Fresh explosions rock major Gulf cities including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi

Tuesday, March, 3 2026 - Major cities across the Gulf region, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Doha, the capital of Qatar, were shaken by fresh explosions amid a deepening military escalation between Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Residents and eyewitnesses in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reported hearing multiple explosions and loud sirens, prompting many to seek shelter as emergency alerts were issued. Similar blasts were heard over Doha, where thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising above the skyline, according to AFP correspondents.

Authorities in Dubai said the explosions reverberating across the city were caused by 'interception operations' by air defence forces.

'The relevant Dubai teams continue to closely monitor the situation and are taking all necessary measures to ensure public safety,' a statement released on Tuesday read.

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are two of the Gulf countries that have been struck by Iranian missiles since the de@th of the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday.

In the UAE, authorities said that hundreds of missiles and drones launched by Iran have been intercepted by advanced air-defense systems, but falling debris has still caused damage to buildings and infrastructure. In Abu Dhabi, at least one person has died and several others have been wounded, with debris striking parts of the city during the barrage.

In Dubai, major civilian and commercial sites have also been affected. Long-standing landmarks such as the Burj Al Arab hotel and Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 have seen fires and damage from strikes or debris, while explosions were heard across residential areas, rattling windows and sending residents into shelters.

Officials in Doha reported loud explosions heard in the industrial districts and thick smoke rising above the city, though the full extent of any structural damage there was not immediately clear.

The explosions are part of what officials describe as a retaliatory campaign by Iran following a series of U.S. and Israeli military strikes against targets inside Iran earlier in the week. Targets have included not only military installations but also key economic infrastructure in several of the Gulf’s wealthiest states.