A suspected Iranian drone struck the U.S. Consulate in Dubai on Tuesday, sparking a fire in the parking lot that was quickly put out by emergency crews. No injuries were reported.
The Dubai Media Office confirmed the attack and said operations returned to normal after the blaze was extinguished. Footage shared online showed thick black smoke rising from the consulate area, with witnesses describing the distinct buzzing sound of a Shahed-type drone before the explosion.
This is the second hit on a U.S. diplomatic post in the Gulf in 24 hours. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was struck by two drones earlier Tuesday, causing a limited fire and minor damage. The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait was also attacked and has closed indefinitely.
The State Department has ordered all non-emergency personnel and their families to leave the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Iraq. Americans across the region are being told to “depart now” as commercial flights remain disrupted.
Iran is retaliating after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed hundreds across Iran, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. President Trump says the war could last four to five weeks, but he’s not ruling out boots on the ground.
The UAE is now considering missile strikes on Iran after intercepting hundreds of drones and missiles since Saturday. Three people have already been killed in the Emirates from the attacks.
U.S. and Emirati authorities are investigating the Dubai strike. Iran has not commented on the specific attack, but state media frames the broader campaign as defensive.
