Nigerians injured as Iran launches missile, drone attacks on UAE

Several Nigerians have been injured after Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates, in a major escalation of tensions in the Gulf region.

The UAE Ministry of Defence said on Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted a number of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles fired from Iran during the latest assault on March 14.

In a statement posted on its official X account, the ministry said its defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones launched toward the country.

The attacks left six people dead and 141 others injured, including foreign nationals.

“The UAE air defence systems on March 14 engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran,” the ministry said.

“Since the onset of this blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,600 UAVs launched from Iran.”

Authorities said those killed included UAE citizens and foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

While the exact locations of the casualties were not disclosed, officials confirmed that the injured included residents from several countries, including Nigeria.

Other affected nationals were from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Residents from Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden were also among the injured.

The incident has triggered concern among Nigerian communities in the UAE, where thousands of citizens live and work in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade.

Data from Nigeria’s diaspora commission indicates that the UAE remains one of the most popular destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

In recent years, the Nigerian government has also expressed concerns over the welfare of its citizens in the country amid diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians.

Saturday’s attacks have heightened fears within the diaspora community as military tensions continue to rise across the Gulf.

The UAE Ministry of Defence, however, assured residents that the country’s military remains ready to counter any threat.

“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability,” the ministry said.

In a separate update, the ministry said its air defence systems were still actively intercepting incoming missiles and drones.

Regional media reports indicate that the strikes are part of a broader escalation between Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East.

According to Al Jazeera, Iran has continued sustained missile and drone attacks across the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring countries.

The strikes are believed to be in retaliation for military operations carried out by the United States and Israel against Iranian positions in the region.

Reports indicate that Tehran targeted several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, late on Friday and into Saturday.

The attacks also reportedly caused damage to infrastructure in parts of the UAE.

Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military unit, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned that US interests in the UAE could remain potential targets.

Iranian state media reported that the group issued the warning after US forces allegedly carried out strikes on Iranian-controlled islands.

The IRGC said ports, docks and military facilities linked to the United States could be targeted and advised residents to stay away from such locations to avoid civilian casualties.

Security analysts warn that the escalating exchange of threats and attacks across the Gulf could disrupt economic and aviation activities if the conflict worsens.

As of the time of filing this report, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not issued an official statement on the incident.