Iranian Attacks on UAE Cause Casualties in Abu Dhabi

One person was killed and 16 others were injured on April 3, 2026, as falling debris from intercepted Iranian missiles and drones struck locations in Abu Dhabi, including a critical energy facility.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported that an Egyptian national died during the evacuation of the Habshan gas plant after falling debris from air strike interceptions caused two fires at the site. Four other people sustained minor injuries at the facility, identified as two Pakistani nationals and two Egyptian nationals.

Authorities stated that operations at the Habshan plant were suspended during the response to the debris. An assessment is currently ongoing to determine the extent of the significant damage occurred at the facilities.

In a separate incident on April 3, 2026, falling debris in the Ajban area resulted in injuries to 12 people. According to officials, seven of the injured are from Nepal and five are from India. One Nepalese national was reported as severely injured, while the remaining 11 suffered minor to moderate injuries.

Air Defence Interceptions

The UAE Ministry of Defence reported that in the 24-hour period ending April 3, 2026, air defences intercepted 18 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and 47 drones launched from Iran. A series of alerts were issued across the country, including four in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai.

Since the start of the Iranian attacks, the total number of projectiles engaged by UAE air defences has risen to 475 ballistic missiles, 23 cruise missiles, and 2,085 drones.

The Ministry of Defence stated that it remains fully prepared to respond to threats and will continue taking measures to protect the security, stability, and sovereignty of the country.

Public Safety Measures

Local authorities have implemented safety closures of religious sites. In Dubai, churches were closed to the public on April 3, 2026, including over the Easter weekend, with parishioners advised against visiting for the sake of community wellbeing.

the Sikh Guru Nanak Darbar and the Hindu temple in Jebel Ali were closed on April 3, 2026. The Baps Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi has remained shut since March 2, 2026.

Broader Conflict Context

The strikes on the UAE are part of a broader conflict that began on February 28, 2026, following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran. The UAE has been supported in its defence by the United Kingdom, France, Ukraine, and Australia.

Prior to the events of April 3, official figures as of March 31, 2026, indicated that Iranian attacks had killed 11 people and injured 188. These casualties included two members of the UAE Armed Forces and a Moroccan civilian contractor working with the military, alongside eight civilians of various nationalities.

The injured population has included nationals from a wide range of countries, including the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden, and Tunisia.