UAE announces successful interception of 161 ballistic missiles, 645 drones after being targeted by Iran

This weekend, residents and visitors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were shocked when Iranian drones and ballistic missiles targeted the cities, which are popular destinations for European and Middle Eastern travelers. 

People in the cities reported hearing a loud explosion in the sky. The UAE Ministry of Defense later said that these noises resulted from the interceptions of ballistic missiles and drones sent from Iran. The UAE's air defense system intercepted most aerial threats before they reached the ground, with limited damage and one confirmed victim from falling debris. 

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense announced that as of March 2, the UAE air force and air defense forces have intercepted 161 out of 174 ballistic missiles, eight cruise missiles, and 645 Iranian drones out of 689, since the start of the Iranian attacks on Saturday. 

الدفاعات الجوية الإماراتية تتصدى بنجاح للصواريخ والمسيرات الإيرانية.#وزارة_الدفاع #وزارة_الدفاع_الإماراتية#MOD#UAEMinistryOfDefence pic.twitter.com/CuWvUkR4Dd

— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 2, 2026

On Monday, the UAE’s air defenses successfully intercepted 9 ballistic missiles, 6 cruise missiles, and 148 drones, the ministry published on its official 𝕏 account.

On the morning of the second day of the attack, the UAE’s air defense forces destroyed 20 ballistic missiles, while another eight missiles fell into the sea. Additionally, two cruise missiles and 311 drones were successfully intercepted, the ministry stated. Despite the impressive performance, the ministry noted that 21 drones made it through air defense systems, striking civilian targets. 

The incidents resulted in three fatalities and 58 minor injuries among foreign visitors and workers. 

The ministry noted that debris falling in various parts of the country as a result of interceptions caused minor to moderate damage to several civilian properties. 

The ministry affirmed that the UAE’s armed forces remain fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats, stressing that the safety of citizens, residents and visitors remains a top priority. 

The ministry also urged the public to obtain information from official sources and avoid spreading rumors or unverified information.

One of the primary systems aiding the UAE in its air defense, is the U.S. anti-ballistic missile defense system called the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD).

The THAAD is designed to intercept missiles during the final phase of trajectory before reaching targets. The system performs a direct strike on the incoming missile, utilizing kinetic energy to destroy the target, rather than an explosive warhead. 

THAAD batteries deployed in the UAE as part of a multi-layered defense architecture, which includes other systems such as the older Patriot missile defense system, to deal with high-altitude aerial threats. 

The THAAD system is also deployed in Saudi Arabia and in Israel, where it has been used to defend against ballistic missiles during the October 2024 strikes by Iran, as well as during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, and the current U.S.-Israeli combined operation against the Iranian regime. 

The system relies on a high-frequency (X-band) radar to accurately identify and track ballistic threats, and then guide interceptor missiles to the target in the final stage of its flight. 

THAAD's interceptor missiles can intercept ballistic missiles in or out of the atmosphere, at altitudes of up to about 150 kilometers (93.2 miles) and at a range of up to 200 kilometers (124.3 miles).

Collisions caused by THAAD interceptors cause strong sound waves heard on the ground, despite interceptions occurring in the upper layers of the atmosphere, due to the creation of shock waves when an object moves at supersonic speeds. 

Despite not participating in the U.S. military operations in Iran, the Islamic Republic regime has targeted the UAE and several Gulf nations with its ballistic missiles and drones, citing U.S. presence in the region.

This article originally appeared on ALL ARAB NEWS and is reposted with permission.