Dubai, May 5:
Residents in Dubai briefly took shelter on Monday after the United Arab Emirates issued a missile alert warning of a possible attack, marking the first such emergency since the ceasefire in the Iran conflict.
The alert instructed people to move immediately to secure buildings and was sent to mobile phones shortly before air defence systems intercepted suspected aerial threats over the city.
Authorities later declared the situation safe and advised residents to resume normal activities while staying cautious.
Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions consistent with air defence intercepts, reflecting heightened security across the emirate amid rising regional tensions.
The incident followed UAE accusations that Iran targeted a tanker linked to the state-owned oil company ADNOC in the Strait of Hormuz using two drones.
The vessel was reportedly hit, though no injuries were reported.
The UAE foreign ministry condemned the attack, calling it “piracy” by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and a violation of international maritime law.
Officials also said the strike breached United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, which governs maritime security and aims to protect global shipping routes.
They warned that using the Strait of Hormuz for coercion poses risks to international trade and energy supply stability.
The developments underscore continued instability in the region despite the fragile ceasefire and highlight risks to key oil shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz.