Drone strikes launched from Iran have hit the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ), the United Arab Emirates’ largest oil storage and export hub, triggering a fire and raising fresh concerns over regional energy security.
The incident occurred on Monday, March 16, 2026, with the Dubai Media Office confirming that civil defence teams were swiftly deployed to contain the blaze and manage the situation.
Fujairah, located on the eastern coast of the UAE along the Gulf of Oman, plays a critical role in global oil logistics. Unlike ports on the Persian Gulf, vessels accessing Fujairah do not need to pass through the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz, making it a vital alternative export route.
Before the escalation of hostilities, the UAE produced over 3.4 million barrels of crude oil per day and operates a major pipeline capable of transporting up to 1.5 million barrels daily to bypass the Hormuz chokepoint. Any significant disruption at Fujairah could therefore force a reduction in production and exports.
Despite repeated assurances from Iran that it is not targeting neighbouring countries and is focused on striking U.S. military assets in the region, drone attacks have increasingly affected Gulf oil infrastructure and transport routes.
In a related development, Dubai’s international airport was also impacted by a separate drone-related incident just hours later. Flights were temporarily suspended after a fire broke out near the airport.
The attacks follow earlier incidents in which falling drones injured four people near the airport just days before.
According to the UAE’s Ministry of Defence, at least six people have died since the conflict began on February 28, including four civilians and two military personnel who died in a helicopter crash attributed to a technical fault.
Official figures indicate that Iran has launched more than 1,900 missiles and drones targeting the UAE since the outbreak of hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran, further escalating tensions across the region.
