UAE halts Shah gas field operations after Iran drone strike

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UAE halts Shah gas field operations after Iran drone strike

March 17, 2026

DUBAI,— Operations at the United Arab Emirates’ Shah gas field remained suspended on Tuesday after an Iranian drone strike, while another attack triggered a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, local media offices said.

No injuries were reported in either case, officials added.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said an unidentified projectile hit a tanker 23 nautical miles east of Fujairah, causing minor structural damage.

The Shah field attack on Monday affected a site about 180 km southwest of Abu Dhabi and considered one of the largest sour gas fields in the world.

The incident adds to pressure on the UAE’s energy sector.

The country’s daily oil output has fallen by more than half since the conflict began, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz forcing ADNOC to carry out wide production shut-ins, two sources told Reuters.

Oil loading at Fujairah port, a major export hub, was halted twice in recent days after separate drone incidents, though some activity has restarted, sources said.

Gulf Arab states including the UAE have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on Feb. 28, 2026, targeting U.S. missions, bases and oil sites, ports, airports and civilian areas.

Targets in the UAE included airports, seaports, hotels and residential zones in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the report said.

Some well-known buildings, including Fairmont Palm hotel and Burj Al Arab, were damaged.

(With files from Reuters)