A family sits against the backdrop of a shipyard off the coastal city of Fujairah on the Strait of Hormuz in the northern Emirate on February 25, 2026.
Giuseppe Cacace | afp | fake images
A drone strike in Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates’ main oil trading hub, sparked a large fire, authorities said Monday, with no injuries reported.
“Civil Defense teams in the Emirate immediately responded to the incident and are continuing their efforts to control it,” the Fujairah Media Office said on social media, according to a Google translation.
Oil loading operations at the main oil supply hub had been suspended as a result of the drone attack, Reuters reported, citing two anonymous sources. CNBC has contacted the UAE’s ADNOC and is awaiting a response.
The attack comes after a separate drone attack and fire in Fujairah on Saturday, underscoring the vulnerability of the UAE’s only export route that bypasses the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Maritime traffic through one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints has virtually stopped since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran has retaliated by attacking ships attempting to pass through the maritime corridor, and several incidents have been reported in recent days.
Fujairah, one of the world’s major crude oil and fuel storage hubs, is located on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates and serves as a key shipping hub for the entire region.
Fujairah lies at the end of the United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi Pipeline (ADCOP), or the Habshan-Fujairah Pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
The pipeline, which spans some 248 miles from the Habshan onshore oil facilities to Fujairah, is estimated to handle 1.5 million barrels per day, with a reported total capacity of about 1.8 million barrels per day.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said over the weekend that US interests in the United Arab Emirates, including ports, docks and military locations, were legitimate targets.
Iran’s state media also warned residents and workers in the area of Fujairah, Jebel Ali and Khalifa ports to evacuate as soon as possible, saying US military forces were present.
Smoke and flames rise from a power facility in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14, 2026. (AFP photo via Getty Images) /
– | afp | fake images
The United Arab Emirates has faced sustained attacks from Iran amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, which has significantly affected life across the Emirates.
Indeed, Dubai International Airport said on Monday that it had resumed a “limited” flight schedule after a drone strike hit a fuel depot at the airport, causing a fire. Dubai Airport handles more than 90 million passengers a year and is ranked as the busiest international airport in the world.
Oil prices extended their gains Friday morning. International benchmark Brent crude futures for May delivery traded 3% higher at $106.18 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for April delivery rose 2% to $100.66.
Both contracts have risen more than 50% over the past month, reaching their highest levels since 2022.
— CNBC’s Emma Graham contributed to this report.
