Dubai, UAE News Live Updates: UAE govt condoles death of 7 in Qatar helicopter crash

Dubai, UAE News Live Updates: UAE Ministry of Defence said that it was dealing with incoming aerial threats from Iran as the war entered its 24th day on Monday (Mar 23). The authorities confirmed that the sounds heard were the result of air defence systems intercepting missiles and drones. “UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. MOD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones,” the ministry said in a post on X.

Indian national injured from falling debris in Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed that an Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE’s air defense systems intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the Al Shawamekh area. “Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national,” the Abu Dhabi Media Office said.

Iran threatens to strike Gulf energy, water systems: Iran warned that it will target energy and water facilities in the Gulf region if the United States hits its power grid. Tehran’s warning came after US President Donald Trump said Washington could attack Iran’s electricity infrastructure within 48 hours. “If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked… all energy infrastructure… and water desalination facilities… will be targeted,” Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari said, according to Reuters.

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The Indian Express Global Desk remains committed to rigorous verification. Follow our live blog below for real-time tracking of Operation Epic Fury, regional airspace status, and diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation.**

Dubai, Abu Dhabi News Live Updates: Iran warned that it will target energy and water facilities in the Gulf region if the United States hits its power grid. Tehran’s warning came after US President Donald Trump said Washington could attack Iran’s electricity infrastructure within 48 hours. “If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked… all energy infrastructure… and water desalination facilities… will be targeted,” Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari said, according to Reuters.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi News Live Updates: UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. The authorities confirmed that the sounds heard were the result of air defence systems intercepting missiles and drones.

تتعامل حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الإماراتية مع اعتداءات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة قادمة من إيران وتؤكد وزارة الدفاع أن الأصوات المسموعة في مناطق متفرقة من الدولة هي نتيجة اعتراض كل من منظومات الدفاع الجوي للصواريخ البالستية، والمقاتلات للطائرات المسيرة والجوالة.UAE air defences are… pic.twitter.com/7vDksjVgE9— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 23, 2026

تتعامل حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الإماراتية مع اعتداءات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة قادمة من إيران وتؤكد وزارة الدفاع أن الأصوات المسموعة في مناطق متفرقة من الدولة هي نتيجة اعتراض كل من منظومات الدفاع الجوي للصواريخ البالستية، والمقاتلات للطائرات المسيرة والجوالة.UAE air defences are… pic.twitter.com/7vDksjVgE9

Dubai, Abu Dhabi News Live Updates: UAE diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash said the focus should extend beyond a ceasefire with Iran to ensure long-term security in the Arabian Gulf, addressing nuclear risks, missile and drone threats, and maritime safety.

"UAE confronts Iran’s blatant aggression and demonstrate our strength in resilience and steadfastness, our focus goes beyond a ceasefire to solutions that ensure lasting security in the Arabian Gulf, address the nuclear threat, missiles and drones, and put an end to the intimidation of vital waterways," Gargash said in a post on X.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi News Live Updates: Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence said that its air defence systems intercepted missile and drone attacks.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office says an Indian national suffered minor injuries from falling debris after the UAE’s air defense systems successfully intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the country’s capital.

The incident occurred in Abu Dhabi’s Al Shawamekh area, it said on X.

Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national.The public is…— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) March 22, 2026

Relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi have responded to an incident involving debris falling in the Al Shawamekh area following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems. The incident resulted in a minor injury to an Indian national.The public is…

Oil prices rose on Monday after US President Donald Trump and ⁠Iran threatened to attack energy facilities in the Middle East, ⁠escalating the war.

Brent crude ‌futures rose $1.01, or 0.90%, to $113.20 a barrel by 2204 GMT ⁠after ⁠settling at the ⁠highest since ‌July 2022 on Friday.

US ‌West Texas Intermediate ‌was at $98.85 a barrel, up 62 cents, or 0.63%, extending ⁠a 2.27% gain in the ‌previous session.

Kuwait has become the latest Gulf country to announce it is responding to missile and drone attacks.

In a statement, the Kuwaiti army said the sound of explosions is the result of interceptions, and called on people to adhere to the authorities’ instructions.

