One dead, 11 injured after Iranian missiles hit UAE airports

2026-03-01 - 12:57

At least one person has been killed and multiple others wounded after parts of Abu Dhabi and Dubai’s major airports were struck amid a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks late Saturday, authorities and media reports say. In a statement on X on Sunday, Abu Dhabi Airports confirmed that four people were injured after an “incident” at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Emergency services responded and treated those hurt as flight operations were suspended. “Authorities in Abu Dhabi are responding to an incident resulting from the interception of a drone that targeted Zayed International Airport. The interception led to falling debris, which resulted in one fatality of an Asian national and seven injuries,” the statement reads. “The public is urged to avoid circulating rumours and to rely only on official sources. Updates will be provided.” The United Arab Emirates’ air defence forces engaged dozens of incoming missiles and drones launched by Iran, with official statements saying most were successfully intercepted. However, fragments falling to the ground caused limited damage and casualties in several locations including near airports and residential areas. As a result of the attacks, UAE authorities temporarily closed airspace and halted flights at key hubs including DXB and Zayed Airports, leaving thousands of travellers stranded and prompting airlines to cancel or delay services. The strikes come amid a broader escalation in the Middle East, with Iranian forces retaliating after extensive strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory earlier in the conflict, according to international news agencies. Vanguard News