Dubai Abu Dhabi news highlights: Israel launches ‘wide-scale’ strikes on Iran; UAE intercepts drones, missile attacks

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Fresh drone and missile attacks were reported across the UAE and Saudi Arabia as the conflict between US-Israel and Iran escalates. Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah have intensified their attacks against one another with fresh strikes reported in Tel Aviv and Beirut.

US Iran war news LIVE: Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel. (REUTERS)

Dubai Abu Dhabi news LIVE: Fresh drone and missile attacks were reported across the UAE and Saudi Arabia as the conflict between US-Israel and Iran escalates. Both Abu Dhabi and Riyadh announced that it intercepted and destroyed the fresh salvo towards them,...Read More

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• 12 Mar 2026, 07:11:49 AM IST

  All updates to this Live Blog have ended.

• 12 Mar 2026, 07:10:33 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: What happened in UAE on Day 12 of Iran-US war

  Dubai news LIVE: Tensions continued in the UAE on Wednesday as both Iran and the US issued fresh warnings to each other and strikes continued. The Dubai International Airport was targeted as two drones hit near it, injuring four people.

  Besides, AFP reported that one of the world’s largest refineries in the UAE has been shut as a "precaution" after a drone attack nearby.

• 12 Mar 2026, 06:14:38 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: 1 killed in attack on fuel tankers in Iraq

  Dubai news LIVE: One person has bene killed in Iraq after tow foreign flagged oil tankers were targeted on Thursday.

  A spokesman for Iraq’s army says one crew member was killed and 38 others were rescued after the attack on two foreign oil tankers in its port of al-Faw.

  “Two oil tankers were subjected to a cowardly act of sabotage,” Lieutenant General Saad Maan said, according to the Iraq News Agency (INA). He said “the attack took place within Iraqi territorial waters” and said the assault “constitutes a violation of Iraqi sovereignty”.

  “Iraq reserves the right to take legal action,” he added.

• 12 Mar 2026, 05:31:58 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: IEA agrees to release 400 million barrels of crude oil

  Dubai news LIVE: The International Energy Agency has agreed to release a record 400m barrels of crude oil in response to the disruption caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.

• 12 Mar 2026, 05:06:37 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Dubai building struck by Iranian drone

  Dubai news LIVE: As per an AFP report, Iranian state media has stated a drone attack has hit a building in Dubai.

• 12 Mar 2026, 04:51:35 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Israel launches ‘wide-scale’ strikes in Tehran

  Dubai news LIVE: As the conflict in West Asia rages on, Israel has announced it will be carrying out ‘wide-scale strikes’ in Tehran, said a statement issued by the IDF on Thursday.

• 12 Mar 2026, 04:42:58 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Hezbollah announces fresh strikes on Israel

  Dubai news LIVE: Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah has announced a fresh attack on Israel. As per the Lebanese group, this fresh attack come as a response to Israel’s strikes on Lebanon, especially those on the southern suburbs of Beirut.

  As per reports, at least eight people were killed in Israeli strikes in Beirut and around 13 wounded.

• 12 Mar 2026, 03:55:39 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Trump says US ‘must finish the job’ in Iran

  Dubai news LIVE: US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States must "finish the job" in Iran -- hours after suggesting the war could be over soon because Washington had run out of targets.

  "We don't want to leave early, do we? We've got to finish the job, right?" Trump said while talking about the US-Israeli operation against Iran during a speech in Hebron, Kentucky.

• 12 Mar 2026, 03:50:50 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Fuels tankers carrying Iraqi oil attacked, crew rescued

  Dubai news LIVE: Two foreign tankers carrying Iraqi fuel oil were subjected to unidentified attacks inside territorial waters, causing them to catch fire, Iraq's director general of the General Company for Ports Farhan al-Fartousi told Reuters on Wednesday.

  Iraq evacuated the 25 crew members from the two vessels and fire is still ablaze on both ships, he added.

• 12 Mar 2026, 02:58:36 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: IRGC says Iran will continue to attack US bases

  Dubai news LIVE: A spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday night stated that major attacks will continue against US military bases in the Middle East.

