Drone attacks struck two of the United Arab Emirates' most important transport and energy sites, temporarily disrupting flights at Dubai International Airport and operations at the port of Fujairah. A separate rocket attack on a car outside Abu Dhabi killed a Palestinian national, according to the capital's media office.
Flights at Dubai's airport were suspended for a period after a fire started nearby during what officials described as a drone-related incident. Some services were delayed or cancelled before operations resumed. It was the third incident near the airport since the current war involving Iran, Israel and the United States began, underscoring the growing pressure on infrastructure central to the UAE's role as a global travel hub.
At Fujairah, a drone hit the port and industrial zone, causing another fire. Oil-loading activity was stopped while authorities assessed damage. The site is one of the region's largest oil-storage centers and has unusual strategic value because it sits on the Gulf of Oman, beyond the Strait of Hormuz. That position allows vessels carrying UAE crude to reach the Indian Ocean without passing through the narrow waterway that Iran can disrupt.
The attack followed an earlier strike on an oil-storage tanker at Fujairah. Analysts cited by the BBC said the port supports both crude exports and the refueling and resupply of commercial ships traveling between the Middle East and Asian markets. The latest damage therefore raised concerns extending beyond the immediate fires to the resilience of regional energy and shipping networks.
The UAE Defence Ministry said its air defenses intercepted six ballistic missiles and 21 drones during Monday's attacks. It also said Iran had launched more than 1,900 missiles and drones at the country since the war began. Those figures were official UAE assessments reported by the BBC and were not independently verified in the supplied evidence.
The fatal rocket strike occurred in Al Bahia, on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. No further identifying details about the victim were provided. The attacks marked a new human and economic cost for a country that has long promoted itself as a secure center for aviation, trade and finance.
UAE officials have argued that the economy can withstand the disruption. Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh said in an earlier interview that the country would recover from the conflict, while business observers described continued activity in Dubai. Even so, temporary closures at both an international airport and a key oil outlet demonstrated how quickly drone and missile attacks can affect civilian movement, commerce and energy flows. The episode also tested emergency procedures at several geographically separated sites.