The kingdom’s Defence Ministry says its air defence systems have intercepted and downed a drone in the country’s northern border area.

As we’ve previously reported, several drones were intercepted earlier over Saudi Arabia’s Eastern province.

The Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah has stated it will extend the suspension of its attacks on the US embassy in Baghdad for an additional five days.

The group’s original announcement on March 18 was issued under specific conditions that included Israel’s halt of ‌displacing ⁠and striking residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, and a commitment ⁠not to shell residential areas in Baghdad ⁠and other areas.

The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates says the country’s air defences are “currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran”.

The Ministry affirmed the sounds heard across the country have been caused by air defense systems conducting interceptions.

Iranian missile has breached the skies over Aqaba, heading towards the Israeli city of Negev, as reported by Aljazeera.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior has urged citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place after a siren was sounded.

Qatar is watching out for further attacks by Iran after the air strikes on its Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, an official told Al Jazeera.

“We are currently focused on defending our country and addressing the situation following the LNG attacks. We are not currently engaged in any mediation efforts,” a Qatari diplomat told.

Kuwait's General Administration of Customs said Sunday that it has activated an emergency plan since the first day of the Iranian attacks on Kuwait to ensure the continuity of supply chains and the smooth flow of goods .across all customs ports.

In a media briefing, official spokesperson Raed Al-Mathkoor said the plan included restructuring customs pathways and rerouting air cargo shipments through land routes via Gulf Cooperation Council countries and neighboring Arab states, following the suspension of air traffic.

*(Khaleej Times)*

Bahrain offered condolences to Qatar and Turkey over the helicopter crash that killed seven people, the Kingdom's news agency BNA said.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Kuwait submitted a formal letter of protest to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The letter addressed "serious violations and attacks by Iran" on Kuwait’s airspace and its international airport, highlighting that these incidents exposed passengers, airlines, airport staff, and facilities to significant risks.

*(Khaleej Times)*

Saudi Arabia has intercepted and destroyed a drone targeting the Kingdom's eastern region, the official spokesperson for Ministry of Defence said.

IndiGo issued a travel advisory telling passengers that some flight operations may be subject to last-minute changes due to the situation in West Asia.

In a statement, the airline said certain flights are currently scheduled to operate on March 23, but advised travellers to stay updated as conditions continue to change.

Travel AdvisorySome flight operations may change at short notice due to the evolving situation in the Middle East. We request customers to kindly note the information below to avoid any inconvenience:1) The flights mentioned in the table below are scheduled to operate on 23… pic.twitter.com/BbRRgJDoUD— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) March 22, 2026

Travel AdvisorySome flight operations may change at short notice due to the evolving situation in the Middle East. We request customers to kindly note the information below to avoid any inconvenience:1) The flights mentioned in the table below are scheduled to operate on 23… pic.twitter.com/BbRRgJDoUD

The UAE offered condolences and expressed its solidarity with Qatar and Turkey following the death of seven people in a helicopter crash in Qatar territorial waters.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, including members of the Qatari Armed Forces and the joint Qatari–Turkish forces, as well as to the governments and peoples of Qatar and Turkey, following the tragic incident.

UAE Expresses Solidarity with Qatar and Türkiye and Offers Condolences over Helicopter Crashhttps://t.co/iuQfS8LyJp pic.twitter.com/Fjvo5PceYd— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) March 22, 2026

UAE Expresses Solidarity with Qatar and Türkiye and Offers Condolences over Helicopter Crashhttps://t.co/iuQfS8LyJp pic.twitter.com/Fjvo5PceYd

UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri affirmed that the country’s retail sector is prepared and resilient. During a visit to the Carrefour distribution centre, he said that all sales outlets across the UAE are well-stocked with essential and non-essential goods.

*(Khaleej Times)*

Earlier, Qatar had released a list of those deceased which included:

Captain (Pilot) Mubarak Salem Daway Al-Marri, Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem Al-Khayarin, and Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed from the Qatar Armed Forces, along with Major (Air Defence) Sinan Taştekin from the Qatar–Turkey Joint Forces. Two Turkish civilian collaborators, Suleiman Cemra Kahraman and Ismail Anas Can, were also confirmed among the victims. At the time, search efforts were underway for Captain (Pilot) Saeed Nasser Samekh of the Qatar Armed Forces.

