On the 11th day of the US-Israel-Iran war, several security developments were reported across the UAE. A massive fire broke out at Abu Dhabi’s Ruwais oil refinery following an alleged Iranian drone strike, while the country’s air defences intercepted most of the missiles and drones launched towards its territory. Separately, the UAE banned all drones and light sport aircraft, and British Airways suspended flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai amid the escalating tensions.
Here’s a closer look at the developments that took place throughout the day.
Key developments on March 10
- A massive fire broke out at Abu Dhabi’s largest oil refinery located in the Ruwais Industrial Complex earlier today, resulting from an Iranian drone attack, with no injuries recorded so far.
- British Airways has announced the cancellation of all Abu Dhabi flights till later this year and all Dubai flights till later this month. No specified timeline was announced by the airline.
- The UAE air defences detected 9 ballistic missiles on Tuesday, destroying 8, while 1 fell into the sea. In the same operation, 35 drones were detected, with 26 intercepted and 9 landing within UAE territory.
- Iranian attacks on UAE have resulted in 6 deaths of Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationalities. Minor to moderate injuries were reported among 122 individuals so far — Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, Turkish, Iraqi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Omani, Jordanian, and Palestinian nationalities, Khaleej Times reported.
- UAE’s consulate was in Iraq’s Erbil was targeted in a drone strike earlier today. No casualties were reported.
- UAE has banned all drones and light sport aircraft. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has warned that violations could lead to legal action and reiterated that the measure is necessary to protect public safety and ensure the security of the country’s airspace.
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US says it destroyed 16 mine-laying Iranian vessels amid threats to block Gulf oil exports
The US said it had destroyed more than dozen mine-laying Iranian vessels as Iran threatens to hamper the region's oil exports. The US military released the numbers along with unclassified footage of some of the vessels despite Trump claiming his social media posts there were no reports of Iran planting explosives in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump's Strait of Hormuz warning to Iran: 'If Iran has put out any mines...'
Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran, urging the country to refrain from placing mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Taking to his Truth Social platform, he wrote, "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we have reports of them doing so, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY! If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE! President DONALD J TRUMP."
GCC was 'hit 10 mins after President's apology': Qatar PM slams 'reckless' Iran actions
Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, has strongly condemned Iranian attacks on the State of Qatar and other Gulf countries, saying the justifications provided by Tehran are 'totally rejected'.
In an interview with Sky News, he praised the professionalism of Qatari armed forces and security services in protecting the country, its citizens, residents, and visitors.
Dutch, Danish embassy staff in Tehran to move to Azerbaijan
Denmark and the Netherlands announced Tuesday that they are relocating their respective embassy staff in Tehran to Azerbaijan.
The move follows Spain, Austria and Italy, which are among the countries to have temporarily closed and relocate their embassies to Baku in recent days as the US-Israel war on Iran continues.
"Due to the growing security risks for our employees, it has been decided to temporarily transfer the activities of the Dutch embassy in Iran to Baku, Azerbaijan," Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said on X.
German foreign minister says Gaza must not be forgotten amid Iran war
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said in Jerusalem on Tuesday that the US-Israeli war against Iran should not push the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza out of sight.
"We must not lose sight of the plight of the more than 2 million people there. The humanitarian situation remains dire. Furthermore, there is still insufficient access for humanitarian aid workers," said Wadephul at a press conference with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar.
'We feel safe here': Iranians in UAE say they face support, not discrimination amid war
Iranians living in the UAE say that they have not experienced any sort of discrimination; instead, they have received concern and emotional support from UAE residents as they worry about their families back home.
Iranians said the situation has been emotionally difficult as they follow developments and try to stay in touch with their loved ones back in the home country. However, they said life in the UAE has remained calm, with many residents reaching out to check on them during this uncertain time.
The Indian embassy in Qatar said that about 1,000 Indian passengers travelled to New Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi on Qatar Airways flights on March 10. It added that the mission coordinated with Qatar Airways for facilitation of travel of stranded Indian nationals and emergency cases. We thank Qatar Airways for giving priority to cases on humanitarian grounds.
