Radio National Breakfast Laura Tingle describes new wave of explosions targetting UAE
Mar 5, 2026
Laura Tingle, ABC Global Affairs Editor based in Dubai, paints a vivid picture of recent strikes across the Gulf. She recounts loud alarms and the city’s tense calm. She outlines how air defences worked yet debris caused damage. She describes attacks on airports, ministries and hotels and the complications for travellers seeking safe corridors.
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On-the-Ground Signals Of Strikes In UAE
- Laura Tingle heard Dubai alarms and received warnings from contacts in Abu Dhabi about heavy bombardment earlier in the evening.
- She reported visible damage from debris, reported attacks on Abu Dhabi airport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs area, and a nearby luxury hotel.
Defences Intercept But Debris Still Causes Damage
- UAE air defence systems have largely intercepted incoming drones and missiles, reducing direct hits but creating dangerous debris and fires.
- Despite interceptions, debris caused fires in a luxury Abu Dhabi suburb and damage around key government and hotel sites.
Safe Corridor Allows Some Flights Amid Uncertainty
- Commercial airspace closures and active missile/drone activity are the main constraints on evacuations and flights out of the UAE.
- A negotiated safe corridor with Iran and possible Emirati jets escorting planes have enabled some flights, but uncertainty persists for stranded travellers.