A loud explosion rocked the heart of Dubai on Thursday, with the blast reportedly heard near the Burj Khalifa in a residential building.
In a post on X, the Dubai Government Media Office confirmed the incident and said that no injuries were reported.
“Dubai authorities confirm a minor incident involving a drone that fell onto the façade of a building on Sheikh Zayed Road. No injuries were reported,” Dubai govt said.
The Gulf region has borne the brunt of Iran’s wrath following the start of the Iran-Israel-US war, with 24 people killed across the area, including seven US service members and 11 civilians.
Earlier, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense stated that the country’s defense forces are currently dealing with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran. The ministry confirmed that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions.
The Defence Ministry said that UAE air defenses are actively responding to these threats, and the ministry reiterated that the noises reported across the country are due to the interception of missiles and drones by air defense systems.
Iran warns its neighbours
Iran has reportedly carried out several attacks on its neighbouring countries since early March 2026, describing them as retaliation in the ongoing conflict.
Between March 10 and 11, Iran reportedly struck multiple targets in neighboring countries with drone attacks.
Iran has explicitly stated that it will target any regional country if attacks against Iranian territory originate from their soil or US military bases located within them.
West Asia conflict
The conflict in West Asia began after Israel and the United States carried out a joint strike on Iran on February 28, reportedly killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior Iranian officials.
In response, Iran launched missile and air strikes on US military bases in Iraq, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia.
Iran also targeted military bases and air defence systems in neighbouring countries that it accused of assisting the US operation. Tehran later said it would halt attacks on these countries if they ensured that their territories would not be used for further strikes against Iran.
The Iran-US-Israel war, now in its 13th day, has caused widespread destruction, with more than 2,000 casualties reported across several countries. Iran has borne the brunt of the conflict, with over 1,300 civilians killed, according to Iranian state media and the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs.
Iran has also claimed that 9,734 non-military buildings, including 16,291 residential units, have been hit during the war. Additionally, 77 medical centres and 16 Red Crescent facilities were reportedly struck in the attacks.
