By the second morning of the Iranian assault on the UAE, air defences had destroyed 20 ballistic missiles, 2 cruise missiles and 311 drones. Another 21 drones got through and hit civilian targets.
The UAE Ministry of Defence tallied the damage since the attacks began on February 28, 2026: 165 ballistic missiles, 2 cruise missiles and 541 drones dealt with. The day before, the ministry said, 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones were detected, and most were intercepted.
Deaths, injuries and debris
Three people have died, a Pakistani, a Nepali and a Bangladeshi national. Another 58 residents of several nationalities suffered minor injuries. Falling debris from intercepted weapons caused minor to moderate damage to a number of civilian properties.
In Abu Dhabi, wreckage came down across Saadiyat Island, St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Khalifa City, Beni Yas, Mohamed Bin Zayed City and Al Falah. One civilian was killed. The ministry published photos of the debris.
Dubai authorities said debris hit a building in the Palm Jumeirah area. Four people were hurt and taken to medical facilities. Dubai Civil Defence reported that the fire that followed was under control. Dubai Airports also confirmed an incident at Dubai International Airport, and said emergency teams were responding.
Closures and instructions
The General Civil Aviation Authority closed part of UAE airspace. Flights at Dubai International and Al Maktoum International were suspended until further notice, and passengers at Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports were warned of delays, diversions or cancellations.
The Ministry of Interior sent a broadcast to mobile phones. Residents were told to take shelter in the nearest secure building and keep away from windows, doors and open areas. Schools and universities nationwide moved to distance learning from Monday, March 2, to Wednesday, March 4.
Jebel Jais, Global Village, Dubai Parks and Resorts and Ain Dubai all closed. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation urged private companies to let staff work remotely from 1 to 3 March 2026, and the Dubai International Financial Centre went remote from 2 to 4 March.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the strikes as a “blatant violation” of national sovereignty and a breach of international law and the UN Charter. Officials said the UAE kept the right to respond. They also asked the public to stick to official sources and not to circulate unverified videos or rumours.
Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri told shoppers there was no need to panic-buy, saying strategic reserves covered domestic needs and supply chains were running.