  “A large number of American forces have been killed and wounded in attacks on US bases,” said IRGC spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari in an address on state television.

  “The Strait of Hormuz is under constant surveillance by our forces. Our enemies have no right to pass through it, and our attacks will continue broadly using missiles and drones. The Islamic Republic is defending its independence, and our victory will be from Allah," the spokesperson added further.

• 12 Mar 2026, 02:24:02 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles headed towards Prince Sultan air base

  Dubai news LIVE: Moments after intercepting drones, Saudi Arabia stated it intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles which were headed towards the Kingdom's Prince Sultan air base.

• 12 Mar 2026, 01:43:38 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Drone strike causes fire at Omani port

  Dubai news LIVE: Oman’s state news agency is reporting that emergency services are responding to a fire at the Salalah port.

  This comes after Oman TV reported that drones struck fuel tanks at the port on Wednesday night

• 12 Mar 2026, 01:41:36 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Saudi Arabia intercepts drones

  Dubai news LIVE: Saudi Arabia has announced that it intercepted drones in the eastern region of the country, an official statement from the Defence ministry said on X.

• 12 Mar 2026, 01:24:21 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: UNSC passes resolution to halt Iranian attacks on Gulf states

  Dubai news LIVE: The UN Security Council on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for Iran to immediately halt its attacks on Gulf states, saying they breach international law and pose a "serious threat to international peace and security."

  The resolution, passed by 13 votes with two abstentions, "demands the immediate cessation of all attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan."

  It also “condemns any actions or threats by the Islamic Republic of Iran aimed at closing, obstructing, or otherwise interfering with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”

• 12 Mar 2026, 01:17:41 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain

  Dubai news LIVE: Authorities in Bahrain say an air raid siren has been activated and are urging people to seek shelter.

  In a post on X, the country’s Interior Ministry Ministry of Interior Bahrain called on citizens and residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe place.

• 12 Mar 2026, 12:47:56 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: 29 nations back Lebanon's sovereignty, condemn Hezbollah

  As fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies in Lebanon, 29 countries backing the UN peacekeeping force in the country condemned Hezbollah for joining Iran’s attacks on Israel.

  In the statement, they also urged Israel to “to abstain from attacks against civilian infrastructure and heavily populated areas and to respect the Lebanese sovereignty and its territorial integrity.”

• 12 Mar 2026, 12:32:15 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: US scaling down charted evacuation from Middle East

  The US State Department said Wednesday that they are reducing its chartered flight evacuation option Middle East. Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson said the move comes due to a "lack of demand."

  “While commercial flight availability across the region continues to improve, Department of State charter flights and ground transport operations will scale down as seats available on the Department’s charter options are significantly greater than the demand from Americans in the region,” Johnson said.

• 12 Mar 2026, 12:16:35 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: UAE intercepting missiles, drones from Iran

  Dubai news LIVE: Fresh missiles and drones have been fired from Iran towards the UAE. As per the country's defence ministry, air defences are working to intercept the threat.

  “The Ministry of Defense confirms that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions,” said a statement on X.

• 12 Mar 2026, 12:15:48 AM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Saudi Arabia intercepts drones headed towards oilfield

  Dubai news LIVE: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry on Wednesday said it intercepted and destroyed a drone flying towards the Shaybah oil field.

• 11 Mar 2026, 11:14:14 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Dubai police warns against fake posts, information on social media

  Dubai news LIVE: Dubai Police have issued another warning to the public against sharing rumors, false information, or any content that contradicts official announcements or that may cause public panic or threaten public safety.

  In a statement on X, the police said violators may face criminal charges or a fine of at least 200,000 dirhams.

• 11 Mar 2026, 10:30:24 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Ukrainian anti-drone teams 'working' in Qatar, UAE, Saud

  Dubai news LIVE: Ukrainian anti-drone experts have begun working in three Gulf states targeted by Iranian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday.

