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ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday that its air defense systems successfully neutralized a “large-scale and unprecedented” aerial assault launched by Iran. In a statement that underscored the intensity of the regional escalation, authorities confirmed they had shot down 132 ballistic missiles and intercepted 195 attack drones targeting civilian and strategic infrastructure across the country.
The barrage, which occurred in the wake of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, triggered emergency sirens across the Emirates, from the capital in Abu Dhabi to the global commercial hub of Dubai.
UAE forces intercepted 132 of 137 Iranian ballistic missiles and 195 of 209 drones, the defence ministry announced. Five missiles fell at sea, 14 drones hit UAE territory, causing limited damage. #Iran pic.twitter.com/4pbQoH9uCl
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) February 28, 2026
Shields Up Over the Emirates
Military officials described the interception operation as a triumph of the UAE’s multi-layered defense umbrella. The Ministry of Defence noted that the interceptions were carried out with “high efficiency,” preventing what could have been a catastrophic loss of life in densely populated urban centers.
“Our air defense forces dealt with the threats with precision, successfully preventing the majority of these hostile assets from reaching their intended targets,” a military spokesperson stated. Despite the high success rate, fragments from intercepted missiles and drones fell in several residential areas.
Casualties and Ground Impact
While the majority of the projectiles were destroyed in mid-air, the falling debris caused localized damage and at least one confirmed fatality. In Abu Dhabi, a Pakistani national was killed when shrapnel struck a residential district.
In Dubai, five large explosions were heard late in the afternoon as defenses engaged targets over the city. Authorities confirmed “an incident” involving a building in the Palm Jumeirah area, where a fire was brought under control by Civil Defence teams. Four individuals were reported injured in that strike. Other debris was reported in Saadiyat Island, Khalifa City, and Al Falah.
Regional Airspace Paralyzed
The scale of the attack forced an immediate and total suspension of operations at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) airports. Thousands of travelers remained stranded as the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) closed UAE airspace as an “exceptional precautionary measure.” Similar closures were mirrored in Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait, as the entire Gulf region braced for further waves of retaliation.
A “Flagrant Violation”
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks in the “strongest possible terms,” labeling them a blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law.
“The UAE reserves its full and legitimate right to respond to these cowardly acts in a manner that safeguards our security and territorial integrity,” the ministry’s statement read.
As of Saturday night, the UAE remains at its highest state of military readiness. The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) has urged the public to remain indoors, follow official instructions, and refrain from sharing unverified footage of the strikes on social media.