Dubai news highlights: UAE air defences engage 9 UAVs launched from Iran

• The UAE air defence systems engaged 9 UAVs launched from Iran on Wednesday, said the country's defence ministry.

• Iran said it fired missiles at USS Abraham Lincoln, state media reported.

• Dubai schools will continue with distance mode of learning till April 3, Dubai's education ministry has said.

• A Moroccan national who worked with the UAE armed forces was killed after Iran air strikes in Bahrain on Wednesday. Five others were injured in the incident.

Qatar news LIVE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and condemned recent attacks on Qatar and other Gulf countries amid the ongoing war.

“Spoke with my dear brother His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani this evening. We exchanged warm Eid-ul-Fitr greetings and prayers for peace, stability, and prosperity for our peoples and the Ummah,” Sharif said in a post on X.

“I reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the recent attacks against Qatar and other Gulf countries, extended heartfelt condolences over the loss of precious lives, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity and support to Qatar in these challenging times,” he added.

“We agreed on the urgent need for advancing peace efforts, encourage de-escalation, and promote dialogue to restore regional peace and stability.”

Dubai news Live: The UAE's defence ministry said on Wednesday that since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 357 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,815 UAVs.

“These attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of 3 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, as well as 6 fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian nationalities,” it said in a statement.

“A total of 166 people were also 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,” it added.

Iran US news Live: Iran dismissed on Wednesday the United States' plan for ceasefire amid the ongoing war and launched attacks on Israel and Gulf countries

An anonymous Iranian official said that Tehran has rejected US' ceasefire proposal, reported Press TV.

Iran US news Live: Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom evacuated a further 163 of its staff from Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant on Wednesday, the state-run RIA news agency reported.

It cited Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev as saying about 300 of the company's staff remained at Bushehr, but more would be leaving.

Russia built the existing nuclear plant at Bushehr and Rosatom is constructing additional units there, although it has suspended building work since the United States and Israel launched a war with Iran last month. (Reuters)

Iran US news Live: Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Wednesday in a televised speech read on his behalf that negotiating with Israel under fire amounts to imposed surrender and called for unity against Israel.

The speech, aired on a Hezbollah affiliated television station, said Hezbollah fighters were prepared to continue "without limits". (Reuters)

Dubai news Live: The UAE air defence systems engaged 9 UAVs launched from Iran on Wednesday, said the country's defence ministry.

“Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 357 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,815 UAVs,” it said.

Dubai news Live: The United Arab Emirates' National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said that the country's air defenses are “now dealing with a missile threat”.

It urged people to “stay in a safe place and follow the warnings and updates on official websites.”

War news LIVE: Iran said on Wednesday it fired missiles at USS Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday, reported state media. This strike comes shortly after Iran stated that it is closely monitoring US movement in the region, especially of the US carrier.

Iran's naval commander had stated that the US fleet USS Abraham Lincoln is under “constant Iranian monitoring", adding that the minute the aircraft carrier is in the range of Iran's missile system, it will be targeted. Tap for more updates on US-Iran war here

Dubai news Live: The unstable weather conditions in the United Arab Emirates, causing heavy rainfall, will continue till the end of this week till March 28, according to local reports.

The country's National Centre of Meteorology said on Wednesday that according to the satellite images and weather radar data, various cloud formations have taken up the sky over the country.

US Iran war news Live: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Wednesday told U.S. envoy Massad Boulos there needs to be “concerted regional and international efforts to de-escalate the situation.”

He warned of the war’s severe economic repercussions. Egypt imposed fuel price hikes in March and has announced measures including reducing official overseas trips and tightening fuel consumption across sectors. (AP)

Dubai war news Live: The Trump administration offered a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran through intermediaries from Pakistan, news agency AP reported on Wednesday citing a person briefed on the contours of the plan.

The development comes even as Israeli airstrikes continue to batter Iran, Iranian missiles and drones' strikes across the Mideast, and the US reportedly planning to send more troops to the Middle East.

Dubai war news Live: Dubai schools will continue with distance mode of learning till April 3, Dubai's education ministry has said. Earlier, several schools and universities in the UAE had announced to take online classes in view of the war-like situation in the region.

Dubai war news Live: A Moroccan national who worked with the UAE armed forces was killed after Iran air strikes in Bahrain on Wednesday. Five others were injured in the incident.

Dubai war news Live: Schools in Dubai will continue with distance mode of learning till April 3 in view of the situation in the Middle East. “To ensure the safety of students, KHDA confirms the continuation of distance learning across all private educational institutions in Dubai until Friday, April,3 2026,” authorities said. Knowledge and Human Development Authority said that any institution seeking to resume on-site learning must submit a ‘formal request outlining clear and detailed justifications.’

Middle East war news LIVE: While mocking at Trump for his talks claims, Iran has reportedly set out tough conditions for talks on ceasefire. The demands include closure of all US military bases in the Arabian Gulf, reparations for strikes on Iran, a new arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz allowing Tehran to collect transit fees, guarantees against renewed conflict, an end to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah, full lifting of sanctions, and no restrictions on Iran’s missile programme, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Middle East war news LIVE: Missile attacks on Qatar Energy's Ras Laffan production hub on March 18 and 19 has caused huge damage, Reuters reported.

Middle East war news LIVE: Iran has so far denied any negotiations were taking place, pledging to fight “until complete victory.” Pakistan, Egypt and Gulf Arab nations are trying behind the scenes to piece together talks, but their efforts still seem preliminary. Israel is vowing to keep up its attacks.

via AP

Middle East war news LIVE: Amid US claims of negotiations with Iran to pause the fighting and Trump's 15-point peace plan, Brent crude oil, the global market benchmark, was down 6.3 percent at $97.90 per barrel at around 0200 GMT.

Middle East war news LIVE: Iranian military spokesman says Americans are only negotiating with themselves, mocking US attempts at ceasefire deal.

via AP

Middle East war news LIVE: The Kuwait National Guard said in a statement that its forces intercepted six drones early Wednesday, and the army said air defences were "responding to hostile missile and drone attacks".

Middle East war news LIVE: A 10-year-old girl in Iran's Yazd died due to the “shock and psychological stress” caused by the sound of an explosion there, Iran's Fars news agency reported, citing the deputy governor of Yazd who said the explosion was caused by a US-Israeli attack on a military point outside the city.

Middle East war news LIVE: A fire broke out at Kuwait International Airport early on Wednesday after a fuel tank was hit by drones.

Middle East war news LIVE: Iran has reportedly said it fired missiles on military bases hosting US forces in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.

A Guards statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB said that "targets in the heart of the occupied territories", meaning Israel, and US military bases in the region “were struck by precision-guided liquid- and solid-fuel missile systems and attack drones”, reported news agency AFP.