Dubai's international airport and its landmark Burj Al Arab hotel sustained damage as overnight Iranian retaliatory attacks spread across the Gulf states and the wider Middle East, reaching beyond US bases and interests.
Four people were injured at the airport, the emirate's media office said early on Sunday.
Dubai’s media office said on X that “a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained,” without giving further details.
It later also confirmed that a drone was intercepted, and debris caused a minor fire on the Burj Al Arab's outer facade.
Dubai is the biggest tourism and trade hub in the Middle East and its airport is one of the world's busiest travel hubs.
The Burj Al Arab hotel has long been one of the emirate’s most recognizable symbols. Opened in 1999 on an artificial island off Jumeirah Beach, the sail-shaped tower quickly became an emblem of a city intent on projecting luxury on a global scale. On Saturday, a fire broke out near another hotel on the city's artificially made Palm Jumeirah Island.
Aviation sources had told Reuters that an overnight Iranian attack damaged one of the terminals at the airport.
Abu Dhabi Airports also said in a post on X that an incident at Zayed International Airport in the UAE's capital resulted in one fatality involving an Asian national and seven injuries. It later deleted the post.
One of the berths at Dubai's Jebel Ali Port also caught fire because of debris resulting from an aerial interception, the Dubai media office said in a separate statement.
Several Gulf Arab states said they were targeted by Iranian missiles on Saturday after Tehran pledged to retaliate against strikes by the United States and Israel, bringing conflict to a part of the Arab world that prides itself on relative safety.
In Qatar, a video circulating online showed the moment of impact of an Iranian missile on the Al Udeid Air Base.
Earlier, the Qatari military said in a statement that it had intercepted incoming Iranian missiles before they reached Qatari territory after "joint coordination." Several successive waves of blasts were heard in the Qatari capital Doha.
Qatar has since suspended all public events, gatherings and entertainment at hotels and tourism establishments until further notice, according to a Qatar tourism circular.
Earlier, Kuwait, the UAE, and Jordan, all of which also have a US military presence, said they had intercepted Iranian missiles targeting their territory.
"All occupied territories and the criminal US bases in the region have been struck by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles. This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated," Iran's Revolutionary Guards said.
Airlines suspended flights across the Middle East on Saturday, including to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Flight-tracking maps showed airspace over much of the region virtually empty.
Residential buildings hit in Bahrain
Bahrain confirmed an attack inside its territory and said a service center of the US Fifth Fleet had been struck. Video from a Reuters witness showed a plume of grey smoke rising near the small island nation's coast as sirens wailed.
Several residential buildings in the Bahraini capital were also hit, the Interior Ministry announced.
Explosions heard in UAE, government urges public not to panic-buy supplies
Loud booms were heard across Abu Dhabi, according to five witnesses, including two Reuters correspondents. Some residents received a phone alert telling them to shelter in the closest secure building and stay away from windows because of missile threats.
The government issued an SMS to all citizens and residents, instructing them to remain indoors and await official instructions.
State media in the UAE said one person had been killed in Abu Dhabi, but gave no details.
In Dubai, the region’s business and tourism hub, five large blasts were heard late in the afternoon. While normal life carried on in some areas, some grocery delivery apps experienced significant delays. Some users appeared to be ordering in bulk.
A worker at a supermarket at Dubai’s Nshama Town Square, who did not want to be named, said: “This is not normal. Some suppliers have said they won’t restock some items. The water is already running out.”
Fighter jets could be seen flying around the Yas Island area of Abu Dhabi on Saturday afternoon.
The Kuwaiti army says it dealt with missiles in Kuwaiti airspace. The state news agency later reported that 12 wounded were transported to hospitals amid Iranian strikes.
Jordan said it had downed two Iranian ballistic missiles.
Global airlines suspended flights across the Middle East, with flight maps showing the airspace over Iran virtually empty.
Turkey's Erdogan says US-Israeli strikes on Iran violate its sovereignty, says Iran's attacks 'also unacceptable'
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that US-Israeli attacks on Iran violated Iran's sovereignty and targeted the peace of the Iranian people, adding he was saddened and concerned.
In a speech in Istanbul, Erdogan said Iran's attacks on Gulf countries were also unacceptable, and he warned that without restraint and diplomacy, the region risked being "dragged into a circle of fire."
He called for urgent action to prevent further bloodshed, adding that Ankara will accelerate diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and revive negotiations.