Another Qatar Airways flight is scheduled for New Delhi on March 11.
The Indian embassy added that it continued to facilitate travel of Indian nationals through Salwa border to Saudi Arabia on temporary transit visas of 96 hours validity.
Arab Parliament condemns Iranian attacks, affirms solidarity with UAE
Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council, received a message from Mohammed Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, in which he affirmed the Arab Parliament’s full support for the United Arab Emirates and its complete solidarity with it in the face of the Iranian attacks it is subjected to.
In his letter, AlYamahi condemned in the strongest terms these attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates, stressing the Arab Parliament’s rejection of these practices, which represent a grave violation of its national sovereignty and a direct threat to its security, stability, and the safety of its citizens.
IEA to hold emergency meeting evaluate oil supply
Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, said IEA member government representatives would meet Tuesday to assess "the current security of supply and market conditions" amid the US-Israel war on Iran.
"I have convened an extraordinary meeting of IEA member governments, which will take place later today to assess the current security of supply and market conditions to inform a subsequent decision on whether to make emergency stocks of IEA countries available to the market," Birol said following a meeting of G7 energy ministers.
Bahrain condemns drone attack on UAE Consulate in Iraq
The Kingdom of Bahrain has strongly condemned the drone attack targeting the Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident as a blatant violation of international law, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
British Airways says cancelled Dubai flights till later this month, Abu Dhabi till later this year
British Airways in a notice to customers, said that it is temporarily reducing its flying schedule in the region due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability.
"We've cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv until later this month and to and from Abu Dhabi until later this year. We're keeping the situation under constant review and are in touch with our customers to offer them a range of options."
It said that it has limited seats remaining on repatriation flights from Oman (Muscat) to London Heathrow on March 11 and 12 for customers with an existing booking.
Death toll in UAE rises to 6
Iranian attacks on UAE have resulted in 6 deaths of Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationalities.
Minor to moderate injuries were recorded among 122 individuals so far — Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, Turkish, Iraqi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Omani, Jordanian, and Palestinian nationalities.
US taking school strike probe ‘very seriously,’ says Hegseth
Hegseth says the Pentagon is taking “very seriously” its investigation into whether the US military struck a school in Iran.
Responding to a question shouted by a reporter at a news conference about accountability for the strike, Hegseth said that “we take things very, very seriously and investigate them thoroughly.”
Video shows expats abandoning their pets as they flee Dubai
Brutal reality of pets being abandoned in apartments in Dubai as their heartless owners flee the city https://t.co/AvjIqzWFDl
— dominic dyer (@domdyer70) March 10, 2026
US plans most intense day of strikes in Iran
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters on Tuesday that “today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran.”
Hegseth’s statement came shortly after he said that “the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest amount of missiles they have fired yet.”
Hegseth warns Russia against involvement in Iran war
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Russia not to get involved in the conflict with Iran, according to CNN.
His remarks came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is not neutral in the matter and reaffirmed his support for Iran.
UAE air defences intercepted 8 missiles, 26 drones today
The UAE air defenses detected 9 ballistic missiles on Tuesday, destroying 8, while 1 fell into the sea. In the same operation, 35 drones were detected, with 26 intercepted and 9 landing within UAE territory.
Iran 'made big mistake' by targeting neighbours, says Hegseth
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran "made a big mistake" by targeting its neighbours. He said "if Iran does anything to stop flow of oil within Hormuz Strait, they will be hit harder than ever."
Meanwhile, Iran's security chief Larijani said the Strait of Hormuz will either be a strait of peace and prosperity for all, or a strait of defeat and suffering for warmongers."
Southern Iran airport damaged in US, Israeli strikes
US and Israeli strikes have hit an airport in southern Iran, damaging part of the site as well as aircraft, local media reported on Tuesday.
