UAE under Iranian missile and drone attack; Fujairah oil facility ablaze

Monday, May 4, 2026Confirmed

World Desk

What we know

The United Arab Emirates said Monday it came under Iranian missile and drone attack for the first time since the early April U.S.-Iran ceasefire, with air defenses engaging ballistic and cruise missiles plus drones while a strike sparked a large fire at the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone and wounded three Indian nationals, AP, Al Jazeera, BBC, NPR, CBS and the Guardian reported.

The UAE also said two drones hit a tanker affiliated with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the Strait of Hormuz with no injuries. British military monitors reported cargo vessels ablaze off the UAE; South Korea said a Panama-flagged HMM-operated ship caught fire near the UAE with all 24 crew safe. The attacks coincided with the first day of the U.S. Project Freedom Hormuz escorts.

What's confirmed

AP/Al Jazeera: UAE Defense Ministry said defenses engaged about 15 missiles and four drones from Iran; Fujairah reported a drone-sparked oil-facility fire and three moderate injuries (AP, Al Jazeera).
BBC/NPR: First UAE missile alerts and air-defense use since the April ceasefire; commercial flights bound for Dubai and Abu Dhabi turned around (BBC, NPR).
CBS/Guardian: UAE condemned "renewed" Iranian aggression; ADNOC-linked tanker hit by two drones in Hormuz with no casualties (CBS, Guardian).
AP: Oman reported a residential building near the strait targeted, wounding two foreign workers (AP).

What's still developing

Full damage assessment at Fujairah and any further Iranian or UAE military responses.
Whether Tehran formally acknowledges targeting the UAE or continues to blame U.S. "adventurism."
Impact on Gulf air travel, insurance and oil flows outside the strait.

Sources

AP — US vies with Iran for Strait of Hormuz as UAE comes under attack link
Al Jazeera — UAE accuses Iran of attacks as large fire breaks out at oil facility link
BBC — US strikes Iranian fast boats as Iran attacks UAE oil facility link
NPR — Ceasefire at risk as U.S. helps ships run Iran blockade link
CBS — Iran launches attacks on UAE and ships in Strait of Hormuz link
Guardian — Iran war live: UAE under attack; Fujairah oil hub hit link
NBC — UAE reports Iranian missiles and drones amid Hormuz standoff link