Dubai, UAE, Abu Dhabi News LIVE: Loud explosions heard in Dubai; Sheikh Mohamed leaves 'message to enemies'

Loud explosions were heard in Dubai, news agency AFP reported.

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan delivered what he described as a “message to the UAE’s enemies” during a broadcast on Abu Dhabi TV.

Speaking in the televised address, Sheikh Mohamed said, "The UAE is beautiful. The UAE is a pioneer. I tell you we will always be responsible for our UAE citizens and residents."

Several explosions were heard on Saturday in the Qatari capital, Doha, AFP journalists reported, as Iran continued its retaliatory attacks across the Gulf.

“Air defence systems also detected 121 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), of which 119 were intercepted, while two fell within the territory of the UAE,” the ministry of defence said.

Air Arabia has announced the limited resumption of its flight operations to and from the United Arab Emirates starting Saturday, March 7.

The airline has advised passengers to review the latest flight schedules on its Travel Update page before planning their journeys.

The United States has evacuated thousands of its citizens from the Middle East since last week, the US State Department said on Saturday.

According to the department, more than a dozen charter flights have been arranged as part of the evacuation effort to bring Americans out of the region.

Kuwait’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs has announced revised prayer timings for mosques as part of its coordination with relevant authorities and in view of the current local and regional conditions.

According to the directives issued by the ministry, the Taraweeh prayer will be held 20 minutes after the Isha prayer.

Meanwhile, the Qiyam prayer will be performed daily from 12am to 12.30am.

Kuwait’s National Guard said on Saturday that it had shot down a drone in one of the areas where it provides support to the country’s Ministry of Defence.

In a statement, the National Guard said its forces “successfully shoot down a drone at one of the locations where the Guard provides support to the Ministry of Defense.”

India’s top refiner, Indian Oil Corp, has reportedly booked several oil cargoes for loading from the Red Sea port of Yanbu, according to a Reuters report citing sources.

The development comes as the US-Israel war with Iran disrupts oil and natural gas exports from parts of the Middle East. In response to the evolving situation, major oil exporter Saudi Arabia has been increasing shipments from Red Sea ports as an alternative route.

Etihad Airways has released its latest flight schedule for the coming days.

Guests are advised to:

•⁠ Check their flight status at http://etihad.com before travelling to the airport.

•⁠ Ensure their contact details are up to date in their booking.

•⁠ Guests holding Etihad tickets issued on or before 28 February 2026, with original travel dates up to 21 March 2026, may rebook free of charge onto Etihad operated flights up to 15 May 2026.

•⁠ Guests on all Etihad flights until 21 March may request a refund at http://etihad.com/en/help/refund-form or through their travel agent.

•⁠ Guests who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent directly.

Bahrain has intercepted and destroyed 86 missiles and 148 drones since the beginning of the Iranian attacks, the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported.

The UAE intercepted 119 drones and 15 ballistic missiles, according to Khaleeja Times.

Authorities said the country’s air defence systems detected 16 ballistic missiles, successfully intercepting 15 of them, while one missile fell into the sea.

During the same period, air defence systems also detected 121 drones. Of these, 119 were intercepted, while two landed within UAE territory.

Dubai Police have advised residents not to share photos during sensitive situations, warning that such images could be misused or taken out of context.

Iran’s army on Saturday said its navy had launched a large wave of drone attacks targeting Israel as well as US bases in Kuwait, as the regional conflict entered its second week.

"The Iranian Navy targeted American bases and occupied territories with a massive wave of drone attacks," the army said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.

According to the statement, the targets included the Al-Minhad base in the UAE and another base in Kuwait, along with a "strategic facility" in Israel.

Dubai authorities have dismissed claims circulating on social media that a missile struck Dubai International Airport, saying the reports are false.

In a post on X, officials said authorities had dealt with a “limited incident resulting from the fall of a shrapnel fragment caused by a successful interception operation by air defenses, with no injuries recorded.”

The statement clarified that the situation did not involve any direct strike on the airport.

