The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence has revealed that the country’s air defence systems intercepted several aerial threats launched from Iran, amid rising tensions in the region.
In a statement shared on its official X account on Saturday, the ministry said that “UAE air defence systems on 14th March engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran.”
The announcement highlights the scale of the latest attacks the Gulf nation says it has repelled in recent days.
According to the ministry, the interceptions are part of a broader pattern of hostilities since what it described as “the onset of blatant Iranian aggression.” It noted that defence forces have repeatedly activated air defence systems to neutralise incoming threats targeting the country.
Giving a cumulative overview, the ministry stated that “since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran.”
The figures indicate what authorities described as a sustained barrage of missiles and drones directed at the United Arab Emirates.
The ministry also confirmed that the attacks have led to casualties and injuries among residents of various nationalities living and working in the country.
According to the statement, “these attacks have resulted in six fatalities of Emirati, Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationals.”
It further disclosed that many individuals sustained injuries of varying severity during the incidents. The ministry reported “141 minor to moderate injuries” among residents and workers from numerous countries.
Those affected include nationals of the UAE as well as individuals from 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 and Sweden.
While providing casualty figures, the ministry did not disclose the exact locations where the deaths and injuries occurred or the specific incidents linked to them. However, the statement suggested the attacks involved multiple aerial threats over a period of time.
Reaffirming its defence posture, the ministry said the armed forces remain on high alert and ready to respond to further threats against the country’s territory or security.
“The Ministry of Defence affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats,” the statement said.
It added that the military would “firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities.”
Authorities did not indicate whether new defensive measures have been introduced after the latest interceptions but reiterated their commitment to protecting residents and maintaining national security.
Meanwhile, the government of Qatar has submitted another formal complaint to the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council over what it described as repeated military aggression by Iran against its territory.
In a statement on Friday, Qatar’s foreign ministry said it had sent its eighth identical letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and to the United States Permanent Representative to the UN and President of the Security Council for March, Michael Waltz.
The letter was submitted by Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani.
According to the Qatari government, the communication was intended to inform the UN about what it described as “Iranian aggression” against its territory and to highlight the wider security implications for the region.
The letter characterised the incidents as serious violations of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