  "Three of our teams have gone -- strong teams of experts, military personnel, engineers, different people. Today the military are already communicating and already working," Zelensky told reporters.

• 11 Mar 2026, 10:19:25 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: India assisting return of its citizens from Iran via land routes through Armenia, Azerbaijan, says MEA

  Dubai news LIVE: The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday asserted that the government is working to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens stranded in West Asia amid escalating tensions.

  MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while addressing an Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia, said that the Indian Embassy in Tehran remains fully operational and is on high alert. The government is assisting Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, who wish to leave the country.

• 11 Mar 2026, 09:57:24 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: France's Macron says 'no confirmation' of Iranian mines in Strait of Hormuz

  Dubai news LIVE: French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday he has "no confirmation" that Iran is using sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

  "I have no confirmation of this, either from partner services or from our own services," Macron said, after the United States said it had destroyed Iranian mine-laying boats near the strategic waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes.

• 11 Mar 2026, 09:45:34 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Oman says fuel products available and at normal level

  Dubai news LIVE: Oman on Wednesday said that all fuel products are available and at normal levels, and there is no impact on the continuity of oil supplies.

  Earlier, a drone strike hit Oman's Salah port on Wednesday and no injuries were reported.

• 11 Mar 2026, 09:31:20 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Ukrainian anti-drone experts begin working in 3 Gulf states targeted by Iran

  Dubai news LIVE: Ukrainian anti-drone experts have begun working in three Gulf states targeted by Iranian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday.

  "Three of our teams have gone -- strong teams of experts, military personnel, engineers, different people. Today the military are already communicating and already working," AFP reported citing Zelensky.

• 11 Mar 2026, 09:16:27 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Abu Dhabi controls fire at old airport

  Dubai news LIVE: Abu Dhabi on Wednesday said that it controlled a fire at the old airport after an interception by air defence systems, no injuries were reported.

• 11 Mar 2026, 09:06:23 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Britain's Standard Chartered begins evacuating Dubai offices

  Dubai news LIVE: Britain's Standard Chartered has begun evacuating its Dubai offices, telling staff to work from home instead, sources told AFP

  StanChart has a large presence in the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai now a major financial hub for leading international lenders, including JPMorgan and HSBC, as well as law firms and asset managers.

• 11 Mar 2026, 08:53:44 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Deloitte evacuates staff at Dubai office amid threat of Iran attack

  Dubai news LIVE: Deloitte evacuated staff at Dubai office as Iran threatened US, Israel-linked economic targets, sources told AFP.

  Earlier, US financial service group Citi asked its Dubai employees to evacuate their offices on Wednesday “due to heightened security concerns”

• 11 Mar 2026, 08:42:49 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Oman sultan expresses dissatisfaction after attack on Salah port

  Dubai news LIVE: Oman's sultan on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction and condemnation of the Iranian president over the ongoing attacks targeting Oman's territory
  The condemnation came after the Salah Port in Oman was targeted with drones.

• 11 Mar 2026, 08:31:55 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: HSBC bank announces closure of Qatar branches until further notice

  Dubai news LIVE: The HSBC bank on Wednesday said that all its branches in Qatar will remain closed until further notice, citing safety of staff and customers.

  The bank informed this through a text message amid the Middle East crisis. Earlier in the day Qatar's defence ministry said it intercepted a missile coming towards it.

• 11 Mar 2026, 08:21:16 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: IEA says members to release 400 mn barrels from oil reserves

  Dubai news LIVE: The International Energy Agency said Wednesday its member countries would unlock 400 million barrels of oil from their reserves in the biggest such release ever release, to ease the impact of the Middle East war.

  "The oil market challenges we are facing are unprecedented in scale, therefore I am very glad that IEA member countries have responded with an emergency collective action of unprecedented size," IEA executive director Fatih Birol was quoted by AFP as saying.

• 11 Mar 2026, 08:07:36 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Oman says ‘on high alert’ after drone attack at Salah Port

  Dubai news LIVE: Oman said that it is "on high alert" after drone attacks that struck fuel tanks at Salalah Port. While some drones hit the tanks, others were struck down by defence forces. Authorities are using all resources to monitor and handle these attacks, Khaleej Times reported.

