World · 2 March 2026
541 Drones: UAE shuts markets, ends diplomatic thaw with Iran
The United Arab Emirates closed its Tehran embassy and recalled all diplomats after Iran fired 165 ballistic missiles and 541 drones at the country, killing three civilians and wounding 58. Abu Dhabi and Dubai stock exchanges will remain shut Monday and Tuesday. After an emergency GCC video summit, all six Gulf states - UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait - declared they may respond militarily to Iranian strikes. The UAE embassy closure reverses a diplomatic rapprochement that was only three years old.
Reported by The National (UAE) · How we write briefs