Explosions rock Dubai, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait as Burj Al Arab and airports hit
The widening war sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran has produced fires and debris hits across the Gulf, including at the burj al arab and Dubai’s airports, prompting injuries, at least one death and widespread alarm. Residents described blasts, air‑raid sirens and people running for shelter as authorities and emergency teams responded.
Burj Al Arab and airport fires
Dubai authorities later said debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire at the city’s famous luxury hotel the Burj Al Arab and at Dubai’s international airport. The Dubai media office wrote on its social media account that “Civil Defence teams responded immediately and brought the incident under control. No injuries have been reported. ” The same office also said part of Dubai’s international airport "sustained minor damage in an incident, " without giving further details.
Palm Jumeirah and Fairmont damage
Earlier an Iranian missile struck the Fairmont hotel in Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah area, setting the five‑star Fairmont The Palm alight near its entrance. Residents watched in shock and social media videos showed fires breaking out close to the building; four people were injured and taken to medical facilities. Fairmont The Palm is described in hotel materials as a luxury hotel with gourmet dining options, an award‑winning spa, and pools with city views.
Bahrain and Kuwait strikes
Scenes of damage and fire were reported elsewhere in the Gulf. In Bahrain, an Iranian drone flew into a high‑rise building, exploding and engulfing the skyscraper in flames; earlier in the day the country’s national security agency had also been struck by an Iranian missile. Social media footage also appeared to show a missile hitting the huge US naval base in Bahrain. In Kuwait, a drone crashed into the country’s main airport, wounding several employees and damaging the facility.
Iraq, proxies and casualties
Bases belonging to the Iran‑backed Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq were struck by either the US or Israel, killing at least two members of the armed Iraqi group Kataib Hezbollah. The Iran‑backed groups have signalled they will respond: Kataib Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis warned they would be joining strikes on US military bases across the region. Within hours of the first US and Israeli bombs, Iran mounted a wide‑ranging attack that targeted more than six countries, pulling in places that had previously been untouched by the escalating crisis.
Civilian reaction and advisories
People were filmed running for shelter in Dubai as air‑raid sirens sounded and at least three big blasts were heard over the city, witnesses said. One Dubai resident said "everyone is very scared" and described footage of missile interceptions all over the city, adding they were "packing a suitcase just in case … not that we can leave, because airspace is closed. It is the thing we have all been frightened about happening, and now it has. " A separate Abu Dhabi resident messaged that "The kids are terrified" after explosions; that was followed by what was described as a second wave of missiles seen flying over a residential area of Dubai.
Airport reports and fatalities
Abu Dhabi Airports posted that an incident at Zayed International Airport in the UAE’s capital resulted in one fatality and seven injuries; the post was later deleted. A defence ministry statement said the country had "successfully" intercepted Iranian missiles and confirmed one person was killed by falling debris in a residential area. The ministry "affirmed its full readiness and preparedness to deal with any threats, stressing that all necessary measures are being taken to firmly confront any attempts to undermine the country's security and stability. "
Around 240, 000 British citizens live in the UAE and have been advised to remain indoors or in a safe place and to stay away from windows. The UAE’s airspace is currently closed as a precautionary measure, the General Civil Aviation Authority has said.
The escalation—described by Washington as Operation Epic Fury—has pulled fighting well beyond the scope of the previous war in Iran in June 2025, which was almost entirely confined to Israel and Iran. For citizens across the Middle East, the fast‑moving strikes and counterstrikes have produced widespread anxiety and concern.
Unclear in the provided context: the exact timing of individual strikes beyond the description of events and the identities of all injured beyond the numbers given.
