UAE, Qatar war highlights | After Dubai, Qatar sends phone alerts; Canada sends chartered flight for evacuation

Qatar on Friday said its naval forces were inside buildings targeted by Iran in Bahrain overnight, though they were unharmed, after Manama reported attacks on residential buildings and a hotel.

"The State of Qatar strongly condemns the Iranian attack targeting buildings in various parts of the Kingdom of Bahrain, housing members of the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces participating in the Unified Maritime Operations Centre of the Gulf Cooperation Council's Unified Military Command," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The Qatari Emiri Naval Forces personnel present in the targeted buildings are safe and unharmed," it added.

Qatar has strongly condemned the recent Iranian attack on buildings in the Kingdom of Bahrain that house elements of the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces participating in the Unified Maritime Operations Centre of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Qatar called the attack a "brazen hostile act, a flagrant violation of Bahrain’s sovereignty, and a direct threat to its security and stability and the security of the region".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised Qatar’s full solidarity with Bahrain in confronting this aggression, noting that such attacks undermine joint Gulf security efforts and principles of good neighbourliness.

The Ministry confirmed that all Qatari naval personnel in the targeted buildings are safe, with no injuries reported, and that the Qatari Embassy in Bahrain has coordinated with local authorities to ensure their safety.

Some supermarkets in Dubai have issued notices to customers regarding limits on fruit and vegetable purchases due to the ongoing situation in the region, Khaleej Times reported.

"Kindly note that the quantity is limited to 2–3 kg per item per customer for fruits and vegetables," the notice read.

⁠Qatar’s energy minister, Saad al-Kaabi⁠, has warned that even if the war ended immediately, it would take Qatar “weeks to months” to return to a normal cycle of deliveries.

In an interview with the ⁠Financial Times, he said the war could “bring down the economies of the world”, predicting that all Gulf energy exporters would shut down production within weeks and drive oil to $150 a barrel.

WHO has issued a statement saying that its Dubai global emergency logistics hub is 'resuming operations', a day after being shut, AFP reported.

In a social media post, Radisson Hotels said its properties across the Middle East "remain open and fully operational".

The hotel group noted that it is closely following official government guidance and will continue adjusting its operations when needed to ensure the well-being and peace of mind of both guests and employees, which it described as its top priority.

Gold is being offered at a steep discount in Dubai, as the war in the Middle East grounds flights and hampers suppliers’ ability to move bullion out of the key trading hub.

Many buyers have stepped back from new orders, unwilling to pay exceptionally high shipping and insurance costs with no guarantee of prompt delivery. As a result, rather than paying indefinitely for storage and funding, traders are offering discounts of as much as $30 an ounce to the global benchmark in London, Bloomberg reported, quoting people with knowledge of the matter.

Qatar news LIVE: In view of the current security situation, India has requested all its nationals in Qatar to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the Qatari authorities, in particular, the Ministry of Interior.

The Ministry has advised all residents of Qatar to stay in safe locations, avoid going out except in cases of extreme necessity, and keep away from windows and exposed areas.

The advisory said that the Qatar airspace continues to remain closed and flight operations are temporarily suspended. Qatar Airways will provide the next update on March 7, 2026 at 0900 hrs (Doha time). All passengers are requested to remain in touch with respective airlines, it said.

UAE news LIVE: The Ministry of Economy and Tourism of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday said it can confirm the “continued reception of visitors at various tourist destinations” in the UAE, “with tourism, hospitality, cultural, and entertainment facilities committed to providing their services in accordance with approved regulatory frameworks and safety and quality standards.”

War news LIVE: London Police said it arrested four men on suspicion of aiding Iran by spying on Jewish community, reports Associated Press.

Dubai news LIVE: The mobile alert to Dubai residents on Friday read: "Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building and steer away from windows, doors and open areas," the alert read.

Dubai news LIVE: Residents of Dubai received an Emirati interior ministry alert on their phones on Friday urging them to shelter from potential missile threats, AFP correspondents reported, as Iran pressed on with its Gulf retaliation campaign.

"Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building and steer away from windows, doors and open areas," the alert read.

Unconfirmed reports of explosions being heard also surfaced. Some X users wrote that blasts were heard.

Authorities did not immediately comment on the claims of explosions being heard.

Dubai news LIVE: Dubai residents get 'potential missile threats' alert on phones, reports AFP news agency

UAE, Qatar war news LIVE: Dubai Police on Friday urged people to rely on official sources for updates on the situation amid the fighting in the Middle East.

“Information is a responsibility…And spreading unreliable news may cause anxiety, and contribute to undermining the security and stability of society,” Dubai Police said on X.

“To preserve your safety and security, we urge you to rely on official sources and to handle with responsibility what is circulated across digital platforms,” Dubai Police said.

UAE, Qatar war news LIVE: Abu-Dhabi headquartered Etihad Airways said it will resume a limited commercial flight schedule from March 6, operating between Abu Dhabi and a number of key destinations.

Guests with previous bookings will be accommodated on these flights as soon as possible. Tickets are also available for sale, Etihad said.

All other scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended, the airline said, adding that additional destinations will be added and communicated as conditions permit.

UAE, Qatar war news LIVE: Iran's deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, who is visiting India, said on Friday that the Iranian ship, Iris Dena, hit by a US submarine strike off Sri Lanka coast, was in a non-combat configuration, returning from the Milan naval exercises and the US action against it was a serious violation of international law.

