Citizen of Nigeria hurt alongside numerous others after United Arab Emirates thwarts missile attack from Iran

On March 3, 2026, a massive plume of black smoke rose into the air following an explosion in the Fujairah industrial zone, as captured by Fadel SENNA / AFP, with foreign workers looking on in alarm.

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The United Arab Emirates has confirmed that at least one Nigerian national was among those affected by the recent barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles, which were intercepted in the UAE.

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The UAE defence ministry has revealed that the attacks were a retaliatory measure by Iran, sparked by accusations that the UAE allowed the United States to use its military bases to launch operations against Tehran.

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According to the UAE defence ministry, a total of 262 ballistic missiles were launched from Iran since the conflict began on February 28, with the ministry's air defence systems detecting and tracking the incoming threats.

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Of the 262 missiles launched, 241 were successfully intercepted and destroyed, while 19 fell into the sea, and two landed on UAE territory, causing damage and disruption.

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In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry provided an update on the situation, stating that "Since the onset of the blatant Iranian attacks, 262 ballistic missiles have been detected, of which 241 were destroyed, 19 fell into the sea, and 2 struck within the state territory."

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The statement also revealed that a total of 1,475 Iranian UAVs were detected, with 1,385 being intercepted, and 90 falling within the country's territory, while 8 cruise missiles were detected and destroyed.

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The attacks have resulted in 6 deaths among nationals of various countries, including Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi citizens, with a further 122 people sustaining moderate to minor injuries.

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The injured individuals include nationals from a range of countries, including the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, the Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, and Palestine.

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The authorities have not provided a breakdown of the number of individuals affected from each nationality, leaving many questions unanswered.

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On Wednesday, the UAE reported that its air defence systems were once again responding to incoming missiles and drones launched from Iran, with the defence ministry stating that "UAE air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran" in a post on X.

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The ministry also explained that the sounds of explosions heard in parts of the country were the result of air defence systems intercepting the missiles and drones, providing a sense of the ongoing conflict.