“There is no truth to what is currently being circulated on social media sites regarding any incident at Dubai International Airport,” the authorities said.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed Class 12 board examinations scheduled for March 9, 10 and 11 in several Middle East countries.

Authorities said the exams will be conducted on new dates, which will be announced later. The situation will be reviewed again on March 10, after which a decision will be taken regarding examinations scheduled from March 12 onwards.

The postponement affects students in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates after officials assessed the current situation in the region.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi have requested hotels across the emirate to allow guests to extend their check-out dates after flight and cruise schedules were disrupted, Khaleeja Times reported.

After a brief halt in operations, Emirates Airlines has announced the resumption of its flights.

The airline confirmed, “Passengers with confirmed bookings for this afternoon’s flights, including those transiting through Dubai on connecting services, may proceed to the airport.”

Dubai International Airport has announced a partial resumption of operations following earlier disruptions, AFP reported.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) on Saturday said all operations have been temporarily suspended for the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew.

“All procedures are being managed in line with established safety protocols,” it said.

Emirates on Saturday said that all flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice. According to Emirates, the safety of passengers and crew is of the highest priority and will not be compromised. The airline said they will share updates when available.

Arab League Foreign ministers will hold an urgent meeting on Sunday, March 8, to discuss the ongoing Iranian attacks. The meeting, which will be held via videoconference, was requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Egypt, Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki said.

Dubai’s Global Village said it will remain closed on Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8, as a precautionary safety measure in line with official guidance.

A Qatar Airways Airbus A380 has departed from Doha Airport on Saturday, as limited flight operations resume, data from Flightradar24 showed. According to Flightradar24, this was the first flight to take off from Doha since last Saturday, when the airspace was closed, and operations were suspended.

The UAE’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that its air defence systems are actively intercepting incoming missiles and drones from Iran. The Ministry of Interior sent an emergency alert to mobile phones across Dubai, warning of a potential missile threat. Residents are instructed to seek immediate shelter in the nearest secure building, stay away from windows, doors, and open areas, and await further instructions.

The Kuwait Army said on Friday it successfully intercepted and destroyed 12 drones and 14 missiles from Iran. No injuries or material damages have been reported from the interceptions, the army said.

The Indian Embassy in Qatar has activated additional 24/7 helplines to provide assistance to Indian nationals stranded in the country.

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Data from tracker Flightradar24 showed flights bound for Dubai are in a holding pattern over the airport following the ‘minor incident’ caused by the fall of debris.

The Dubai Media Office has confirmed that there was a minor incident at the Dubai Airport resulting from the fall of debris after an interception. An official statement noted that no injuries have been reported. Authorities have also denied reports circulating on social media regarding any incidents at Dubai International Airport.

Ain Dubai and Dubai Parks and Resorts will remain closed this weekend – Saturday and Sunday, as precautionary safety measures amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

Officials said that the closures aim to ensure the safety of all visitors and staff, reported Gulf News.

The UAE Ministry of Defence announced that the country’s air defence systems detected 9 ballistic missiles today (6th March 2026), all of which were intercepted and destroyed.

The ministry also reported the detection of 112 drones, noting that air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 109 of them, while 3 drones fell within the country’s territory.

UAE's Ministry of Defence said the armed forces are fully prepared to counter threats and safeguard national security.

“UAE Armed Forces remain on high alert and are at full readiness to deal with any threats and to firmly confront any attempts to undermine the country’s security, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and resources,” the ministry said.

Qatar announced Friday it would partially resume flights for passenger evacuations and cargo through designated contingency routes. Dubai Airports, which runs the UAE city’s main airports, said it has facilitated more than 1,140 flights over the past three and a half days and was adding more daily.

Dubai-based Emirates said Friday it expected to restore its full flight network in the coming days, depending on airspace access and operational conditions, adding more options for passengers who have been relying on Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan as key exit points because flights have remained operational in those countries.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said on Saturday that it intercepted and destroyed the missile. It was launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, a major military installation in eastern Riyadh.

Alyssa Ramos' evacuation from Kuwait took 48 hours and carried her across four continents. The US government did not help with any part of it, the travel blogger said.

