Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UAE News Highlights: PM Modi holds call with UAE President, agrees on keeping Hormuz safe

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A diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, Anwar Gargash, said on Tuesday that the country may participate in a US-led international initiative aimed at safeguarding the safety and security of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters.

Speaking during an online event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Gargash noted that the UAE is not currently engaged in active discussions with Iran.

His remarks come at a time of increasing concern over the protection of shipping routes passing through the vital waterway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a phone conversation with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during which they reviewed the evolving situation in West Asia and agreed on the importance of maintaining safe and unhindered navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

During the call, Modi strongly denounced the attacks targeting the Gulf nation and both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working together to support the swift restoration of peace, security, and stability in the region.

"Spoke with my brother HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and conveyed advance Eid greetings.

"We discussed the current situation in West Asia. Reiterated India's strong condemnation of all attacks on the UAE that have resulted in loss of innocent lives and damage to civilian infrastructure," Modi said in a post on X.

PM Modi said that he and the UAE President concurred on the need to maintain safe and uninterrupted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We will continue to work together for the early restoration of peace, security and stability in the region," he said.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States had received “great support” from countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain in relation to the conflict involving Iran.

Speaking during an event at the Oval Office, Trump also expressed disappointment with NATO, noting that many member nations had declined to help Washington in its military operations against Iran.

Gulf banks could see up to $307 billion in domestic deposit outflows if the Middle East conflict escalates, S&P Global Ratings said, according to a Reuters report.

While the agency noted that there has been no sign of significant foreign or local funding withdrawals, but a prolonged conflict could lead to broader funding outflows.

The total number of fatalities in the UAE has climbed to 8, while the number of injured has increased to 157, since the beginning of what officials described as “brazen Iranian attacks".

Since the start of the Iranian attacks, the UAE’s air defence systems have intercepted 314 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,672 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Iran's top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, stated this week that US bases in the Middle East had been used to launch air raids and that missiles had been launched from the UAE to target Iran's Kharg Island, though UAE officials have denied the claim, as per AFP.

Authorities in Fujairah have detained an Arab national identified as A.M. for trespassing and recording footage in prohibited locations without obtaining the required official permissions, in violation of the country’s laws and regulations, reported Gulf News.

Officials said the individual had covertly entered the restricted sites. During interrogation, he stated that he was employed by a media organisation, but it was found that he lacked any authorisation to access the areas or carry out filming activities.

The UK military stated that during the previous night, a "British ground-based counter drone unit operating in a high-threat area took out the largest number of drones in a single night since the conflict began".

According to Khaleej Times, it added that "UK Typhoon and F-35 aircraft, supported by Voyager air-to-air refuelling, continued to conduct defensive air patrols over Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and the Eastern Mediterranean".

Since the beginning of what officials described as “brazen Iranian attacks,” the total number of fatalities in the UAE has climbed to eight, while the number of injured has increased to 157.

The UAE has assured residents that conditions remain stable and that daily activities can continue as usual, while advising people to stay alert and follow recommended safety precautions.

The public safety alert said, “Thank you for your cooperation. We reassure you that the situation is currently safe. You may resume your normal activities while continuing to remain cautious and take the necessary precautions, and to official instructions.”

Residents and citizens across Dubai have received an alert message urging them to remain calm and take simple precautionary steps to stay safe.

It said, "Air defence systems are currently dealing with a missile threat. Please remain in a safe place and follow warnings and updates on the official channels."

The Ministry of Defence clarified that the sounds heard across the city were caused by air defence systems intercepting incoming missiles and drones

Akasa Air on Tuesday said it has halted all services to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait until March 21 amid the Middle East conflict. The carrier has also prolonged its waiver on cancellation and rescheduling charges for impacted travellers until March 31.

Iran has launched over 1,900 missiles and drones at the UAE, more than any other country hit by Tehran since the start of the conflict, reported AFP.

