Dubai Under Attack: IRGC Missiles Strike Burj Al Arab, Fairmont Palm, and Dubai International Airport as Iran Bombs Gulf Nations

Dubai is under attack. For the first time in its modern history, the city famous for safety, luxury, and skyscrapers was rocked by Iranian missiles and drones on Saturday, February 28, 2026, as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a sweeping retaliation against Gulf nations hosting US military assets. The Burj Al Arab hotel, the Fairmont Palm Dubai on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai International Airport, and Jebel Ali port all sustained damage within hours.

What Triggered the Dubai Bombing and Iran's Strike on Gulf Nations

The United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on Saturday, with the first apparent strike happening near the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The US and Israel struck cities across Iran, killing the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside several members of his family as well as other powerful Iranian officials. Tehran responded within hours by unleashing waves of missiles and drones across the entire Gulf region.

The Iranian government confirmed its attacks on several targets including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, where airbases with US assets are hosted.

Dubai Airport Attack: World's Busiest International Hub Hit

Iranian ballistic missiles and drones struck several high-profile sites in Dubai on February 28, 2026, damaging Dubai International Airport and other locations as Tehran unleashed widespread retaliation.

Dubai Airports confirmed that a concourse at Dubai International Airport sustained minor damage in an incident that was quickly contained. Four staff sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention. Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers.

Dubai airport is the world's busiest hub for international passengers. Hundreds of flights were cancelled as the UAE declared a partial airspace closure immediately following the strikes.

Burj Al Arab Hotel Catches Fire, Fairmont Palm Dubai Explosion Confirmed

Debris from an intercepted drone sparked a fire at the base of the Burj Al Arab, the sail-shaped building sometimes described as the world's first seven-star hotel. The Dubai Media Office said the incident caused a minor fire on the hotel's outer facade, with no injuries reported.

Videos verified by CNN show the moment a drone dives toward the ground in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah district before an explosion rocks the Fairmont Hotel, leaving it in flames.

Dubai emergency teams controlled the fire and treated four injured individuals at the Fairmont The Palm location, with no fatalities reported. The UAE Ministry of Defense intercepted multiple Iranian missiles and condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty.

Falling debris from an interception also set off a blaze at Dubai's Jebel Ali port, which hosts US warships and is capable of handling aircraft carriers.

Is Dubai Under Attack Still — What the UAE Said on March 2

On Saturday, Iran fired 137 missiles and 209 drones across the UAE, its Ministry of Defence confirmed, with fires and smoke reaching the Dubai landmarks of Palm Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said Iran fired 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 541 drones. Most were destroyed, but 21 drones hit civilian targets. Three people were killed — migrant workers from Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

Dubai, a city that prides itself on safety and stability, has no public bomb shelters. Many residents spent Saturday night in underground parking garages, with parents telling anxious children that the blasts overhead were Ramadan fireworks.

US Naval Base Bahrain Hit: US Navy 5th Fleet Headquarters Under Fire

Iranian missiles and drones struck the headquarters of US Naval Forces Central Command and residential buildings in Bahrain, as retaliatory attacks that began midday Saturday continued into early Sunday. Shortly after the US announced major combat operations in Iran, explosions were heard across Manama and plumes of smoke rose from the US base.

Videos posted on social media purport to show a drone nearing the US Navy 5th Fleet headquarters building, striking a radar inside a large white bubble, and plumes of dark gray smoke billowing from the explosion. The Bahrain Defense Force said it shot down 45 incoming missiles and nine drones.

Hours after Iranian drones damaged US Navy facilities in Manama, US Navy Central Command told all servicemembers and contractors living and working in and around the base that the area was no longer safe and they would receive funds to stay in hotels elsewhere.

Where Is Dubai and Why Is It a Target

Dubai is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the United Arab Emirates, bordering the Persian Gulf. It sits roughly 100 miles from the coast of Iran across the Strait of Hormuz.

When the United States and Israel bombed Iran in an attempt to destroy its nuclear program in June last year, the Iranian response appeared calibrated to avoid an escalation that could spark a wider regional war. This time, after President Trump ordered a campaign aimed at removing the Iranian regime and following the assassination of Supreme Leader Khamenei, it has been far less restrained.

Doha, Bahrain, Riyadh, and All Gulf Nations Targeted Simultaneously

Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE all temporarily closed their airspace and condemned Iran's attacks on their territories. Sea vessels operating in the Gulf received messages confirming closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil export route connecting the Gulf's biggest producers to the Arabian Sea.

Iran's IRGC said it launched attacks on 27 bases in the Middle East where US troops are deployed as well as Israeli military facilities. As of Sunday, four US service members have been confirmed killed in action since the start of the operation against Iran.

Trump acknowledged Sunday there could be more US casualties as part of the military operations against Iran, adding that the operation is proceeding ahead of schedule. He said the campaign could take four weeks or less.