Blasts near Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, first visual emerges: Video

Explosions were heard near Zayed International Airport, which hosts a UAE Air Force base in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Updated on: Mar 06, 2026 12:09 AM IST

Share via

Copy link

First visuals of the explosions reported near Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi on Thursday have surfaced online. The airport hosts a UAE Air Force base.

The airport hosts a UAE Air Force base. (X@@Osint613)

The 17-second clip shows explosions in the dark sky, after which the airport issued an advisory for passengers which read, “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport unless they hold a confirmed ticket and are advised by their airline to do so. Airport access will be restricted to confirmed travellers only. The safety and wellbeing of passengers and staff remain our highest priority.

Latest advisory in UAE, Qatar

Earlier, Washington also issued an advisory for its citizens stranded in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.

According to the advisory, a Level 3 alert stays in place for the Gulf nations. The State Department's advisory asked Americans in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other UAE cities to leave the country through land borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia, if flights are unavailable.

The Indian Embassy in Doha issued a fresh advisory for its nationals in Qatar on Wednesday, urging them to strictly follow the safety instructions issued by the local authorities. It asked Indian nationals to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement.

Qatar ‘shot down’ Iranian bombers sent to strike US base

Qatar shot down Iranian bombers when they were just "two minutes" away from striking the largest military base of the US troops, CNN reported, citing two sources briefed on the operation.

The bomber planes were reportedly visually identified and photographed "carrying bombs and guided munitions".

Qatar issued a warning over the radio but received no response from the Iranian jets, which had to what the report said was a flying altitude of 80 feet to evade radar detection. Subsequently, the aircraft were "classified as hostile" by Qatar due to time constraints and on the basis of available evidence.

Qatar reportedly deployed its warplanes, and a Qatari F-15 fighter jet, in an "aerial combat" with the Iranian jets, before downing them, the CNN report stated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

Abu Dhabi

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia, and get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.