Highlights of the attack on Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi: Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said the “Iranian aggression” targeted a hotel and two residential buildings in the capital, Manama. The ministry confirmed that there were no fatalities and Civil Defense teams quickly controlled a fire in one of the buildings.
Explosions heard near Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi: Repeated explosions were heard near Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The airport has advised passengers not to travel to the airport unless they have a confirmed reservation and have received direct notification from their airline to proceed. In a post on X, the airport said access would be strictly restricted to passengers with confirmed reservations.
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The United Arab Emirates shoot down 6 missiles and 125 drones: The UAE Defense Ministry said on Thursday that the country’s air defense systems detected seven ballistic missiles, intercepting and destroying six of them, while one missile landed inside the UAE on March 5, 2026. The ministry also reported that 131 drones were detected, with 125 successfully intercepted and six falling within the country’s territory. According to the ministry, since the start of what it described as Iranian aggression, a total of 196 ballistic missiles have been launched towards the United Arab Emirates, of which 181 were destroyed, 13 fell into the sea and two landed inside the country. The authorities added that so far 1,072 Iranian drones have been detected, 1,001 intercepted and 71 falling within the territory of the UAE. Air defense systems also detected and destroyed eight cruise missiles.
Here are the highlights
Aviation crisis: Etihad will resume a limited number of commercial flights from March 6, operating between Abu Dhabi and several key destinations.
Diplomatic emergency: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a “Depart Now” order for Americans in 13 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain.
Stranded passengers: More than 17,000 passengers have been repatriated since March 1. The UAE government is currently covering the accommodation and subsistence costs of displaced people.
Business impact: Global supply chains are feeling the strain as more than 5,000 export containers, including 1,000 refrigerated units of perishable goods, remain stranded at India’s JNPT port.
In a rapidly evolving conflict where misinformation can spread through social media, The Indian Express Global Desk relies on direct official sources, including the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Dubai Media Office and ground reporting from news agencies. Every update to this feed undergoes technical verification to ensure you receive only confirmed security protocols and diplomatic updates.
