The United Arab Emirates issued urgent safety guidelines on Thursday as Iran launched fresh missile attacks on the Gulf region.
The UAE government warned all residents to stay indoors and not step outside to film or record any videos.
The missile threat came as the Iran-US military conflict spread across the Middle East, hitting parts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
UAE issues urgent safety advisory
“Alert for your safety, do not exit to film or record. Proceed immediately to a safe place and remain until the all-clear,” the UAE administration said in a statement. The advisory noted that in case an alert is issued, some people leave their homes or even stop their cars to record videos.
“The warning is issued for your safety. You must comply by heading to a safe place and taking shelter there until an “all clear” alert is issued for the area, the administration further said.
“If you are in your car, continue to your intended destination, and upon arrival, proceed to the nearest safe place,” it said.
The same message was shared on X in multiple languages, along with Arabic, English, and some Indian languages
Missile threats on UAE
The UAE’s interior ministry sounded an emergency alert across all emirates on Thursday due to potential missile threats from Iran. Residents were asked to seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building.
They were also told to stay away from windows, doors, and open areas.
The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed that the country’s air defence systems responded to incoming missiles and drones from Iran.
How did the Iran-US war spread to the Middle East?
The conflict between the US and Iran over the nuclear deal reached its worst point last week. Washington launched joint military operations with Israel against Tehran.
The strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family. Iran vowed a crushing response.
It launched missile attacks against Israel and US military facilities in neighbouring Gulf countries. The situation quickly turned into a regional war, with much of the Middle East getting pulled into the conflict.
Some of the major spots damaged in the ongoing conflict include Dubai’s international airport, some hotels on the Palm Jumeirah island, among others. Explosions were also heard near Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport on Thursday, with Kuwait also saying that it faced a missile threat.
