UAE's Oil Lifeline Targeted: Drone Strike Sparks Fire at Fujairah Amid Israel-Iran War

A drone strike triggered a major fire at the Fujairah petroleum industrial zone, a key UAE oil export hub outside the Strait of Hormuz. Civil defence teams rushed to contain the blaze as regional tensions continue to escalate.

A drone strike triggered a fire at the petroleum industrial zone in Fujairah, authorities confirmed on Monday, raising fresh concerns about the expanding regional conflict and its potential impact on Gulf energy infrastructure. Officials said the blaze broke out after a drone targeted facilities in the Fujairah petroleum industrial area, one of the Gulf’s most strategically important oil export hubs located outside the Strait of Hormuz.

Civil defence teams rushed to the site and were working to contain the fire. Authorities confirmed that no injuries had been reported so far.

Authorities Confirm Drone Strike Behind Fire

In an official statement, the Fujairah Media Office confirmed that the fire was caused by a drone attack.

“The competent authorities in the Emirate of Fujairah confirmed that an evolving fire broke out in the Fujairah petroleum industries zone as a result of it being targeted by a drone, with no injuries reported," the statement said.

“Civil defence teams in the emirate immediately began dealing with the incident and continue their efforts to bring the fire under control," it further said.

“The relevant authorities urged the public not to circulate rumours and to obtain information only from official sources," the statement concluded.

Strategic Oil Hub Temporarily Disrupted

The attack is significant because Fujairah hosts one of the largest oil storage and export facilities in the region. The port allows tankers to load crude without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, making it a crucial energy transit point for global markets.

Following the strike, partial oil loading operations were reportedly suspended as authorities focused on controlling the fire and assessing damage.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions across the Gulf as drone and missile attacks linked to Iran continue to target energy infrastructure and transport hubs.

Drone Incident Near Dubai Airport Disrupts Flights

Earlier the same day, a separate “drone-related incident” sparked a fuel tank fire near Dubai airport, briefly disrupting operations at one of the world’s busiest travel hubs.

Authorities said the fire was contained and flights were gradually resuming.

“Flights to and from DXB are gradually resuming to selected destinations, following the temporary suspension implemented as a precautionary measure,” Dubai Airports said in a statement on X.

The blaze occurred near Dubai International Airport, which typically handles the highest volume of international passengers globally.

Growing Regional Escalation

The latest incidents come as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies.

According to regional reports, Iran has fired more than 1,900 missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates, targeting infrastructure including airports, ports, oil facilities and landmarks.

Many of the projectiles have been intercepted by air defence systems, but repeated attacks have unsettled travel and energy markets across the Gulf.

Authorities in Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting more than 60 drones since midnight on Monday in the eastern part of the country.

(With inputs from AFP)