Dubai‑Abu Dhabi News Updates: Explosions In Gulf Cities As Iran Launches Fresh Strikes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday proposed a swap with US and Israeli allies in the Middle East, offering Kyiv’s advanced drone interceptors in exchange for PAC-3 air defence missiles. The move comes as Iran’s retaliatory drone attacks have targeted military and civilian infrastructure across the Gulf following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Zelenskyy, speaking after calls with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim, said the exchange would help protect skies from hundreds of incoming Shahed drones, a threat that conventional missiles alone struggle to counter.

Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday said that 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 by foreign airlines have been cancelled so far due to the evolving airspace situation in parts of West Asia.

“To facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, 24 flights are being operated by Indian carriers today. Further, Indian carriers are planning 58 flights on 4th March, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express,” the government shared on X.

Loud explosions heard across Dubai on Tuesday were confirmed by the Dubai Media Office as the result of successful interceptions by the city’s air defence systems.

“The relevant teams continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to ensure everyone’s safety, and they urge the public to obtain information from its official sources,” the Dubai Media Office said in a statement.

An ATP Challenger tennis tournament in Fujairah was briefly suspended on Tuesday after drone strikes targeted nearby oil refineries. Falling debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire at an oil field around 15 kilometres from the tournament venue.

In a statement, the ATP said play was halted following a security alert and players, officials and staff were moved to designated safe areas in line with security protocols. The body added that the health and safety of everyone involved remains its top priority.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has released a list of emergency helplines and contact details for Indian citizens in the Middle East amid escalating conflict in the region. The numbers cover the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Palestine.

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Emirates on Tuesday announced that all its scheduled flights to and from Dubai will remain suspended till 23:59 UAE time on 4 March due to airspace closures across the region. The airline is operating a limited number of repatriation and cargo flights on 3 and 4 March, prioritising passengers with earlier bookings.

Customers are advised not to go to the airport unless they have been directly notified or hold a confirmed booking. Emirates said it is closely monitoring the situation and will update its operational schedule accordingly.

Operations have resumed at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone after a fire caused by falling drone debris was brought under control, authorities said on Tuesday. The blaze broke out after air defence systems successfully intercepted a drone, leading to debris falling in the area.

Officials confirmed that emergency teams acted quickly, no injuries were reported, and normal activities have now restarted. The incident comes as tensions remain high across the Gulf region.

Three Indian seafarers have lost their lives and one has been injured amid escalating tensions in West Asia, according to the Directorate General of Shipping, cited by PTI.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Indian missions and shipping companies to ensure the safety of other nationals in the region.

Air India on Tuesday welcomed passengers and crew arriving from Dubai onboard flight at Indira Gandhi Airport in New Delhi.

This marked the first international arrival by an Indian carrier into the national capital today, carrying 149 passengers and eight operating crew members, the airline said.

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu is back home in Bengaluru after being stranded in Dubai amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

The two-time Olympic medallist shared her relief and gratitude in a post on X, offering a glimpse into the anxiety she faced during the past few days.

“Back home in Bangalore and safe. The last few days have been intense and uncertain, but I’m truly grateful to be back to my house. A heartfelt thank you to the incredible ground teams, Dubai authorities, airport staff, immigration, and every single person who stepped up and took such good care of us during a very difficult time. The empathy and professionalism meant more than words can say. For now, it’s time to rest, reset, and figure out the next steps,” Sindhu wrote.

A pre-wedding shoot in Dubai has left five people of two families from Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli district stranded there after the disruption of flight services due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Ajay Jain, a coal trader and resident of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar, told PTI on Monday that his elder son Prince Jain (27), who is scheduled to get married in April, had travelled to Dubai along with his fiancee Payal Jain (26).

Prince’s younger brother Arihant (19), Payal’s brother Monu Jain (30) and his wife Muskan (28) had accompanied them, he said.

Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has assured that he is safe in Dubai and continuing with his work commitments. The singer took to Instagram to share his whereabouts, stating that he is “safe” and currently “working.”

Honey Singh, whose real name is Hirdesh Singh, posted a video on Instagram from his studio.

Domestic airlines today said that they are planning to start to operate special relief flights from the Middle East to facilitate the return of stranded passengers due to the growing conflict between the US-Israel and Iran.

IndiGo has planned to operate 10 special relief flights from Jeddah to India, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

SpiceJet said it will operate four special flights from the UAE today to facilitate the return of Indian nationals stranded there following the sudden closure of airspace.

The Ministry said that IndiGo would undertake 10 special relief operations from Jeddah on March 3 to help stranded passengers, subject to approvals and airspace conditions. The airline is coordinating with the Consulate General of India in Jeddah.

In a travel advisory, the airline said it would operate four dedicated flights from Jeddah to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad on Tuesday to help customers who were already booked but unable to travel earlier.

The first flight from Abu Dhabi has landed at Kempegowda Airport in Bengaluru amid flight disruptions caused by the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict over the past few days.

Several flights in the region were affected due to airspace restrictions and security concerns, leaving many passengers stranded at airports.

Passengers arriving in Bengaluru said airlines made arrangements for those whose flights were cancelled. A passenger says, “… Once we got stuck in the Abu Dhabi airport, Etihad Airways took good care of us. They booked the hotels for all the passengers whose flights were cancelled.”

A flight from Abu Dhabi landed safely at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi (IGI) Airport amid escalating tensions in West Asia following the Iran-Israel conflict, which has disrupted flight operations across the region.

Air travel through several Middle Eastern routes has been affected due to airspace closures and security concerns, leading to cancellations and delays for many international services.

Passengers arriving in Delhi described the tense atmosphere in the skies during their journey. A returnee named Shiv says, “We could see missiles being constantly intercepted. The airspace is very busy. There was not a very visible impact in Abu Dhabi.”

IndiGo has planned 10 special relief flights from Jeddah to India on March 3, 2026 to help stranded passengers return home, subject to necessary approvals and prevailing airspace conditions.

The airline said it is coordinating with the Consulate General of India in Jeddah to facilitate passengers for the planned operations.

Qatar’s air force shot down two aircraft approaching from Iran on Monday, the country’s defence ministry said, hours after Iranian attacks targeted gas facilities in the Gulf state.

In a statement, the ministry said: “Qatar Emiri Air Force successfully shot down two (SU24) aircraft coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran. They also successfully intercepted seven ballistic missiles through air defenses, and intercepted five drones by Qatar Emiri Air Force and Qatar Emiri Navy Forces, which targeted several areas in the state today.”

QatarEnergy has stopped the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and related products following military attacks on its operating facilities in Ras Laffan Industrial City and Mesaieed Industrial City in Qatar.

The company said the decision was taken after the strikes targeted its industrial sites. QatarEnergy added that it values its relationships with stakeholders and will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.

Finnair has suspended its flights to and from Doha and Dubai due to the heightened security situation in the Middle East.

The airline said Doha flights will remain cancelled from February 28 to March 6, while flights to Dubai have been suspended from February 28 to March 28. Finnair said affected passengers will be contacted and apologised for the disruption and uncertainty caused by the situation.