Iran launches 186 missiles, 812 drones at UAE since war began

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Iran launches 186 missiles, 812 drones at UAE since war began: ministry

March 3, 2026

ABU DHABI,— The United Arab Emirates’ air defence systems intercepted 11 ballistic missiles and 123 drones on Tuesday, while one missile struck UAE territory without causing casualties, the state-run Emirates News Agency reported.

The Ministry of Defence said that since the start of what it called blatant Iranian aggression, a total of 186 ballistic missiles have been launched toward the UAE.

Of these, 172 were destroyed in the air, 13 fell into the sea, and one reached the country’s soil.

The ministry also reported detecting 812 Iranian drones. Of these, 755 were successfully intercepted, and 57 landed within UAE territory. In addition, eight cruise missiles were detected and neutralized by defence forces.

On Saturday, the United States and Israel carried out airstrikes targeting multiple sites in Iran, resulting in the deaths of several senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Iran launched missile attacks on Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates.

The attacks caused limited material damage and resulted in three fatalities among foreign workers from Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Sixty-eight people suffered minor injuries, including nationals from the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, and Afghanistan.

Officials confirmed that the loud sounds reported across multiple areas of the country were caused by air defence interceptions of ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets targeting drones and cruise missiles.

Some civilian facilities experienced minor to moderate material damage as a result of these defensive operations.

The Ministry of Defence condemned the strikes, describing them as a grave violation of UAE sovereignty and international law.

It said the country reserves the right to respond to the escalation and to take all measures necessary to protect its territory, citizens, residents, and national interests.

The ministry emphasized its readiness to address ongoing threats and to prevent any attempts to undermine national security and stability.

It also urged the public to rely exclusively on official information sources and to avoid circulating unverified or inaccurate reports, emphasizing that public safety remains a top priority at all times.

(With files from WAM | Agencies)