Dubai Under Attack: Fairmont Palm Bombed, Burj Al Arab on Fire, US Navy Bahrain Base Hit as Iran's Operation True Promise 4 Rocks the Gulf

Sunday, March 1, 2026 — Iran's unprecedented wave of retaliatory strikes, launched Saturday after US and Israeli attacks on Tehran, has fundamentally transformed the Gulf overnight. Dubai, long considered the Middle East's safest and most glamorous city, is now a war zone in all but name — with the Fairmont The Palm hotel bombed and ablaze, the Burj Al Arab struck by drone debris, Dubai International Airport damaged, Jebel Ali port on fire, and the Burj Khalifa evacuated. Across the region, the US Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain was directly hit, and Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan all absorbed incoming Iranian fire.

Fairmont Palm Dubai Bombed — Shahed Drone Confirmed as Cause

CNN verified videos posted to social media showing the moment a drone dived toward the ground in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah district before an explosion rocked the Fairmont Hotel, leaving it in flames. The footage represents the clearest visual evidence yet of a direct strike on one of Dubai's most iconic luxury properties.

An Iranian Shahed drone caused the large explosion and fire, CNN reported. The parent company of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, Accor, confirmed in a statement that debris was reported in a nearby car park at Fairmont The Palm, and said the safety and wellbeing of guests, visitors, and team members remained its highest priority. Unconfirmed reports cited by multiple outlets claimed US military personnel were present at the hotel at the time of the strike.

Dubai Civil Defence confirmed the resulting fire was brought under control. Four individuals sustained injuries and were transferred to medical facilities, and no fatalities were reported at the Fairmont Palm Dubai site.

Burj Al Arab Hit, Dubai Airport Damaged, Jebel Ali Port on Fire

Drone debris caused a fire at the Burj Al Arab ultra-luxury hotel as waves of Iranian missiles targeted the UAE on Saturday. Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, and Jebel Ali seaport also suffered damage as the unprecedented attacks hit some of the city's major landmarks. Four staff were wounded at Dubai airport as a concourse sustained minor damage.

Falling debris from an interception set off a blaze at Dubai's Jebel Ali port, which hosts US warships and is capable of handling aircraft carriers. Dubai's airport and seaport account for about 60 percent of the emirate's revenues, according to official estimates. In Abu Dhabi, one person was killed and seven wounded in an incident at Zayed International Airport after Iranian ballistic missiles targeted the UAE capital.

US Naval Base Bahrain and the 5th Fleet Headquarters Directly Struck

The tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain hosts Naval Support Activity Bahrain, where the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command headquarters are based. Bahrain's deep-water port can accommodate the largest US military vessels, including aircraft carriers. The US Navy has used the base since 1948, when the facility was operated by Britain's Royal Navy.

Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th Fleet and called it a treacherous attack and a blatant violation of the kingdom's sovereignty and security. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show an Iranian Shahed drone smashing through a tower block located near the headquarters, setting it ablaze. The Interior Ministry said several residential buildings in Manama had been hit.

As of the latest reports, there are no confirmed American casualties. Officials said there is damage to infrastructure, but it remains unclear if the damage is on the base itself or in the surrounding area.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan All Hit — Strait of Hormuz Closed

The Iranian government confirmed attacks on several targets including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Iran's IRGC claimed all Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East had been struck by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles, warning the operation would continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated.

Saudi Arabia said on state-run media that it had repelled attacks by Iran on its capital and eastern region, and sirens sounded in Jordan. Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE all temporarily closed their airspace and condemned Iran's attacks on their territories. Sea vessels operating in the Gulf received messages on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — the critical oil export route connecting Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the UAE with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

UAE Residents Shelter in Parking Garages — Government Texts Warn of Missile Threats

Abu Dhabi residents received an emergency alert on their phones telling them to seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building and to steer away from windows, doors, and open areas. The UAE separately sent out a national alert telling residents to remain indoors and to await further instructions. Employees at US companies in Dubai were told to work online from home.

India's Foreign Minister advised all Indians currently in the UAE to stay where they are as the country reviews the situation. Schools are taking precautionary measures and are likely to move to online learning as the situation evolves. With no bomb shelters in Dubai, witnesses reported civilians hiding in underground parking facilities across the Palm Jumeirah and Marina districts.

Is Dubai Under Attack Right Now? What Residents and Travelers Need to Know

Iran targeted the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar — all countries that host US military forces. By evening, thick plumes of smoke were seen across the Dubai skyline, leaving residents and tourists in a panicked state.

About 12 hours after the attacks began, the US military reported no US casualties and minimal damage at its bases despite hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks. UAE authorities are urging the public to rely solely on verified information from official sources and to refrain from circulating unverified videos or images on social media. The situation across the Gulf remains highly volatile as of Sunday morning ET, March 1, 2026.