energy supplies across Europe and Asia.

Dubai news LIVE: Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was struck by multiple drone attacks early Friday morning, according to state media reports.

The strikes caused fires in parts of the facility and led to the shutdown of several units, though no casualties have been reported. Emergency and fire response teams were quickly dispatched to contain the situation.

Dubai news LIVE: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted and destroyed four additional drones in the country’s eastern region, as it continues to respond to a sustained wave of unmanned aerial attacks over recent hours.

Dubai news LIVE: Kuwait's state oil firm KPC said its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery was hit by multiple drone attacks early on Friday, causing a fire in some units, with no initial casualties reported, the state news agency said.

Firefighters responded immediately, with several units shut down as a precaution to ensure workers' safety.

Dubai news LIVE: UAE authorities have arrested at least five members of a "terrorist network" linked to Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, state media said.

The alleged network had "sought to infiltrate the national economy" as part of "a pre-established strategic plan in coordination with external parties linked to Hezbollah and Iran", the official WAM news agency said, citing the UAE State Security Apparatus.

Dubai news LIVE: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah strongly condemned Iran’s actions, accusing Tehran of destabilising the region.

"We have repeatedly warned of the dangers of continued escalatory policies, seeking to spare the region further tension out of our shared commitment to wisdom and peaceful solutions," he said.

He added, "However, Iran's insistence on violating the principles of good neighborliness has eroded trust in it both regionally and internationally."

"Iran premeditated these heinous attacks. This behavior is not accidental; rather, it is part of a long-standing pattern of blackmail and of sponsoring and supporting militias to target and destabilize neighboring countries," the minister said.

Dubai news LIVE: US-based outlet Newsmax reports that American military forces are preparing to deploy several warships along with 4,000 Marines and sailors to bolster troops engaged in operations against Iran, citing four unnamed officials.

The deployment from the US West Coast includes the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, equipped with F-35 fighter jets, missiles and amphibious vehicles capable of supporting potential land operations, the report said.

Dubai news LIVE: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted and destroyed two additional drones over the country’s eastern region.

Dubai news LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held separate calls with leaders of Qatar, France, Jordan, Oman and Malaysia, voicing concern over the escalating situation in West Asia and urging immediate steps to ease tensions.

He also condemned attacks on energy infrastructure in the region.

During the conversations, Modi emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace, security and stability at the earliest, and highlighted the importance of ensuring safe and uninterrupted movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

Dubai news LIVE: The UAE has welcomed a resolution adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council condemning Iranian threats and attacks on shipping, including the reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The decision, taken during the council’s 36th extraordinary session, warned that such actions endanger lives, especially those of seafarers and pose serious risks to the marine environment.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Oil refiners in Asia have urged Saudi Arabia to change its crude pricing mechanism following disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, traders said.

Major buyers are seeking a shift to Brent futures on the Intercontinental Exchange instead of the current Dubai-Oman benchmark system.

Discussions with Saudi Aramco are ongoing but may not lead to a final agreement.

Currently, Saudi crude is priced using a mix of Oman futures traded on the Gulf Mercantile Exchange and Dubai prices assessed by S&P Global’s Platts, with Aramco setting monthly selling prices based on this benchmark.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: The Kuwaiti Army said it is confronting a new wave of “hostile missile and drone attacks,” urging the public to follow official safety instructions.

Authorities confirmed that the explosions heard across the country were due to air defence systems intercepting incoming threats.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran on Friday as Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year, amid an escalating conflict rattling global markets and raising fears of wider regional involvement.

Meanwhile, loud explosions were heard in Dubai early Friday as air defence systems intercepted incoming projectiles. The incidents occurred as residents marked Eid al-Fitr, with mosques broadcasting the first call to prayers.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted and destroyed another drone over al-Jawf province in the country’s north, as a wave of drone attacks continued over several hours.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted and destroyed five drones over the Eastern Province, a vital economic hub that hosts major oilfields, Al Jazeera reported.

Officials confirmed the situation is under control with no immediate reports of damage.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Dubai air defences intercept all threats, no injuries reported, Government of Dubai media office posted on X.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said it has intercepted and destroyed three drones in the country’s east over the past hour, adding that 10 more were downed in separate incidents earlier, all in the eastern region.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority has advised residents to remain in safe locations as air defence systems respond to a potential missile threat, urging the public to follow official channels for updates and warnings.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Kuwait’s military said its air defence systems are actively responding to “hostile missile and drone attacks,” adding that any explosions heard are likely the result of interceptions, Al Jazeera reported.

Authorities have urged the public to follow official safety and security instructions.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: UAE arrests Hezbollah, Iran-linked terror network members.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Warning sirens have been activated across Bahrain, with the Interior Ministry urging residents to move to the nearest safe location and remain calm.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi news live: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi moved to reaffirm ties with US President Donald Trump on Thursday after he suggested Japan had been slow to back efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz.

During talks at the White House, Takaichi reiterated Japan’s opposition to Iran’s nuclear programme and appealed to Trump’s image as a peacemaker, saying the global security environment was “very severe” but expressing confidence that he could help achieve peace.