Dubai, Abu Dhabi news highlights: Building in Dubai financial district hit by debris in fresh attack

Middle East conflict news live: Saudi Arabia on Friday said it downed at least 50 drones within a few hours that were headed towards its eastern and central provinces.

Middle East conflict news live: Amid the raging war and simmering tensions in the region, Qatar on Friday said that the situation remains largely stable. “Services across vital sectors continue to operate normally. Competent authorities are closely monitoring all developments,” Qatar's interior ministry said in a post on X.

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: The United Arab Emirates' air defences have intercepted more than 1,500 Iranian drones and nearly 300 missiles during the Middle East war that began on February 28 after US-Israel joint strikes on Iran.

Middle East conflict live: Since the start of the US-Iran war, Bahrain’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed 114 missiles and 190 drones targeting the kingdom.

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: The first oil tanker to reach India through the Strait of Hormuz after the West Asia conflict started will return to the war-torn region after unloading the ship’s cargo of crude in Mumbai even as another vessel that transited the now-perilous waterway neared the Indian coastline. The crew of the Liberia-flagged Shenlong, which arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday after leaving the Ras Tanura terminal in Saudi Arabia on March 3, transited the strait overcoming the absence of electronic navigational equipment, relying on seamanship skills and pure courage. Read full story

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: Buildings in central Dubai shook due to the impact of blasts in Dubai on Friday morning as the administration said that debris had fallen after a successful interception. Smoke hung over the skies in central Dubai following the explosion, AFP reported.

Middle East conflict live: The Dubai administration on Friday morning confirmed that a drone had been intercepted over central Dubai and facade of a building suffered minor damage as a result of the debris. No casualties have been reported.

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: Blasts were heard and smoke was seen rising over central Dubai on Friday, AFP reported.

Middle East conflict live: China's special envoy for the Middle East Zhau Jhun, is in Bahrain where he met Bahrain's foreign minister, China said on Friday, Reuters reported.

Middle East conflict live: The Iran-US war has led to temporary displacement of around 3.2 million Iranians, UNHCR has said. “Most of them are reportedly fleeing from Tehran and other major urban areas towards the north of the country and rural areas to seek safety,” UNHCR said, adding that the numbers are expected to rise in the coming days as hostilities in the region continue to intensify.

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: Amid the raging war in the Middle East, Bloomberg has told its staff in Dubai and the Gulf that they can temporarily move out of the region, Reuters reported quoting Bloomberg spokesperson.

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: The Bangladesh workers iin Gulf countries are in a devastating condition, chairperson and co-founder of the WARBE Development Foundation (Welfare Association for the Rights of Bangladeshi Emigrants), Syed Saiful Haque, told ANI. "Bangladeshi workers are now in a very devastating situation in the Gulf countries. Particularly, about four Bangladeshi workers have already died, and more than 12 or 13 are injured... They cannot go out of their residence... More than 12 million workers are working in different countries, but out of that, 70-80% are in the Gulf countries," Haque was quoted as saying.

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: The impact of the Middle East war has raised concerns over the safety of masterpieces on loan from France to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, which is the famed museum's only foreign branch. The museum, which opened in the United Arab Emirates in 2017, has so far escaped damage from nearly 1,800 Iranian drone and missile strikes launched since the conflict erupted on February 28. The Louvre Abu Dhabi museum -- which remains open -- said the safety of its visitors, staff and collections remains its "top priority".

via Reuters

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: As US-Iran war and its fallout in the Gulf region continues to disrupt normal flight operations, Qatar Airways on Friday announced over 140 flights from March 14 to 17 to ‘support affected passengers’. “Following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority allowing limited operating corridors, Qatar Airways plans to operate select flights in the coming days to support passengers affected by the disruption,” it said. Check the flight details here

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security in the UAE has announced that that residents with expired visas will be allowed to return till March 31. It added that there will be no need to apply for a new entry permit.

Middle East conflict live: Qatar on Friday strongly condemned Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon after at least 15 people, including five children, were killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday. “The State of Qatar strongly condemns the Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, considering them a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” Qatar's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Middle East conflict live: A massive fire erupted near Bahrain's airport on Thursday night as Iran drone hit fuel tanks in the area. Visuals showed huge flames erupting from the spot as firefighters tried to control the blaze.

Middle East conflict live: Air raid sirens blared early on Friday morning in Bahrain, hours after a massive fire erupted near airport in Bahrain following Iran drone strikes on fuel tanks. As sirens were activated across Bahrain, the interior ministry asked people to take shelter and remain calm.

Dubai Abu Dhabi news live: The UAE on Thursday intercepted 10 ballistic missiles and 26 drones as Iran continues to pound US facilities on the region.