Explosions were reported in parts of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and near the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday following strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel.
Witnesses described hearing loud blasts across several cities. A resident in Abu Dhabi told Reuters that multiple booms echoed across parts of the city, with one witness saying she heard five explosions in quick succession. The blasts were linked to Iran’s counterattack after the joint US-Israel strikes.
According to Reuters, one person was killed in Abu Dhabi after shrapnel from an Iranian missile struck the UAE capital. In Dubai, a loud explosion was also reported, though the exact cause remained unclear at the time.
In Saudi Arabia, AFP reported that loud bangs were heard in Riyadh. Two correspondents in the city said they heard several explosions as Iran vowed retaliation for the earlier attacks.
Explosions were also reported in Qatar as Iran launched missiles in response to the joint US-Israel campaign. Shailja, an Indian resident of Doha, told Hindustantimes.com, “There were sounds of explosions, but they seemed to be from far away, probably missiles intercepted in the air.”
The 50-year-old mother of two added that her family was staying indoors as a precaution. " We hope to travel to India as soon as the airspace opens. So far, there's been no damage in our area. But we are keeping a watch and staying close together."
Earlier in the day, the United Arab Emirates closed its airspace amid the escalating situation. The UAE said it had intercepted Iranian missiles and reserved the right to respond.
"The Ministry of Defence announced that the United Arab Emirates was subjected today to a blatant attack by Iranian ballistic missiles. The UAE's air defences responded with high efficiency and successfully intercepted a number of the missiles," AFP quoted the UAE statement as saying.
Abu Dhabi described the strikes as “a dangerous escalation” and stated that it “reserves its full right to respond.”
Kuwait also reportedly engaged incoming missiles on Saturday.
The US embassy in the UAE instructed staff and personnel at the US Consulate in Dubai to shelter in place due to the evolving security situation. In a post on X, the embassy shared emergency contact information and advised citizens to seek secure locations.
The developments followed joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier on Saturday. One of the initial strikes was reported near offices associated with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Residents in Tehran reported hearing powerful explosions as tensions escalated sharply in the region.
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