Hamad International Airport Statement:

"In follow-up to the statement issued by the General Civil Aviation Authority regarding the partial resumption of air navigation in the State of Qatar, Hamad International Airport confirms the operation of a limited number of flights solely for the evacuation of stranded passengers and air cargo operations, on Saturday, March 7, amid the continued temporary closure of the State of Qatar's airspace due to the prevailing regional circumstances in the area, which remain beyond our control.

Hamad International Airport clarifies that the operation of additional flights in the coming days will remain subject to ongoing assessment of the security situation by the competent authorities, with the safety of passengers and employees remaining at the forefront of our priorities, noting that normal flight operations will resume immediately upon the General Civil Aviation Authority in the State of Qatar announcing the safe reopening of the airspace.

Hamad International Airport continues to work closely with relevant government entities and its airline partners to support affected passengers and air cargo companies, and urges dear passengers not to head to the airport at this time, and to communicate directly with the relevant airlines to inquire about their flights.

All air operations remain subject to regulatory approvals and the safety of prevailing security conditions."

Flight from Dubai arrives at airport amid Israel-Iran conflict, a passenger at the Ahmedabad airport says, "There is no big problem in Dubai, but the flights are getting rescheduled...I am feeling very happy to be back in India..."

Saudi Arabia says it intercepted ballistic missile fired at air base

Air India and Air India Express said their scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat are continuing as normal after being assessed safe for operations.

The airline also announced additional non-scheduled flights to help bring stranded passengers back to India. These special services will operate to and from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Muscat, Ras Al-Khaimah and Sharjah on March 7.

Meanwhile, Air India said its flights to Europe and North America are running normally, with aircraft using safe alternative routes where necessary.

The Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the United Arab Emirates is located alongside the Port of Fujairah and is home to the Middle East’s largest commercial storage capacity for refined oil products, according to information available on its official website.

A fire broke out in the area after debris from a drone fell to the ground. Authorities said the drone had been successfully intercepted by air defence systems before the incident occurred.

In a brief social media update, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) said the situation is now under control and the flames have been contained.

Domestic airlines are scheduled to operate 96 flights to and from the Middle East on Friday while the carriers have cancelled 278 international services for the day, the government said on Friday amid the conflict in the region, news agency PTI reported.

Dubai Humanitarian has reaffirmed that it remains fully prepared to continue its operations in support of emergency humanitarian responses worldwide.

The organisation said it maintains “full operational readiness”, ensuring that its facilities and services remain active to assist global relief efforts during crises.

“Dubai Humanitarian continues, in partnership with United Nations agencies, including the World Health Organisation, alongside a number of international partners, to provide forms of support and relief assistance to vulnerable communities in various parts of the world,” the Dubai Media Office said on X.

Hotels, tourist attractions, cultural landmarks, museums and visitor experiences in Abu Dhabi are continuing to operate normally, a spokesperson for the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi told Gulf News.

The official added that DCT Abu Dhabi is coordinating closely with relevant government authorities to ensure support for visitors currently in the UAE, as well as for tourism partners, employees and residents during this period.

Air France has prolonged the suspension of its flights to and from several Middle Eastern destinations, including Dubai, Riyadh, Tel Aviv and Beirut, Reuters reported.

Dubai Police have advised motorists to stay calm and continue driving safely if they hear a warning alert while on the road.

Residents across Qatar received missile alert notifications on their mobile phones, according to a report by Reuters.

Canada has chartered a flight to take 180 Canadians from Dubai to Istanbul, Foreign Minister Anita Anand told reporters on Friday, saying around 3,500 citizens had asked for help in leaving the Middle East, Reuters reported.

Authorities in Fujairah have contained a fire that broke out at the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone (FIZ), according to a report by Khaleej Times.

The blaze was triggered by shrapnel from a drone that had been intercepted by air defence systems. Emergency response teams worked continuously to bring the situation under control.

Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported in the incident. Authorities also urged the public to rely on official sources for updates and avoid circulating rumours or unverified information.