Explosions Reported in Abu Dhabi as US-Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates

Residents across the UAE capital reported hearing loud explosions and a powerful bang on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with several witnesses describing plumes of smoke rising over parts of the city. The incidents unfolded hours after the United States and Israel carried out major strikes on targets inside Iran, prompting Tehran to announce retaliatory missile launches against American military facilities throughout the Gulf region.

The United Arab Emirates closed its airspace as a precautionary measure, according to the state news agency WAM. Several international airlines, including Wizz Air, immediately suspended flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other Gulf hubs. Abu Dhabi is home to Al Dhafra Air Base, a key joint UAE-US facility that serves as a major hub for American air operations in the Middle East. Some reports indicated that Iranian ballistic missiles may have been directed toward the base, although air defense systems, potentially including THAAD, appeared to intercept incoming threats in the vicinity of the capital.

UAE authorities have not yet released any official confirmation of casualties or direct impacts in Abu Dhabi, and information remains limited and rapidly evolving. Gulf governments have called for calm while emphasizing steps to safeguard civilians and critical infrastructure.