At least one person has been confirmed dead and 11 others injured following missile and drone attacks linked to Iran that affected major airports in the United Arab Emirates late Saturday night, authorities have said.
Officials reported that parts of airport facilities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were impacted after air defence systems intercepted multiple incoming aerial threats.
In a statement released Sunday via its official social media platform, Abu Dhabi Airports confirmed that four individuals sustained injuries following an incident at Dubai International Airport.
Emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene, while flight operations were temporarily suspended as safety assessments were carried out.
Authorities also disclosed that an intercepted drone targeting Zayed International Airport resulted in falling debris that caused one fatality involving an Asian national and injured seven others.
“The interception led to debris falling within surrounding areas, resulting in casualties,” the statement noted, urging residents and the public to avoid spreading unverified information and to rely solely on official updates.
According to government sources, the UAE’s air defence systems successfully engaged dozens of missiles and drones launched from Iran, preventing what officials described as potentially larger-scale destruction.
However, fragments from intercepted projectiles reportedly caused limited damage near airport zones and residential districts.
The attacks forced authorities to temporarily shut down national airspace and suspend operations at major aviation hubs, leaving thousands of passengers stranded as airlines cancelled or delayed several flights.
The incident comes amid rising tensions across the Middle East, with international reports indicating the strikes were part of retaliatory actions following earlier military operations involving the United States and Israel against Iranian targets.
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