UAE Bars Iranian Nationals from Entry, Transit; Missile Attack on Tanker Near Qatar Adds to Crisis

Airlines in the United Arab Emirates, including FlyDubai and Emirates, on Wednesday announced through their websites that Iranian nationals are not permitted to enter or transit the country, as reported by Xinhua.

However, the announcement on the flydubai website stated that Iranian nationals holding a UAE "Golden Visa" are exempt from the restriction, according to Xinhua.

The long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, along with the lower-cost airline FlyDubai, displayed the order on their websites.

Entry rules can sometimes be opaque in the autocratic United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, but the airlines’ portals reflected the directive.

Authorities offered no official comment. The development comes as Dubai has already shut down the Iranian Hospital and Iranian Club, institutions in the city dating back to the time of the shah.

Did QatarEnergy Confirm a Missile Attack on Tanker Aqua 1 Near Qatar?

Separately, QatarEnergy confirmed that a fuel oil tanker, Aqua 1, was subject to a missile attack in the northern territorial waters of Qatar in the early hours of Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The restriction on Iranian nationals comes amid growing regional tensions in West Asia, where the UAE has also been targeted by Iran.

Earlier on Sunday, the United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems successfully intercepted 16 ballistic missiles and 42 unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran.

According to an official statement shared by the UAE Ministry of Defence, "The UAE air defences engaged 16 ballistic missiles and 42 UAVs launched from Iran."

What Casualties and Injuries Did the UAE Report After Iranian Attacks?

Providing a broader operational update, the Ministry stated, "Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 414 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1914 UAVs."

The Ministry confirmed, "The attacks resulted in the martyrdom of two armed forces members while performing their national duty, along with a civilian contractor, and 8 fatalities."

In addition to the casualties, a total of 178 people were injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe.

The Ministry of Defence affirmed that it 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, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in a statement, claimed responsibility for targeting key industrial facilities in the region, including aluminium plants in the UAE and Bahrain, as reported by Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

In the statement, the IRGC said its Aerospace and Naval forces carried out a "combined and targeted operation" using missiles and drones against what it described as industries linked to the US military and aerospace sector.

The targets named included the Emirates Global Aluminium facility in the United Arab Emirates and Aluminium Bahrain in Bahrain.

The IRGC alleged that these facilities are connected to American defence production, claiming they play a role in supporting US military industries, and further stated that the strikes were conducted in response to what it described as attacks by "American-Zionist" forces on Iran’s industrial infrastructure.

(With inputs from ANI)