The United Arab Emirates (UAE) implemented a significant information blackout regarding Iranian attacks during a period of regional conflict, prosecuting individuals who shared footage of missile and drone strikes, according to investigative reporting. While influencers and expatriates initially posted videos of the attacks, a swift legal crackdown followed, aimed at concealing the full extent of the Iranian strikes.
During the initial day of retaliatory attacks in February, key UAE locations including the Fairmont and Burj Al Arab hotels in Dubai, Dubai International Airport, and Jebel Ali port were reportedly hit. However, official statements from UAE authorities often focused on the success of interception efforts and maintained a narrative of continuity and normalcy, according to analysis presented in a Daily Mail "Photo Evidence" episode featuring Bellingcat investigative journalist Sebastian Vandermeersch and host Catherine Barnwell.
Barnwell stated that the UAE was targeted by more attacks than any other country during the Iran War and simultaneously worked to obscure the results. "Iranian strikes reached far more of the UAE than many observers may realize," Barnwell said. "At the same time, public messaging focused overwhelmingly on interceptions, continuity, and normality." The objective of Iran's strikes, she explained, was not solely to destroy targets but also to impose economic and physical costs, with the perception of stability being a key element of the regional conflict.
Specific incidents highlight the discrepancy between official accounts and observed reality. Multiple videos reportedly showed a drone striking the Fairmont Hotel on February 28, though Dubai officials issued a statement noting only "an incident occurred in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area." Similarly, when the Burj Al Arab hotel experienced a fire on the same day, authorities claimed it was hit by debris from an intercepted missile. However, experts suggest the damage is more consistent with a direct drone strike, noting the flames' height and the proximity required for debris from an interception to cause such damage.
In Fujairah, a drone attack on an oil facility on March 3 was followed by an explosion and a large plume of smoke. Despite visual evidence suggesting a direct drone impact without visible interception, the Fujairah media office stated the fire resulted from debris from a successful interception. The port of Fujairah, a critical energy site, is outside the Strait of Hormuz, making it a vital export route.
The Al Dhafra Air Base, south of Abu Dhabi, which hosts Emirati, French, and U.S. Air Force units, was also targeted on February 28. Satellite imagery from March 15 shows damaged roofs on three aircraft hangars, which reportedly housed expensive Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft. The potential loss of these aircraft could represent a significant portion of the UAE's fleet.
The crackdown on information sharing led to the detention of numerous individuals, including Britons and a Vietnamese national, for filming and posting footage of the attacks. Detained in Dubai, an organization providing legal advice, confirmed these detentions. The UAE's economy, international reputation, and political model are heavily reliant on a perception of stability, and the extent of these attacks and the subsequent information control challenge that perception, according to Barnwell.