The United Arab Emirates said its air defences detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the country on Tuesday evening, in an incident that triggered emergency phone alerts across parts of the country before authorities issued an all-clear.

The UAE Ministry of Defence said the first missile fell outside the country’s territorial waters and the second fell within them. Iran denied targeting the Emirates, according to Al Jazeera’s live coverage of the conflict on the same day.

Alerts, then an all-clear

A phone alert warning of a potential missile threat was sent to residents in Dubai and Sharjah, followed shortly afterwards by a second message saying the situation was safe while urging people to remain cautious, The National reported.

The Ministry of Defence and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said unusual sounds heard in some areas were caused by air defence systems intercepting the threat. Dubai authorities separately confirmed that sounds heard across the city were linked to the interceptions.

Authorities said normal activities could resume and that measures were being taken to protect civilians, critical infrastructure and essential services while minimising disruption to daily life. Residents were urged to rely on official channels and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.

The ministry said it remained on high alert and fully prepared to respond to any threat to the UAE’s sovereignty, security and stability.

It was the first such alert in the UAE since July 12, when the national emergency authority detected regional threats that it later confirmed had remained outside Emirati borders.

Why it matters in Sri Lanka

The escalation extends a conflict that has already reached Sri Lanka’s economy. The Strait of Hormuz has been at a standstill under a US blockade, vessels operated by the UAE’s ADNOC were attacked in the strait this month, and President Donald Trump this week posted a map showing the strait as US territory.

Gulf airspace disruption has been blamed for weakness in long-haul tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, and the UAE is a major destination for Sri Lankan migrant workers and a transit hub for travellers to and from Colombo.

Sources