The air defense system of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has successfully destroyed 7 ballistic missiles and 16 drones (UAVs) launched by Iran on 23 March 2026. The UAE Ministry of Defense and National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) have confirmed this action. Authorities have appealed to the general public to stay in safe places and rely only on official news.
How much damage was caused in this attack and what was the impact on Indians?
During this latest attack, an Indian citizen suffered minor injuries due to falling missile debris in Al Shawamekh area of Abu Dhabi. In these incidents so far, two soldiers of the UAE Armed Forces have been martyred, while 6 citizens of Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Palestine have died. A total of 161 people were injured, including migrants from several countries including India, Pakistan and Egypt. UAE Ambassador to India Abdulnasir Alshali has assured full assurance of the safety of the Indian community living there.
What do the UAE government and security agencies say?
UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has taken a tough stance and said that the country will not come under the pressure of terrorists. This action of Iran has been described as ‘open aggression’. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have also informed about shooting down missiles and drones coming towards their border on the same day. The table below provides complete data on attacks prevented so far:
Type of attack Total number intercepted Ballistic missiles 352 Cruise missiles 15 Drones (UAVs) 1,789
Security has been increased in the Gulf countries after the threats given by Iran. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has also warned that this tension could have a negative impact on the global economy and oil supply.