"This is a very sad, very unfortunate incident. That vessel was by invitation of our Indian friends, attending an international exercise. It was ceremonial. It was unloaded. It was unarmed," he said, according to PTI news agency

"It is very unfortunate. Many of the young Iranian sailors who were attending these exercises lost their lives. It cannot go with impunity for those who actually did that," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue.

UAE, Qatar war news LIVE: Saudi Arabia said on Friday it destroyed three drones east of Riyadh on Friday.

"Three drones were intercepted and destroyed east of the Riyadh region," the Saudi defence ministry posted on X, quoting a spokesperson.

UAE war news LIVE: A top US military officer said on Thursday The United States has sunk more than 30 Iranian ships during the ongoing war, while ballistic missile and drone attacks by Tehran's forces are down substantially, Reuters reportted.

"We're now up over 30 ships (sunk), and in just the last few hours, we hit an Iranian drone carrier ship, roughly the size of a World War II aircraft carrier. And as we speak, it's on fire," Reuters quoted Admiral Brad Cooper as saying at a news conference.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi war news LIVE: Heavy attacks were reported in Iranian capital Tehran on Friday after Israel said it was hitting "regime infrastructure" in a "new phase" of the war it launched with the United States against Iran.

As the conflict entered its seventh day, its regional repercussions continued -- with Qatar saying it intercepted a drone targeting a US base, and Lebanon reporting the death toll from Israeli strikes had risen to 123.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said he would "have to be involved" in the appointment of Iran's next leader after US-Israeli strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei when the conflict began on Saturday.

(via AFP)

Dubai, Abu Dhabi war news LIVE: Six people were injured in United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Abu Dhabi on Thursday by debris from an intercepted drone, its media office said, as the missile exchange involving US-Israel and Iran ripping through the Middle East region entered its sixth day.

The incident involving falling debris took place at two locations in the ICAD 2 area following the successful interception of a drone by air defences, the Abu Dhabi media office said. Read full report

Dubai news LIVE: Dubai Airport on Thursday reiterated that most flights remain suspended and urged travelers to not come to the airport unless contacted by airline.

“Please do not come to the airport unless your airline has confirmed your departure time. Guests without a confirmed flight may not be able to access the terminals,” Dubai Airport said in a post on X, asking passengers to contact their airline directly for the latest updates on your flight.

Dubai news LIVE: Over 19,000 flights have been cancelled across seven major Middle East airports, including UAE's Dubai and Abu Dhabi. According to Flightradar24 data, March 1, 2 and 3 saw the most flight cancellations with the number standing at over 3,300 for each day.

The data includes flight cancellations of Dubai International Airport Dubai (UAE), Hamad International Airport (Doha, Qatar), Zayed International Airport (Abu Dhabi, UAE), Sharjah International Airport (Sharjah, UAE), Kuwait International Airport (Kuwait City, Kuwait), Bahrain International Airport (Manama, area Bahrain), and Al Maktoum International Airport (Dubai, UAE)

Flight cancellations since Feb 28:

Feb 28: 1,400+ flights

Mar 1: 3,400+ flights

Mar 2: 3,400+ flights

Mar 3: 3,300+ flights

Mar 4: 3,200+ flights

Mar 5: 3,000+ flights

Mar 6: 1,300+ flights

7 day total: 19,000+ flights

Dubai news LIVE updates: Here's a quick summary of what has happened in UAE in the last 24 hours and what is happening today:

Air defences activated: The UAE intercepted six ballistic missiles and 125 drones on March 5 as Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Gulf states entered Day 6 of the conflict with the US and Israel.

Injuries reported in the UAE: Authorities said 94 UAE residents have been injured since the attacks began. Six people were hurt in Abu Dhabi on March 5 after drone debris fell in the city.

Flights gradually resuming: Emirates and Flydubai announced the resumption of flights with a reduced schedule, while Flynas said it would operate flights between Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

Shipping crisis deepens: Multiple vessels with Indian crew have come under attack in Gulf waters. A Bahamas-flagged tanker with 10 Indian seafarers was targeted by an Iranian remote-controlled explosive boat near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port, while another tanker off Kuwait suffered a major explosion.

Major shipping disruption: Around 200 ships remain anchored near Gulf ports and hundreds more are waiting outside the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about 20% of global oil and LNG supply.

Additional ships damaged near UAE: The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Libra Trader and Panama-flagged bulker Gold Oak sustained minor damage 7–10 nautical miles off Fujairah, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

Education disruption: The CBSE cancelled all remaining Class 10 board exams in the region and postponed Class 12 exams due to the escalating conflict.

Explosions across the region: Huge explosions were reported over Tehran and Doha, while Qatar evacuated residents living near the US embassy in Doha as tensions intensified.

A Bahamas-flagged crude oil tanker carrying 10 Indian crew members was targeted by an Iranian remote-controlled explosive boat while anchored near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port, according to initial assessments. Authorities have not reported any casualties so far. The vessel, Sonangol Namibe, suffered hull damage but is reportedly losing water only from a ballast tank used to stabilise the ship.

Dubai news LIVE updates: Higher oil prices have sent jet fuel costs soaring, with Singapore jet fuel reaching a record high of $225 a barrel this week, which traders attributed to concerns about supply shortages from Middle Eastern refiners.

The price eased slightly on Thursday to about $195 a barrel after some profit-taking but remained nearly double that of last week.