The aircraft crashed due to a "technical issue" during ⁠a ⁠training flight, the Turkish ministry said, adding that Qatari authorities will carry out inspections ⁠to determine the exact cause ‌of ⁠the crash.

Five soldiers from Turkey and Qatar were among seven killed in a helicopter crash in the Persian Gulf nation's territorial waters, the Turkish ⁠Defence Ministry said Sunday. The aircraft had crashed due to a technical issue during ⁠a ⁠training flight, the ministry added.

The General Command of the Bahrain Defence Force said its air defence systems are continuing to intercept successive waves of what it described as Iranian attacks targeting.

Bahrain Defence Force said its air defence systems have intercepted and destroyed a total of 246 Iranian drones (UAVs) and 145 missiles targeting the Kingdom since the start of attacks on February 28.

Authorities said the systems remain on high alert, continuing to respond to successive waves of aerial threats as part of efforts to safeguard the country’s airspace and security.

*(Khaleej Times)*

Qatar confirmed that six people have been killed after a helicopter crash in the country’s territorial waters at dawn on Sunday, while search operations continue for one remaining missing person.

The deceased include Captain (Pilot) Mubarak Salem Daway Al-Marri, Sergeant Fahad Hadi Ghanem Al-Khayarin, and Corporal Mohammed Maher Mohammed from the Qatar Armed Forces, along with Major (Air Defence) Sinan Taştekin from the Qatar–Turkey Joint Forces. Two Turkish civilian collaborators, Suleiman Cemra Kahraman and Ismail Anas Can, were also confirmed among the victims. Search efforts are still underway for Captain (Pilot) Saeed Nasser Samekh of the Qatar Armed Forces.

*(Khaleej Times)*

Qatar Ministry confirmed the death of six of seven crew members from the helicopter crash in the morning. Search for the missing person continues.

Press release regarding the search and rescue operations following the helicopter crash in the country's territorial waters.#moiqatar pic.twitter.com/kXVVKA1ocm— Ministry of Interior - Qatar (@MOI_QatarEn) March 22, 2026

Press release regarding the search and rescue operations following the helicopter crash in the country's territorial waters.#moiqatar pic.twitter.com/kXVVKA1ocm

The joint statement signed by UAE on the Strait of Hormuz passage alongside 21 other countries.

Joint Statement on the Strait of Hormuzhttps://t.co/fVPAYozdF4 pic.twitter.com/n25zPDCtLO— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) March 21, 2026

Joint Statement on the Strait of Hormuzhttps://t.co/fVPAYozdF4 pic.twitter.com/n25zPDCtLO

Despite the ongoing conflict, Dubai property prices stay stable. There have been no indications of drastic fluctuations, Khaleej Times reported. Demands for investment opportunities remain strong among the UAE and GCC nationals, along with long-term expats.

The Oman Foreign Ministry confirmed Omani citizens has safely returned from Iran. The repatriation was carried out through a mix of land and air travel.

*(Gulf News)*

The UAE has joined 21 other countries in a joint statement on efforts to ensure safe passage across the Strait of Hormuz. Countries such UK, Germany, France and Japan have already joined the group.

*(AP)*

The UAE National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has forecast rain in some areas on March 22. The department expects showers in certain regions, along with partial cloudy conditions. Meanwhile, the UAE air defence system is reported to continue to respond to Iranian missiles and drones.

*(Khaleej Times)*

Kuwait Airways said that the flights to and from Cairo via Dammam Airport will resume their operations.

Starting March 26, flights will operate four times a week. Passengers are requested to arrive at the Khairan Mall terminal at least 24 hours before departure.

تسيير رحلات إلى (القاهرة) عبر مطار الملك فهد الدولي بمدينة الدمام ، اعتباراً من 26/3/2026 pic.twitter.com/HfebUOqlpY— Kuwait Airways (@KuwaitAirways) March 21, 2026

تسيير رحلات إلى (القاهرة) عبر مطار الملك فهد الدولي بمدينة الدمام ، اعتباراً من 26/3/2026 pic.twitter.com/HfebUOqlpY

On March 22, Air India and Air India Express are set to operate a total of 50 scheduled and non-scheduled flights across Middle Eastern region.

