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The United Arab Emirates said its air defenses detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country on the evening of Tuesday, August 18. The Ministry of Defence said the first missile fell outside UAE territorial waters and the second fell within them, according to Al Jazeera.
Residents in Dubai and Sharjah received a phone alert warning of potential missile threats. A second message followed shortly afterward saying the situation was safe while urging people to stay cautious. The National reported that the ministry confirmed the launches on X and said it remained on high alert and fully prepared to deal with any threats.
An earlier ministry message told civilians that any sounds they heard were the result of air defense interceptions. The ministry did not say whether its forces shot the missiles down. It asked the public to take news from official sources only and to avoid rumors and false information.
This was the first alert of its kind in the UAE since July 12. On that occasion the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority detected regional threats but later confirmed they had stayed outside UAE borders. Tuesday marked the first time in months that the ministry said missiles were directed at the country itself.
The alert lands in the middle of a wider standoff. Qatar's Foreign Ministry said mediators are waiting on a bilateral agreement between Iran and Oman covering the Strait of Hormuz before returning to broader talks between Iran and the United States. The strait has been effectively closed to normal traffic since fighting began in late February, and vessel movements remain far below prewar levels.
The alert followed a familiar sequence. A warning reached personal phones through the national emergency system with little notice, and the all clear arrived a short time later. Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain major transit points for corporate travel between Europe and Asia, and Tuesday's alert did not halt flights.
The ministry did not report any damage or injuries from either missile. It said its forces remain fully prepared to confront anything aimed at undermining the security of the state.
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