UAE

Iran War Day 7: What UAE Residents Need to Know

The UAE air defences intercepted missiles and drones, with authorities fully prepared to counter threats and safeguard national security. Airports and airlines have resumed limited flights, while early spring breaks have been announced for schools and universities, and some exams cancelled. Updates will follow as the situation unfolds.

UAE ready to defend its sovereignty

The UAE is committed to peace and regional stability but is fully prepared to defend its sovereignty and protect everyone living on its soil, Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, has said.

Gargash said the country had faced more than 1,000 attacks in the span of a few days, describing the scale of the assaults as unprecedented even by military standards. Despite the developments, he said the attacks would not weaken the country’s resolve.

Air defence operations

The UAE Ministry of Defence reported intercepting six ballistic missiles and 125 drones, with minor debris causing injuries in Abu Dhabi. Since the start of Iranian aggression, 196 missiles and 1,072 drones have been detected, of which 181 missiles and 1,001 drones were intercepted. Eight cruise missiles were also destroyed.

Casualties include three deaths (Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi nationals) and 94 minor injuries among multiple nationalities. Authorities confirmed full readiness to counter threats and safeguard national security.

UAE flight status March 6

UAE airports and airlines are gradually resuming operations following recent regional disruptions. While limited flights have restarted across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, passengers are advised to travel only with confirmed bookings.

Authorities continue to prioritise safety and closely monitor operations as schedules remain subject to change.

Prices spike across supermarkets

Some UAE residents say their grocery bills have risen in recent days, particularly for fruits and vegetables, with shoppers reporting noticeable price increases at supermarkets across the country.

Several shoppers told Gulf News they had seen prices climb within the past two days, with certain produce items nearly doubling compared with last week.

Alerts and public safety

In light of the ongoing war, the authority issued clear guidelines on what to do in case of an alert. It explained that if a warning is issued in your area, you must head to a safe place and take shelter until an ‘all clear’ alert is issued for the area. It added: “Do not exit to film or record.”

Education updates

Early spring breaks for schools and universities; some exams cancelled
Sharjah schools postponed start of academic year; distance learning continues for Indian and other schools in Dubai
CBSE exams cancelled or postponed in affected countries

Public services and infrastructure

Healthcare: Operations running normally; hospitals and emergency services fully functional

Utilities: Etihad Water and Electricity confirm uninterrupted services across Abu Dhabi and Northern Emirates

Banks fully operational

Authorities in the UAE have moved to reassure the public that the country’s financial system remains strong and fully operational despite rising geopolitical tensions across the region.

The Central Bank of the UAE said banks, financial institutions and insurance companies across the country continue to operate normally and provide services without disruption nationwide.

Emirates NBD is easing banking for its customers by waiving fees on select services until March 31, 2026. The move comes in response to recent regional developments, offering greater flexibility and convenience.

Tourism sector stays open

Tourism across the UAE is continuing as normal despite regional developments. Hotels, resorts, attractions, and shopping centres remain open, operating fully in line with safety and quality standards. Authorities monitor operations and occupancy daily to ensure services run smoothly. Residents and visitors are advised to check directly with hotels or service providers for the latest updates on bookings and programmes.

Leisure and entertainment closures

Several major attractions in Dubai have extended temporary closures as a precautionary safety measure amid ongoing regional tensions linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

Authorities have stressed that daily life in the UAE continues as normal, but some venues have paused operations in line with official guidance.

Responsibility begins with compliance

Stay safe and informed: Photographing or sharing images of security or critical sites, or reposting unreliable information, may lead to legal action and compromise national security.

Following official guidance and complying with regulations helps protect the community and maintain stability.

Safety advisory: shrapnel and suspicious objects

Stay away from shrapnel or suspicious objects; do not approach or photograph them.
Let authorities handle suspicious items safely.
This follows a recent attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles, which were intercepted by UAE air defence systems.

Emergency guidance if debris is spotted

Move away from the area and keep a safe distance.
Do not approach fragments – they may contain explosives or hazardous materials.
Avoid taking or posting photos on social media.
Do not gather at the incident site; allow authorities to access the location.
Rely only on official sources and avoid circulating unverified information.
Check on family members and stay calm.
Report incidents to the emergency number: 999.

Despite regional tensions, the UAE continues to operate efficiently, with air defences active, public services running normally, limited flights resuming, and residents advised to follow official guidance

Education

UAE resumes in-person classes Monday

Regular classes on campuses will resume in all nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools in the UAE on Monday, April 20, 2026, the UAE’s Ministry of Education announced on Wednesday.