#importantupdate Air India and Air India Express will operate a combined total of 50 scheduled and non-scheduled flights, to and from the West Asia region on 22 March 2026.Read More: https://t.co/fXMy6rS3SG— Air India (@airindia) March 21, 2026

#importantupdate Air India and Air India Express will operate a combined total of 50 scheduled and non-scheduled flights, to and from the West Asia region on 22 March 2026.Read More: https://t.co/fXMy6rS3SG

Indigo has advised all passengers to check their flights before heading to the airport, as some flights may be delayed or cancelled. Details of the flights scheduled for March 22 are provided below.

Travel AdvisoryAt IndiGo, our teams continue to work round the clock to support customers and help reunite them with their loved ones amid the evolving situation in the Middle East.As part of this effort, we are operating the below-mentioned flights on 22 March 2026, in line… pic.twitter.com/bcBdAvbepm— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) March 21, 2026

Travel AdvisoryAt IndiGo, our teams continue to work round the clock to support customers and help reunite them with their loved ones amid the evolving situation in the Middle East.As part of this effort, we are operating the below-mentioned flights on 22 March 2026, in line… pic.twitter.com/bcBdAvbepm

Flightradar24 said that the Gulf airline recovery index showed slow recovery. The recovery index was updated on March 21. 15 Qatar Airways planes parked at Teruel (TEV) have been excluded from the recent figures due to their inactivity.

The Flightradar24 Gulf airline recovery index, 21 March. Recent totals for Qatar Airways have been adjusted to remove flights into storage at Teruel. There are currently 15 Qatar aircraft at TEV with 5 more aircraft scheduled to move to storage Sunday. https://t.co/97jEqJnCCI pic.twitter.com/EkQKLivQ7j— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 22, 2026

The Flightradar24 Gulf airline recovery index, 21 March. Recent totals for Qatar Airways have been adjusted to remove flights into storage at Teruel. There are currently 15 Qatar aircraft at TEV with 5 more aircraft scheduled to move to storage Sunday. https://t.co/97jEqJnCCI pic.twitter.com/EkQKLivQ7j

Saudi Defence Ministry said that four drones targeting its Eastern Province were intercepted.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Saudi's unequivocal condemnation of Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and Arab and Islamic countries.

#statement | The Foreign Ministry renews the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s unequivocal condemnation of the blatant Iranian attacks against the Kingdom, the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and a number of Arab and Islamic countries. pic.twitter.com/PZ9Yqg4wcc— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) March 21, 2026

#statement | The Foreign Ministry renews the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s unequivocal condemnation of the blatant Iranian attacks against the Kingdom, the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and a number of Arab and Islamic countries. pic.twitter.com/PZ9Yqg4wcc

The Saudi Defence Ministry confirmed that three Iranian missiles were launched towards Riyadh. One of the missiles was intercepted, while the other two fell in uninhabited areas.

المتحدث الرسمي لـ #_: رصد إطلاق 3 صواريخ باليستية باتجاه منطقة الرياض، وقد تم اعتراض أحد الصواريخ، فيما سقط الصاروخان الآخران في منطقة غير مأهولة. pic.twitter.com/ZRqeZmVO1p— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) March 2

المتحدث الرسمي لـ #_: رصد إطلاق 3 صواريخ باليستية باتجاه منطقة الرياض، وقد تم اعتراض أحد الصواريخ، فيما سقط الصاروخان الآخران في منطقة غير مأهولة. pic.twitter.com/ZRqeZmVO1p

UAE Defence Ministry announced that the Air Defence system is currently responding to incoming Iranian missile and drone threats.

تتعامل حالياً الدفاعات الجوية الإماراتية مع اعتداءات صاروخية وطائرات مسيرة قادمة من إيران وتؤكد وزارة الدفاع أن الأصوات المسموعة في مناطق متفرقة من الدولة هي نتيجة اعتراض كل من منظومات الدفاع الجوي للصواريخ البالستية، والمقاتلات للطائرات المسيرة والجوالة.UAE air defences are… pic.twitter.com/VSHetj7ljH— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae)

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