IndiGo on Tuesday said that its services to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain impacted, with operations set to resume depending on safety assessments and necessary regulatory clearances.

The airline noted that despite rapidly changing conditions and last-minute schedule adjustments, it has helped many travellers reunite with their families and is continuing to support passengers with upcoming travel plans.

Customers have been advised to keep track of updates and follow the airline’s instructions to ensure a hassle-free journey.

The United Arab Emirates has reopened its airspace after a short suspension, allowing flight operations to resume normally, Gulf News reported, citing the country’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Officials said the temporary closure had been implemented as a precautionary step to safeguard aircraft and crew.

On Tuesday, the UAE’s air defence systems intercepted 10 ballistic missiles and 45 drones launched from Iran.

Since the beginning of the hostilities, the country’s defences have countered a total of 314 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,672 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The attacks have led to the deaths of two armed forces personnel while on duty, along with six civilian fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, and Palestinian nationalities. In addition, 157 people have been injured, with wounds ranging from minor to severe.

As the Middle East conflict continues to unfold, headteachers at International Baccalaureate (IB) schools in the UAE are reassuring students, especially those in exam years, that their education and future opportunities remain secure.

According to Khaleej Times, schools are drawing on experiences from the pandemic to provide fair support and measures aimed at preventing long-term disadvantages. The IB has also implemented initiatives under its ‘Adverse Circumstances’ policy to help ease pressure on students, families, and schools affected by the ongoing regional uncertainty.

The Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi is gathering information on Pakistani citizens stranded in the UAE due to flight disruptions and airport closures.

In an official notice, the embassy requested that those currently in transit complete an online form with accurate information. The data will help officials coordinate with airlines and relevant authorities to provide necessary assistance.

Officials clarified that the survey is exclusively for Pakistanis in transit within the UAE, while residents or those not in transit should complete a separate general survey issued earlier. Applicants were also urged to double-check all details before submission.

The UAE strongly dismissed any explanations provided by Iran for its recent aggressive acts in the region, calling them attempts to mislead the international community and to “legitimise its treacherous and illegal attacks on the UAE and other countries in the region”, reported Khaleej Times.

The country emphasised that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian and human rights law, weakening global efforts to preserve security and stability in the region.

The statement was made by Jamal Al Musharrakh, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, during an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran and the International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, at the current session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

On Tuesday, Korean Air announced it will continue suspending its Incheon–Dubai flights through April 19 due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, reported Korea JoongAng Daily.

The flights, initially halted on February 28, were originally expected to resume on March 28, but the suspension has now been prolonged.

On Tuesday morning, gold prices in Dubai saw a modest increase, with 24K gold reaching Dh607 and 22K rising to Dh562, signaling a slight rebound after recent dips. The rise comes after a turbulent period this month, as prices eased from early March peaks, influenced by global factors such as inflation worries and ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting demand.

Amid ongoing regional unrest, Dubai Police reminded residents that public safety remains a top priority. Officials cautioned the public not to approach, handle, or photograph any debris from intercepted aerial threats, advising that such situations should be managed only by trained personnel.

“Your compliance not only protects you but also enhances overall community safety,” the police statement said.

Travel agents report that many travelers heading to the UAE are postponing their trips instead of cancelling, signaling sustained confidence in the country’s tourism industry despite ongoing regional tensions, according to a Khaleej Times report.

Experts predict that Dubai and other UAE destinations could experience a boom in “revenge travel” once the situation stabilizes, as visitors look to compensate for previously disrupted plans and rising travel expenses.

Falling debris from a missile intercept killed one person on Tuesday in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi, according to authorities, as Iran continues its attacks against Gulf countries amid the Middle East conflict, according to AFP.

The incident occurred in the Bani Yas area "following the interception of a ballistic missile by air defences", the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on X.

Iran's oil production and exports are continuing without interruption, a spokesperson for the parliamentary energy commission was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The spokesperson added that daily life is going on as usual on Kharg island, where military assets were struck by US forces struck recently.

