Dubai, UAE news highlights: UAE intercepted 7 missiles, 16 drones today

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: UAE continued to intercept missiles and drones launched from Iran, its ministry of defence reported. As per the latest update from the ministry, the air defence system in UAE had intercepted 7 ballistic missiles and 16 drones that came from Iran. Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 352 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,789 UAVs.

These attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, as well as 6 fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian nationalities.

UAE is also bracing for tough weather conditions as massive rain is expected in the country in the coming days. The authorities have alerted the citizens to take precaution while going out.

In what is a relieving news for Gulf region, US president Trump said that he is pausing attacks on Iran's energy and nucleur power plants after having spoken to the top leadership in Iran. However, the Islamic Republic has denied such claims, saying no such talks have taken place. Iran's Fars news agency, citing a source, said there are no direct or indirect communications with the United States. It will be interesting to see if there is some pause to the ongoing war in coming days or not.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: Global air travel remains severely disrupted after the war in Iran forced the closure of key Middle Eastern hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, stranding tens of thousands of passengers.

Emirates, the UAE airline, said it was operating a reduced flight schedule following a partial reopening of regional airspace. Ethiad, another UAE carrier, said it was operating a limited commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and a number of key destinations. Indigo suspended operations to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah until March 28.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has reportedly warned that unstable weather conditions will continue across the United Arab Emirates until March 27, with rainfall of varying intensity, strong winds and a noticeable drop in temperatures expected in several regions.

Read more on weather conditions in UAE in coming days here

Abu Dhabi Dubai and Middle East News LIVE: “The siren has been sounded .Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” ministry of interior of Bahrain, just tweeted on their official X account.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: While UAE authorities urged residents to stay cautious amid thunder and heavy rain, the Dubai Media Office shared a striking image of the Burj Khalifa on X.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: "We want to see no nuclear bomb, no nuclear weapon — not even close to it — low key on the missiles, we want to see peace in the Middle East. We want the nuclear dust... I think we're going to get that," Trump said while speaking to the reporters.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: The Gulf region is bracing for an unusually deep western disturbance which could dump 100–200 mm of rain across Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and nearby areas in just four to five days starting late March 2026.

For UAE, alerts and advisories have been issued regarding heavy rainfall in Dubai and Sharjah.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: India's ministry of external affairs on Monday provided a critical update regarding the safety and status of Indian nationals currently caught in the escalating hostilities in the Middle East, saying that all Indian nationals are safe, including a person who was reported to have been injured.

Addressing the inter-ministerial briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the well-being of the majority of the diaspora, stating, "All Indian citizens in Israel are safe. There were reports of an Indian citizen being injured. Our embassy there is monitoring the matter. The person is safe."

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: US President Donald Trump told AFP on Monday that "things are going very well" with Iran, shortly after announcing talks with Tehran and a five-day pause on targeting the Islamic republic's power plants.

"Things are going very well," Trump said in brief comments by telephone to AFP when asked about Iran, following an earlier Truth Social post on the negotiations that immediately sent oil prices tumbling.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: Due to the prevailing weather conditions, the Ministry of Interior calls upon you to exercise utmost caution and prudence, adhere to traffic laws and regulations, and stay away from areas of water accumulation and wadi channels, to avoid vehicle skidding, said the post on X by Dubai media office

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: An attack on Iran's southern coast and islands will lead to Gulf routes being cut with the laying of sea mines, the country's Defence Council said on Monday according to state media.

The US is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export hub, to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping, according to Axios.

"Any attempt to attack Iran's coasts or islands will cause all access routes in the Gulf (...) to be mined with various types of sea mines, including floating mines that can be released from the coast," the statement read. (Reuters)

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: Iranian media said on Monday there were no negotiations between Tehran and Washington after US President Donald Trump announced talks towards ending the war.

"There are no talks between Tehran and Washington," said Mehr news agency citing Iran's foreign ministry, adding that Trump's statements were part of a push "to reduce energy prices". (AFP)

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: After President Donald Trump said the US and Iran have held “productive” talks over the past two days to end the ongoing war, the Iranian embassy in Kabul posted a caustic response titled “Trump's Retreat After Iran's Firm Warning”. Read more on this here.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: Former US President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran have held “very good and productive” talks over the past two days aimed at resolving hostilities in the Middle East.

