The UAE was drawn into the center of the conflict: Dubai and Abu Dhabi were seriously shaken...
The tension in the Middle East is now felt not only around military bases, but also in the largest cities of the United Arab Emirates. After Iran launched retaliatory strikes on US military infrastructure near Abu Dhabi, the UAE became one of the most dangerous points in the conflict. According to Reuters, although the strikes were mainly directed at areas with US military presence, their consequences also affected civilian facilities and city life.
According to reports, one of the main targets was the Al-Dafra airbase, located approximately 30 kilometers from Abu Dhabi. However, the explosions were not limited to military territory: loud sounds, smoke, and warning signals were also recorded in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Reuters describes these events as a very serious escalation, unusual for the Gulf states.
In Dubai, fires and smoke were observed, in particular, around Palm, one of the most popular and prestigious areas of the city. The UAE official statement said that air defense systems shot down missiles and drones targeted by Iran, and the operation was carried out with high effectiveness. At the same time, WAM stated that "there is no significant material damage" in this case. This means that, despite some videos and claims circulating on social networks, not all details have yet been confirmed by official sources.
According to Reuters, at least one person died in Abu Dhabi as a result of a missile or its debris fall. This means that the conflict now has not only a geopolitical or military dispute, but also a direct impact on the safety of civilians.
Various videos and allegations of explosions near Atlantis, Fairmont The Palm, Five, or other hotels have circulated on social media. However, official authorities have not fully and accurately confirmed which of these objects exactly belonged to them. Therefore, a cautious approach is important in this part: what has been confirmed so far is that a fire and danger situation has arisen in Dubai, but not all claims have been formalized for each specific point.
After these events, serious disruptions were observed in the life of the city. According to Reuters, Dubai airports have temporarily suspended all flights. This dealt a heavy blow to international flights: it also affected the operations of companies such as Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad, leaving passengers in and out of the region stranded.
The problem with flights is not limited to the UAE alone. According to Reuters, serious disruptions have begun in the entire Middle East airspace following US-Israel strikes and Iran's counterattacks. A number of airlines canceled flights or changed routes. For this reason, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become centers not only of security, but also of a logistical and transport crisis.
In short, this time the UAE has become not a party observing the conflict from the sidelines, but a region experiencing its direct impact. Although military targets were the main target, the explosions, fires, casualties, and airport shutdowns indicate that the shadow of the war has now reached the world's most stable cities, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
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