  Oman on Wednesday said that drones struck fuel tanks in Salah Port, adding that no human casualties were reported.

• 11 Mar 2026, 07:56:13 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: US financial service group Citi asks Dubai employees to evacuate

  Dubai news LIVE: US financial service group Citi asked its Dubai employees to evacuate their offices on Wednesday "due to heightened security concerns" as Iran threatened to strike US and Israel-linked banks.

  Employees were asked to evacuate Citi offices in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and in Oud Metha, a source with knowledge of the evacuations told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive topics.

• 11 Mar 2026, 07:45:32 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: MEA says two Indians dead, 1 missing in attacks on merchant vessels

  Dubai news LIVE: The Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jasiwal on Wednesday said that, "As for the casualties, we have lost two Indian nationals, and one remains missing. We express our condolences to their families. The incidents of death and the missing person occurred when they were on merchant vessels that came under attack," Jaiswal said.

  "A few Indians have also been injured in the GCC region. One person was injured in Israel, and there are reports of another individual being injured in Dubai. The MEA is in regular touch with them," he added.

• 11 Mar 2026, 07:31:29 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Drones strike fuel tanks in Oman's Salah Port

  Dubai news LIVE: Oman on Wednesday said that drones struck fuel tanks in Salah Port, adding that no human casualties were reported.

  The Port of Salalah is the largest port in Oman and has been in operation since 1998.

• 11 Mar 2026, 07:23:49 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Switzerland closes Tehran embassy amid war in Middle East

  Dubai news LIVE: Switzerland is temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran due to the war in the Middle East and increasing security risks, the foreign office said on Wednesday.

  The ambassador and five Swiss staff members left Iran by land and are safely outside the country, it added. "They will return to Tehran as soon as the situation allows."

• 11 Mar 2026, 07:11:42 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Air France extends suspension of Dubai, Riyadh flights till March 14

  Dubai news LIVE: Air France on Wednesday extended suspension of its flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until March 14, 2026.

  They have also extended suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut until March 15.

• 11 Mar 2026, 07:01:10 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Shell declares force majeure on Qatar LNG cargoes after output halt, says report

  Dubai news LIVE: Shell, the world's largest liquefied natural gas trader, has declared force majeure on LNG cargoes it buys from QatarEnergy and sells to its clients worldwide, three sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

  Qatar, the world's second-largest exporter of LNG, announced a production halt at its 77 million tons per annum (mtpa) facility last week and declared force majeure on LNG shipments.

• 11 Mar 2026, 06:50:56 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: UAE presidential advisor says Iran attacking civilian infrastructure

  Dubai news LIVE: UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash said Iran "is lying when they claim to be targeting US bases in the Gulf", slamming in a post on X the attacks on "civilian infrastructure... with no regard for civilians and innocent people".

  An Indian worker at a cargo terminal opposite Terminal 2 of Dubai airport said he saw a drone flying at low altitude, slowly gliding down before crashing into a building at the airport terminal.

• 11 Mar 2026, 06:30:11 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Dubai international airport briefly halted operations after drones fell in vicinity

  Dubai news LIVE: Dubai International Airport briefly halted operations on Wednesday after drones smashed down at the facility, resulting in four injuries at the world’s busiest international hub, Bloomberg reported.

  Dubai’s media office said that two drones fell in the vicinity of the airport, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national, according to a social media post. Air traffic is operating as normal, it added.

• 11 Mar 2026, 06:19:09 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: MEA says welfare of Indians ‘utmost priority’ amid West Asia conflict

  Dubai news LIVE: The Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jasiwal, on Wednesday confirmed that the two Indian nationals have lost their lives and one still remains missing amid the ongoing West Asian conflict.

  During the Inter-Ministerial Briefing on Recent Developments in West Asia, the MEA spokesperson reiterated that the welfare and safety of India's large diaspora in the region remain the government's "utmost priority" as the conflict continues to escalate.