Citing the “constructive” nature of the discussions, Trump said he has directed the Department of War to postpone any military strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. He added that the pause is contingent on the progress of ongoing talks, which are expected to continue through the week.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: The missile and drone attacks in UAE have resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, as well as 6 fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian nationalities.

A total of 161 people have also been injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe. The injured included nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden and Tunisia.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: UAE's ministry of defence just posted on X that on Monday its air defence systems intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 16 drones launched from Iran.

Since the start of the Iranian offensive, UAE air defences have engaged a total of 352 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,789 drones.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash criticised the response of Arab and Islamic organisations to Iran’s continued attacks in Gulf countries, questioning the role of bodies like the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. In a social media post, he said it would be “unacceptable” to later criticise Western presence in the region without stronger collective action now, news agency AP reported.

Abu Dhabi Dubai News LIVE: Dubai Police has informed residents that amid ongoing weather fluctuations, thunder sounds may be heard, which are a natural occurrence. Authorities said any warnings or developments will be announced through official channels, urging the public to rely only on verified information and avoid spreading rumours.

Dubai, UAE news LIVE: Latest updates of how the gulf region is affected in the war so far today

1. An Indian national living in the UAE was hurt by falling shrapnel after the interception of a ballistic missile over an industrial area near Al Dhafra air base in Abu Dhabi, authorities said Monday.

2. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said Monday it intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the kingdom’s capital, Riyadh, while another struck an “uninhabited area."

3. The UAE said its air defenses were working to intercept incoming missiles from Iran early Monday, without elaborating.

4. Both Bahrain and Kuwait sounded missile alerts early Monday over incoming Iranian fire, though it wasn’t clear if there was any immediate damage from the barrages. - via AP

Dubai, UAE news LIVE: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government will examine “every lever there is” to tackle rising cost-of-living pressures caused by the Iran war.

Dubai, UAE news LIVE: Iran has unveiled maps of power plants it could strike across the region after US President Donald Trump warned he would “obliterate” Iran’s power infrastructure if it failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

The strategic waterway has remained effectively shut since the war began on February 28 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Tehran’s armed forces have since threatened to fully close the strait and target power facilities in Israel and Gulf countries it accuses of backing US bases.

State media on Monday published infographics highlighting potential targets in Israel, including the Orot Rabin and Rutenberg power plants.

Dubai, UAE news LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Lok Sabha that the ongoing West Asia conflict has created unprecedented challenges for India

“I have spoken to leaders in West Asia in two rounds of phone calls, all of whom promised safety of Indian nationals,” PM Modi told the Lok Sabha.

“The government is keeping an eye on shipping routes in the Gulf so that oil, gas or fertiliser ships for these products reach India safely,” he added.

He noted that some Indian nationals have died, and those injured are receiving treatment.

Dubai, UAE news LIVE: Iran’s Defence Council has warned it will deploy naval mines across the “entire Persian Gulf” in the event of a land invasion, according to AP.

Dubai, UAE news LIVE: International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol warned that the world economy is facing a “major, major threat” as the current energy crisis deepens, likening it to the oil shocks of the 1970s and the fallout from Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

He said the situation amounts to “two oil crises and one gas crisis combined,” cautioning that no country will be immune to the impact.

Dubai, UAE news LIVE: Saudi Arabia and the UAE intercepted incoming aerial threats from Iran, as missile alerts once again echoed across the Gulf region.

Saudi Arabia said it shot down multiple ballistic missiles, with one falling in an uninhabited area in the eastern province, home to key oil facilities.

The UAE earlier activated its defence systems in response to missile threats, urging residents to remain in safe locations. In Abu Dhabi, a man was injured after debris from an interception fell.

Meanwhile, in Qatar, authorities reported a helicopter crash that killed seven crew members, underscoring how the conflict is increasingly being felt closer to home.