Iran Warns UAE to Evacuate Dubai and Abu Dhabi Airports if U.S. Strikes Iranian Infrastructure Tonight

Iran Warns UAE to Evacuate Dubai and Abu Dhabi Airports if U.S. Strikes Iranian Infrastructure

Iran's Fars News Agency — a media outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — has cited a senior security official warning the United Arab Emirates to immediately evacuate Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, as well as the ports of Fujairah and Jebel Ali, should the United States strike Iranian civilian infrastructure.

Mohammad Marandi, a member of Tehran's negotiating delegation media team currently in Pakistan, echoed the threat on X, stating that if President Donald Trump continues targeting civilian infrastructure, the Islamic Republic will retaliate against the critical infrastructure of its supporters.

"The Kuwaiti government has already paid a price for these attacks," Marandi wrote, adding that if the trend continues, UAE residents should distance themselves from potential targets.

Kuwait's Infrastructure Hit Twice

Kuwait reported that Iran struck a power and water desalination plant as well as an oil facility, accusing Tehran of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.

"Another power and seawater desalination plant has been subjected to a hostile attack, causing a fire at one of the facility's units," Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity and Water said in a statement.

This marked the second attack on Kuwaiti power and water infrastructure within two days. Friday's first strike also caused fires and damage, while Saturday's attack ignited blazes at two separate locations, injuring several firefighters and a worker.

"The repeated targeting of these vital facilities reveals a systematic, hostile pattern directed at civilian sites and critical infrastructure, endangering civilian lives," Kuwait's Foreign Ministry stated.

Kuwait's national airline also announced the suspension of air traffic at Kuwait International Airport due to rocket and drone attacks, forcing most flights to be rescheduled.

Iran Intensifies Attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain

In recent days, Iran has escalated its attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, both of which host major U.S. military installations.

Iran's military said drones struck "aircraft shelters and parking areas at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, U.S. military fuel storage tanks, and several connector bridges inside Bahrain."

UAE Among the Hardest Hit

The UAE has been one of the worst-affected countries in Iran's retaliatory campaign against the United States and its Middle Eastern allies.

On February 28, 2026, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation codenamed Operation Epic Fury, framed by President Trump as a preemptive strike to destroy Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile arsenal, and military leadership. Explosions were reported across Tehran and other Iranian cities, with strikes targeting nuclear sites including Natanz and Fordow, missile production facilities, naval assets, and key command centers.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during the operation.

Tehran responded almost immediately with Operation True Promise IV, triggering a region-wide escalation. Iran launched missiles, drones, and other munitions at Israel — including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem — U.S. military bases in the Gulf, and civilian and economic targets across the Middle East.

U.S. Military Presence in the UAE

The United States maintains a significant military footprint in the UAE. The most prominent installation is Al Dhafra Air Base, located near Abu Dhabi. Home to the U.S. Air Force's 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra supports reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, combat air operations, fighter deployments, airborne early warning aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, drones, and regional surveillance missions.

Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, while not a formal military base, is the busiest U.S. Navy port call location in the broader Middle East region, capable of accommodating aircraft carriers and other large vessels. U.S. Navy ships call there frequently for logistics and transit.

The UAE's strategic importance to U.S. operations, its economic ties to global trade, and its geographic proximity to Iran have made it a primary target in Iran's retaliatory strikes.

The First 72 Hours After Operation Epic Fury

In the first 72 hours following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, Iran reportedly fired more than 400 ballistic missiles and approximately 1,000 drones at Gulf targets, with several aimed at the UAE.

The UAE deployed U.S.-supplied THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and Patriot air defense systems to intercept what became the largest aerial assault of its kind in history.

To evade detection, Iranian forces reportedly employed a "mosaic defense" strategy, combining ballistic missiles with swarms of low-cost drones — such as the Shahed-136 kamikaze variant — launched from mobile platforms including trucks disguised as civilian vehicles. The sheer volume of projectiles was designed to overwhelm defense systems. Iran sustained the high-tempo assault for several days before tapering off, reportedly due to concerns over inventory depletion.

The opening salvo targeted Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi with ballistic missiles and drones; footage of thick smoke over the capital on February 28, 2026 circulated widely on social media.

On March 1, 2026, Dubai came under attack. Drone swarms reportedly struck near Palm Jumeirah, igniting a fire at a luxury hotel. The Dubai Media Office confirmed an explosion in a residential tower, reportedly injuring four people. Dubai International Airport was closed indefinitely the same day after interceptor debris scattered across runways, stranding tens of thousands of passengers.

Iranian missiles also struck Jebel Ali Port — a critical node in global trade — causing fires and disrupting shipping. Multiple waves of strikes hit energy infrastructure, briefly halting operations at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) facilities and an Amazon data center.

THAAD systems conducted multiple intercept cycles, achieving an interception rate of approximately 85%, though UAE officials reportedly acknowledged challenges in countering low-flying drones.

Since then, the frequency of attacks on the UAE has decreased, but their precision has improved markedly. UAE estimates put the total number of projectiles aimed at Emirati assets at over 1,000, plunging the country into crisis and severely impacting its economy and tourism sector.

France has deployed Rafale fighter jets to the UAE to defend its military base from the growing Iranian threat, as previously reported by the Eurasian Times.

According to data published by the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies on March 4, Iran fired more than twice as many missiles at Gulf states as it did at Israel, and roughly 20 times as many drones — with the UAE and Kuwait bearing the brunt of the strikes.

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Image: File photo of THAAD air defense system.

— ET Desk and AFP

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