UAE warns of potential missile threats; residents including expats told to move to safe locations

DUBAI: UAE authorities have issued a warning over a potential missile threat and urged residents, including expatriates, to move to safe locations.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said the country's air defence systems had detected a missile threat targeting the UAE. Authorities advised people to remain in safe locations and follow warnings and updates issued through official channels. The UAE Ministry of Interior also urged residents to move immediately to the nearest safe building in view of the current security situation and the potential missile threat.

The latest warning came after the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East, expired on Monday. The UAE had last issued a missile warning in May, while a technical malfunction in the national early warning system triggered false missile alerts on mobile phones in June.

When the conflict in the Middle East began on February 28, the UAE was among the key targets of Iranian attacks, with missiles launched several times towards US military bases in the country. No missile attacks were reported in the UAE after the US and Iran reached an agreement in June. However, with attacks continuing in other Gulf countries, the latest warning has once again raised security concerns across the UAE.