• 11 Mar 2026, 06:08:53 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Qatar intercepts missile attack

  Dubai news LIVE: The Ministry of Defense of Qatar on Wednesday announced that armed forces intercepted missile attack which targeted State of Qatar.

  This was after the Ministry of Interior announced that the security threat level is high and called on everyone to stay at home.

• 11 Mar 2026, 05:57:44 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Dubai authorities confirm succesful interception after sirens heard across city

  Dubai news LIVE: Authorities in Dubai on Wednesday confirmed that the sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interception operations, Dubai media office posted on X.

  Earlier, Lound bangs were heard in United Arab Emirates' Dubai on Wednesday afternoon, Reuters reported, citing witnesses.

• 11 Mar 2026, 05:49:01 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Russia's Putin discusses Middle East conflict with UAE counterpart

  Dubai news LIVE: Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict in the Middle East with his United Arab Emirates counterpart, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Kremlin said in the statement.

  "The leaders continued to exchange views on the dangerously deteriorating situation in the Middle East, which is having serious consequences for Iran and Arab countries," the Kremlin said.

• 11 Mar 2026, 05:40:30 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Dubai says sounds heard in some areas were from ‘successful air interceptions’

  Dubai news LIVE: Dubai Media Office said in a post on X that the competent authorities in Dubai confirm that the sounds heard in some areas of the emirate are the result of successful air interceptions.

  The post emphasised the importance of obtaining information from reliable official sources.

• 11 Mar 2026, 05:02:06 PM IST

  War news LIVE: Indian govt to address presser shortly

  War news LIVE: The Indian government will address a press briefing shortly over the situation in West Asia.

• 11 Mar 2026, 04:56:31 PM IST

  War news LIVE: Do not wait until it's too late, says Australia in advisory to citizens in Middle East

  War news LIVE: In an advisory for its nationals in the conflict-hit Middle East, Australia said on Wednesday, “We are concerned this regional conflict is likely to continue and could escalate.”​

  “If you wish to leave the Middle East, do not wait until it is too late,” the advisory posted on Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's X handle stated.​

  “Leave now while commercial flights are available,” it said.

• 11 Mar 2026, 04:50:06 PM IST

  Bahrain news LIVE: Bahrain relocates planes to alternate airports

  Bahrain moved some aircraft on Wednesday, as attacks on infrastructure across the Gulf continued to disrupt air traffic in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran that entered its 12th day.

  Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs said on Wednesday several Gulf Air aircraft, without passengers, and some cargo air planes, were relocated to alternative airports to "ensure the continuity and efficiency of air operations" during the crisis.

  It did not provide further details. Gulf Air was not immediately available for comment.

  (via Reuters)

• 11 Mar 2026, 04:39:54 PM IST

  Dubai, Abu Dhabi news LIVE: UAE president writes poem to nation's defenders

  Dubai, Abu Dhabi news LIVE: The UAE President wrote a patriotic poem that was performed by the national orchestra, state media said Wednesday, as his country faced the attacks unleashed by Iran after US-Israeli strikes.

  "The UAE National Orchestra has released a special musical tribute, titled 'Men, by God, Truly Men', featuring the poem 'Rijal Wallah Rijal' written by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, honouring those who dedicate themselves to protecting the nation," WAM said.

  WAM shared a video of the performance, which kicked off with a recent interview in which Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE had "thick skin and bitter flesh. We are no easy prey".

  Men dressed in dark kanduras, the traditional dress for men in the Gulf, and white headdresses, then went on to sing, accompanied by an orchestra that included foreigners as well as women.

  (via AFP)

• 11 Mar 2026, 03:55:20 PM IST

  Dubai news LIVE: Loud bangs heard in Dubai

  Dubai news LIVE: Lound bangs were heard in United Arab Emirates' Dubai on Wednesday afternoon, Reuters reported, citing witnesses.

  More details are awaited.

  This comes after four people were injured after two drones fell near Dubai's airport, the government said. Air traffic operated as normal.