Kharg island serves as Iran's main oil export hub, representing 90% of the OPEC member's oil shipments.

The key port of Fujairah — the UAE's largest — has reportedly suspended oil loadings, the latest halt after a series of earlier war-related strikes on the country’s only crude oil export route outside the Strait of Hormuz.

Loading berths at the Fujairah Oil Tanker Terminals, which handles liquid cargo including fuels, were halted as of Tuesday morning, Bloomberg reported shipping agent and a person familiar with the matter.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday its forces had arrested 10 "foreign spies" as the war with Israel and the US continues.

"Ten mercenary, treacherous elements were identified and arrested," the Guards intelligence organisation in the northeastern Razavi Khorasan province said, as per a report by AFP.

The nationalities of those arrested were not declared.

The Guards said four among them were gathering information "on sensitive sites and economic infrastructure" while others were linked to a "monarchist terrorist group."

China said on Tuesday it would provide humanitarian assistance to Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Lebanon, targeted in US and Israeli strikes since the launch of Operation Epic Fury on 28 February.

"China has decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. It is hoped this will help alleviate the humanitarian plight faced by the local populations," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a press conference, as per a report by Reuters.

Authorities in Dubai on Tuesday released a safety guide for March 2026, advising residents on dos and don'ts both indoors and outdoors amid the conflict in the Middle East.

Check out the safety guide here.

All 35 students of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad's Dubai campus have been shifted to the main campus here in view of the ongoing West Asia conflict, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday citing IIMA sources.

These students, pursuing the one-year MBA programme launched in September last year, were in Spain doing an internship when the war broke out.

Kuwaiti security forces arrested 16 people suspected to have links with Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group allied with Iran, the state-run Kuwait News Agency reported.

The interior ministry said in a statement late Monday that the 14 Kuwaiti and two Lebanese suspects sought to “create chaos, and disrupt public order,” during the war, the agency reported.

Qatar's defence ministry said on Tuesday that the country's security forces had intercepted a missile attack amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

A Pakistani national was killed in the Baniyas area in southern Abu Dhabi after debris fell following the interception of a ballistic missile by UAE air defence systems.

Israeli airstrikes struck three neighbourhoods in Beirut early Tuesday, news agency AFP reported citing Lebanese state media, as Lebanon said more than one million people had been displaced in two weeks of fighting.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East conflict on 2 March when Tehran-backed Hezbollah militants attacked Israel in response to the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes carried out as part of Operation Epic Fury.

All consular services in Kuwait are “continuing as usual”, the Indian Embassy said in a statement on Tuesday.

A tanker has been hit by an "unknown projectile" approximately 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah, the UAE's largest port, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The agency noted in a post on X that the vessel was "at anchor" when the incident occurred. While the strike caused “minor structural damage”, the vessel's integrity remained stable.

There were no injuries or environmental impact, the agency said.

Three explosions echoed across Dubai after a missile alert early on Tuesday, news agency AFP reported citing its correspondent.

The blasts followed a mobile phone alert to residents to "immediately seek a safe place" over “potential missile threats”, the agency said.

It should be noted that UAE's ministry of defence said in a statement, “MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones.”

The UAE early on Tuesday morning had said that it was intercepting Iranian missiles and drones, and in its latest update, said that air defences were still actively working on engaging threats.

UAE's ministry of defence said early on Tuesday that the country's air defence system was engaging Iranian drones and missiles in its air space, and assured citizens that any loud sounds heard was because of air defence activity.

A fire that had broken out at the Shah gas field following a drone strike was brought under control on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, authorities in Abu Dhabi said.

The UAE's defence ministry said that it had intercepted 1627 drones, 15 cruise missiles, and 304 ballistic missiles since the “onset of the blatant Iranian aggression”.

UAE intercepted 21 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and six ballistic missiles fired from Iran on Monday, the country's defence ministry said.