The Defense Ministry of the United Arab Emirates reported on 28 March 2026 that it successfully intercepted several missiles and drones coming from Iran. 20 missiles and 37 drones were involved in these attacks. Six people were injured in Abu Dhabi due to falling debris, including five Indians and one Pakistani national. Officials said that the injuries were minor to moderate. Additionally, fires also broke out at three places near Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), which were later extinguished.
ℹ: Syria Military Base Attack: Drone attack on Syrian military base, drones had entered from Iraqi border.
What happened and what did the government say?
According to the Defense Ministry, on Saturday 28 March 2026, UAE air defense systems and fighter aircraft together destroyed 20 ballistic missiles and 37 drones in the air. The ministry also said that the voices heard across the country were the result of this action.
The ministry reaffirmed its high preparedness to counter any attempt that threatens the security and sovereignty of the country. The Abu Dhabi Media Office urged the public to only seek information from official sources and not to spread unreliable information. Authorities also prohibited residents from touching or taking photographs of fallen debris and asked them to report any such incidents to emergency services.
What was the impact on Indians and other immigrants?
Six people were injured in Abu Dhabi due to falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones. These include five Indians and one Pakistani citizen. All suffered minor to moderate injuries and were immediately given medical aid. Emergency services responded quickly and secured the affected areas.
There was a fire at three places around Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), which was caused by debris. Fire brigade teams took immediate action to control the fire and prevent it from spreading further. All the fires have now been extinguished and cooling work is underway.
Have such attacks happened before?
Since the beginning of the conflict, UAE air defenses have intercepted a total of 398 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,872 drones. A total of 10 people have died and 178 people have been injured in these attacks. The dead included two armed forces members, a Moroccan civilian contractor and eight civilians of various nationalities, including Pakistanis, Nepalese, Bangladeshis, Palestinians and Indians.