“The resumption of in-person education for all children and students, as well as educational and administrative staff, in nurseries, kindergartens, and public and private schools, starting Monday, April 20, 2026,” the ministry said in a social media post

This follows schools’ completion of the necessary readiness and preparation plans, including facility preparedness, training of educational and administrative staff, and updating safety and security procedures, thereby reinforcing a safe and reassuring learning environment for students and their families, the ministry clarified.

Hybrid rotational model

Private schools will have the flexibility to implement the hybrid rotational model when needed, in accordance with approved regulations and under the supervision of local education authorities, in a manner that takes into account the readiness of each educational institution and ensures smooth implementation.

However, the ministry clarified that private schools implementing the hybrid rotational model must organise staff deployment in a manner that supports continuity of learning and does not require assigning the same teacher to deliver both in-person and remote instruction simultaneously.

This is to “preserve education quality and balancing professional workloads for teaching staff.”

Prepared for alternative modes

Educational institutions will remain prepared to transition to alternative learning modes when needed, ensuring continuity of education with flexibility and smooth implementation, the ministry added.

The ministry’s announcement ends days of confusion and rumours about how long the UAE will continue distance learning for students. It also clarifies the path forward for educational institutions to face any possible challenges in the context of regional uncertainties.

Wednesday’s announcement is also expected to give ample time for parents to prepare for sending children back to campuses.

Gulf News

UAE

UAE urges Iran to uphold ceasefire

The UAE is closely following the announcement by US President Donald Trump regarding the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and is seeking further clarification on the agreement’s provisions to ensure Iran’s full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the region and the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) underscored that the unprovoked Iranian attacks targeting infrastructure, energy facilities, and civilian sites over the past 40 days – which included 2,819 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones – and the resulting loss of life and property damage, necessitate a firm position, including ensuring that Iran is held accountable and fully liable for damages and reparations.

The ministry emphasised the need for a comprehensive and sustained approach that addresses Iran’s full range of threats, including its nuclear capabilities, ballistic missiles, drones, military capabilities, and affiliated proxies and terrorist groups, while ending threats to freedom of navigation, as well as economic warfare and piracy in the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry expressed hope for achieving sustainable peace for all countries in the region.

The UAE reaffirmed that it is not a party to this war and had undertaken intensive diplomatic efforts to prevent its outbreak, including through bilateral channels and initiatives within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Furthermore, the UAE underscored that it has firmly safeguarded its sovereignty, security, and national achievements, and stressed the need for Iran’s full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), adopted on 11 March 2026, which condemned the Iranian attacks and demanded their immediate cessation.

UAE

Dubai allows fee deferrals for hotels, businesses

Dubai has approved a new set of economic measures allowing hotels and businesses to defer key fees for three months, as authorities move to ease short-term cost pressures across the economy.

The measures, announced by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, take effect from April 1, 2026.

They form part of a previously announced Dh1 billion economic incentive package.

Fee deferrals

Hotels will be allowed to postpone paying 100% of sales fees on rooms and food and beverage, as well as the Tourism Dirham, for a period of three months.

The relief applies across all hospitality establishments, including hotels, hotel apartments and holiday homes, and is aimed at easing liquidity pressures in the sector.

Wider measures

The measures extend to companies across multiple sectors, with a three-month deferral introduced on a range of business-related fees.

These include:

Premium business names
Licence amendment fees
Newspaper announcement fees
Local service fees
Accommodation fees
Waste management fees
Service improvement fees

The deferrals apply to both new licences and renewals. Authorities said businesses will receive an update at the end of the three-month period.

Policy response

Officials framed the rollout as a continuation of Dubai’s responsive economic model.

Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), said: “Dubai’s economic model has been built on agility, clarity and cooperation, and the accelerated introduction and implementation of these measures… is a clear demonstration of the decisive leadership our city and nation benefit from.”

He added that the approach reflects “continued engagement with industry” and the ability to “rapidly enact policies that can incentivise growth and solidify resilience.”

Industry feedback

Authorities said the measures were shaped through consultations with the tourism sector.

Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), part of DET, said: “Over recent weeks, we have been closely engaging with stakeholders across the tourism sector as they navigate through unique challenges.”

He said the incentives reflect industry feedback and will support “growth and momentum for the sector.”

Business flexibility

Ahmad Khalifa AlQaizi AlFalasi, CEO of Dubai Business Registration and Licensing Corporation (DBLC), part of DET, said the measures give companies room to manage near-term priorities.

“By giving businesses extra flexibility over the coming months, we are allowing them to focus on key priorities… to protect the long-term sustainability of their operations,” he said.

The measures sit within a wider economic support package announced earlier this week, which also includes extending customs data grace periods and streamlining the issuance and renewal of residency permits.