Dubai-Abu Dhabi news highlights: Etihad, Emirates begin limited ops from UAE, Abu Dhabi flight lands in Delhi

The live updates to the blog are closed now. Follow latest updates from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other parts of UAE amid the Middle East conflict here.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Several flights bound for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were diverted, according to flight tracking monitor FlightRadar.

Two Etihad Airways flights headed to Abu Dhabi were rerouted to Muscat in Oman, while an Emirates flight en route to Dubai appeared to be returning to Mumbai.

Flights approaching Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport were also seen holding in the air or turning back to their points of origin, the monitor indicated, following reports of an attack on the US Embassy in the Saudi capital.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Donald Trump told NewsNation that the response to the attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh would be known “very soon.”

Trump also said he does not believe “boots on the ground” will be necessary in the war against Iran, after earlier indicating he was not intimidated by the possibility of deploying US ground forces.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: "Emirates will begin operating a limited number of flights commencing on the evening of 2 March.

We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates.

Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified.

All other flights remain suspended until further notice," post by Emirates Airlines read on X.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Saudi air defences intercepted four drones targeting the Riyadh diplomatic quarter, a source told news agency AFP.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out at the US embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh after a blast, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: A fire broke out at the US embassy in the Saudi capital Riyadh after a blast, two sources told Reuters on Tuesday.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: “Due to current situation, a potential missile threats, Seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building, and to steer away from windows, doors, and open areas. Await for further instructions,” an alert sent to residents in the UAE read.

Notably, the UAE earlier said its air defences are responding to a “barrage” of ballistic missiles launched from Iran, the country’s ministry of defence announced.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: The United Arab Emirates said its air defences are responding to a “barrage” of ballistic missiles launched from Iran, the country’s ministry of defence announced.

The ministry said it is fully prepared to deal with all threats and is working to safeguard the nation’s territory as well as the safety of its citizens and residents.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Americans were urged to depart using commercial means from the following countries.

• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• The West Bank and Gaza
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• United Arab Emirates
• Yemen

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz left Monday for Washington where he is set to become the first European leader to visit President Donald Trump since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran.

The previously scheduled White House meeting Tuesday had been expected to focus on the Ukraine war, US-EU trade tensions and a wider effort to salvage frayed transatlantic ties.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: The US Department of State on Monday called on Americans to immediately depart more than a dozen countries in the Middle East amid US-Israeli strikes against Iran.

Americans were urged to depart using commercial means from the following countries.

• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• The West Bank and Gaza
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Syria
• United Arab Emirates
• Yemen

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Oman’s civil aviation authority said it has suspended permits for unmanned aircraft, including drones used for government, commercial or recreational purposes.

The authority has also halted permits for paragliding, paramotors, other light sport aircraft and all aviation related sports activities or events.

The suspension will take effect from March 3 and remain in place “until further notice”.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Qatar condemned Iranian attacks on its territory and said it reserves complete right to respond in a letter to the UN Secretary General and the president of the Security Council on Monday.

Dubai news live updates: US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the United States will “roll out actions” on Tuesday in response to the recent spike in oil prices caused by the conflict with Iran.

He also said that the “hardest hits are yet to come in Iran”, but added that the US is “not postured for ground forces in Iran”.

Dubai news live updates: Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RKT) has restarted limited flight operations, The Khaleej Times reported.

Passengers are advised to contact their airlines for the latest flight information and rebooking details before heading to the airport. Further updates will be shared through official channels as more information becomes available, it said.

Dubai news live updates: Kuwait's military said two non-commissioned naval officers were killed on Monday while on duty, without elaborating on the circumstances of their deaths.

The General Staff of the Army named the men as Sergeant Walid Majid Sulaiman and Sergeant Abdulaziz Abdulmohsen Dakhel Nasser adding in two separate statements that they were killed during "duty as part of the national missions entrusted to the armed forces".

Dubai news live updates: Several international airlines cautiously resumed a small number of flights from the United Arab Emirates on Monday, providing the first opportunity for travelers stranded by sweeping airspace closures to leave the country after the US and Israel bombarded Iran, and Iran struck back at targets across the Middle East.

The limited flight schedules followed days of near-total shutdowns at some of the world's busiest aviation hubs.

Long-haul carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, along with budget carrier FlyDubai, said they would operate select flights from the country, where air traffic was suspended Saturday and defense systems have intercepted Iranian missiles and drones.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: A senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that Tehran would target vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz and hit oil facilities across the Middle East to stop exports.

“Any ship that seeks to pass through the Strait of Hormuz we will set on fire,” Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabbari said in comments reported by Iranian media on Monday.

“We will also attack oil pipelines and will not allow a single drop of oil to leave the region,” he said, adding that “oil prices will reach $200 in the coming days.”

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Oman's foreign minister Badr Albusaidi said on Monday that he had a "good" phone call with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"His engagement in the Iran-U.S. negotiation is informative and constructive," he said in a post on X.

Dubai-Kuwait news live updates: The US Embassy in Kuwait was hit during attacks on Sunday and Monday amid Iranian bombardment of the country, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

No injuries were reported, according to the source and a US official. The official did not confirm that the embassy had been hit.

In a security alert on Monday, the embassy warned, “There is a continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks over Kuwait.”

“Do not come to the Embassy. Take cover in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside,” it warned, adding that embassy personnel “are sheltering in place.”

Dubai-Doha news live updates: The US military said on Monday that it had struck over 1,250 targets in Iran since operations started on Saturday.

In a separate statement, the US military's Central Command said it had struck and destroyed 11 Iranian ships.

Dubai-Doha news live updates: Fresh explosions have been heard over Doha, the capital of Qatar, as part of ongoing strikes linked to the Middle East conflict, Al Jazeera reported.

Earlier on Monday, Qatar’s air force shot down two Iranian jets headed towards the country and intercepted multiple ballistic missiles and drones.

Iran's retaliatory attacks have hit ports, airports, residential buildings and hotels along with military sites across the wealthy region of oil giants and staunch US allies.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: All ministries and government bodies will continue working remotely on Tuesday, March 3, and the measure will remain in effect until further notice, the Qatar News Agency said.

However, staff in the military, security, and health sectors, along with those whose duties require them to be at the workplace, will be exempt from the decision.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: India's ministry of civil aviation is closely monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of the Middle East and its impact on international flight operations, according to an official release.

“Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers. Airlines are deploying additional capacity where required and coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement,” it added.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: A fire broke out after the Musaffah fuel tank terminal in the United Arab Emirates was targeted by a drone, though its operations were not affected, the Abu Dhabi media office said on Monday.

"Abu Dhabi authorities have responded today to a fire resulting from the targeting of a Musaffah fuel tank terminal by a drone. The situation was promptly contained," the office said.

No injuries were reported.