"Following an American-Zionist attack on Kerman Airport, part of it was damaged and two old, out-of-service aircraft were hit," Iran's Tasnim news agency said, quoting a statement from the governor's office in the southern province of Kerman.
It is not clear whether there are any military facilities at or near the site.
UAE bids farewell to troops in military funeral ceremony
UAE's Ministry of Defence held a military funeral ceremony for two Emirati servicemen who were killed in a helicopter crash while performing their national duty.
The ceremony took place at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi for Captain Saeed Al Balooshi and First Lieutenant Ali Al Tunaiji, who died following the crash of a military helicopter caused by a technical malfunction during an operational mission inside the country.
Fire breaks out in Ruwais complex in Abu Dhabi after drone attack
Authorities in Abu Dhabi are dealing with a fire that broke out in one of the facilities within the Ruwais Industrial Complex, resulting from a drone attack, with no injuries recorded so far.
The authorities have urged the public to obtain information from official sources only, and to avoid circulating rumors or unverified information.
UAE air defences respond to missile threat
The UAE Ministry of Defence has confirmed that air defence systems are currently responding to a missile threat.
Authorities urged residents to remain in safe places and closely follow instructions issued through official government channels.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has reaffirmed a full ban on all drones and light sport aircraft in the UAE due to exceptional circumstances.
The authority said the prohibition applies to all operators without exception and stressed that compliance is mandatory. The public and hobbyists were urged to follow the rules to avoid legal consequences.
Cathay Pacific cancels flights till March 31
Cathay Pacific, including Daily Dubai and Riyadh passenger flights and Cathay's cargo freighter flights, to Dubai and Riyadh have been cancelled up to and including March 31, Reuters reported.
UAE says onion, tomato price rises are temporary
Price increases seen in some food commodities such as onions and tomatoes over the past two days are temporary and limited, according to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
The Ministry said the price changes were a natural result of the ongoing regional crisis and confirmed that additional quantities of these products have already been supplied in abundant amounts to ensure stable availability in markets.
Egypt raises fuel prices by up to 30%
Egypt raised domestic fuel prices by up to 30 percent on Tuesday, blaming "exceptional" global energy pressures caused by the Middle East war, which has disrupted oil supplies and shipping routes.
The increases, announced by the petroleum ministry, apply to gasoline, diesel and natural gas used in vehicles.
"This comes in light of the exceptional situation resulting from the geopolitical developments in the Middle East region and their direct impacts on the global energy markets," the ministry said in a statement.
UAE condemns drone attack on its consulate in Iraq's Erbil
UAE's foreign ministry condemned a drone attack on its consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan's Erbil, it said in a statement early on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
Iraqi Kurdistan's counter-terrorism service said late on Monday that it had downed three drones in Erbil, with debris from one of the drones falling near the UAE consulate. It said no casualties were reported.
Not one drop of oil will be transported until conflict ends, says Iran
Iran vowed on Tuesday that not one litre of oil would be exported from the Gulf while its war with the United States and Israel continues, in a stark rebuke to President Donald Trump's boast that the conflict was all but over.
Trump's argument that the war would be "ended soon" helped reverse the previous day's spike in oil prices, which have surged since Iranian attacks on shipping closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz in response to the US-Israeli strikes that killed its supreme leader.
UAE cuts oil output by 500,000 barrels/day
The United Arab Emirates has reduced oil output by 500,000 to 800,000 barrels per day, Kuwait by about 500,000 barrels per day and Iraq by about 2.9 million barrels per day, Bloomberg News reported.
Qatar condemns attack targeting UAE Consulate General in Iraq's Kurdistan
Qatar condemned the attack that targeted UAE's Consulate General in Iraqi Kurdistan, deeming it a "clear violation of all international norms" and conventions that protect diplomatic missions and their headquarters.
The Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the targeting of diplomatic missions and headquarters was a clear violation of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The attack "was a dangerous escalation" that threatens the safety and security of diplomatic staff, and undermines internationally-recognised rules for diplomatic work, Qatar's ministry said.