UAE air defences engage hundreds of missiles and drones since Iranian attacks began

Rashmi Pandey — Sun, 10 May 2026 12:28:55 +0000

UAE air defences intercepted two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran on May 10, 2026, the UAE Ministry of Defence said in a fresh statement quoted by multiple credible outlets, including Gulf News and Khaleej Times. The interception occurred without any reported fatalities or injuries on that day.

The Ministry said its air‑defence systems “engaged” two UAVs originating from Iranian territory on Sunday, May 10, 2026, as part of an ongoing series of Iranian‑launched missile and drone activity directed at the UAE. Residents in parts of Abu Dhabi and Dubai reported hearing loud explosions and alert sounds, which authorities later attributed to the air‑defence engagements.

Officials confirmed that both UAVs were intercepted and neutralised before they could hit populated areas, reinforcing that there were “no martyrs, fatalities, or injuries” directly linked to the two drones engaged on May 10. The ministry reiterated that the country’s air‑defence posture remains fully operational and that all appropriate measures are being taken to safeguard critical infrastructure and civilian sites.

Since the beginning of the Iranian attacks, UAE air‑defence assets have intercepted a total of 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,265 UAVs, according to the Ministry of Defence’s latest aggregated figures. These figures include events over recent months, with several large‑scale engagements reported in March and early May 2026.

The ministry has documented a total of two Emirati martyrs among its armed‑forces personnel since the attacks began, along with the martyrdom of a Moroccan civilian contracted with the UAE Armed Forces. The civilian death toll stands at 10, comprising nationals from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Palestine, India and Egypt.

Overall, the number of injured has reached 230 people from a wide range of nationalities, including Emiratis, Egyptians, Sudanese, Ethiopians, Filipinos, Pakistanis, Iranians, Indians, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, Azerbaijanis, Yemenis, Ugandans, Eritreans, Lebanese, Afghans, Bahrainis, Comorians, Turks, Iraqis, Nepalis, Nigerians, Omanis, Jordanians, Palestinians, Ghanaians, Indonesians, Swedes, Tunisians, Moroccans and Russians.

The UAE Ministry of Defence stressed that the country is fully prepared to respond to any threats and will “firmly confront” any action that seeks to undermine national security, sovereignty or stability. The statement underlined the UAE’s adherence to international law and its right to self‑defence while reiterating that it has not initiated or participated in hostilities against Iran.

Gulf News | Business Upturn

UAE air defences engage hundreds of missiles and drones since Iranian attacks began