Skip to content
War Watch

IAC between Iran and the UAE

[] // resources/views/partials/content-single-conflict.blade.php

IAC between Iran and the UAE

By juliette

The IAC between Iran and the UAE was triggered on 28 February 2026 when Iran started launching retaliatory attacks against US bases and assets located in the sovereign territory of the UAE.1‘Multiple Arab states that host US assets targeted in Iran retaliation’, Al Jazeera, 28 February 2026. The Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE is a critical airbase for the United States; it uses the base to launch attacks on Islamic State and for reconnaissance missions.2‘Where Are US Forces Stationed in the Middle East?’, Modern Diplomacy, 28 February 2026; L. Korte, ‘Here’s what’s going on at US bases in Middle East amid Iran attacks’, Stars and Stripes, 1 March 2026. Although multiple missiles fired from Iran were intercepted, satellite imagery later revealed that two of Al Dhafra’s hangars sustained heavy damage in the initial wave of attacks.3J. Gambrell, ‘Satellite images begin to show damage wrought across the region by Iran war’, The Tomes of Israel, 31 March 2026; M. Kelly et al, ‘U.S. troops had little protection from drone strike that killed 6, imagery shows’, The Washington Post, 4 March 2026. The 28 February 2026 attacks also targeted the luxury Fairmont The Palm hotel in proximity to Dubai’s Palm Island tourist attraction,4S. Renfroe, ‘Iranian drones strike apartments in city that’s home to NSA Bahrain’, Stars and Stripes, 6 March 2026; M. Thomas and P. Brown, ‘Explosion at Dubai hotel captured in phone footage’, BBC, 28 February 2026 Dubai International Airport,T. Bennett et al, ‘Luxury Dubai hotel hit as Iran launches retaliatory strikes across region’, BBC, 28 February 2026 a building in Dubai’s financial district,5L. Korte, ‘Here’s what’s going on at US bases in Middle East amid Iran attacks’, Stars and Stripes, 1 March 2026 the US consulate,6‘Hundreds of drones target Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE amid Iran war’, Al Jazeera, 4 March 2026 and a port facility in Fujairah.7‘Hundreds of drones target Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE amid Iran war’, Al Jazeera, 4 March 2026. A fire broke out at the Fairmont hotel, the airport sustained minor damage, and debris from an intercepted missile caused a fire in Dubai’s largest commercial port.8T. Bennett et al, ‘Luxury Dubai hotel hit as Iran launches retaliatory strikes across region’, BBC, 28 February 2026. Six civilians of Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationality were killed in the initial attacks, and at least 141 people were injured.9L. Korte, ‘Here’s what’s going on at US bases in Middle East amid Iran attacks’, Stars and Stripes, 1 March 2026. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), the UAE has seen daily drone, ballistic, and cruise missile attacks by Iran between 28 February and 8 April 2026.10P. Hempel et al, ‘Iran Update Special Report, April 8, 2026’, Institute for the Study of War, 8 April 2026. At the time of writing, Iranian drone and missile attacks continued in the UAE. The IAC between Iran and the UAE is ongoing.