Middle East war: 5 Indians, 7 Nepalese injured in Abu Dhabi after debris falls during interception of attack

Five Indian nationals and seven Nepalese sustained injuries in Abu Dhabi on Friday after falling debris struck the Ajban area when an attack was intercepted by the United Arab Emirates’ air defences, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said. The office said injuries ranged from minor to moderate for most victims and included one individual of Nepali nationality with a major injury. The incident adds to a series of collisions between intercepted projectiles and populated or industrial areas across the UAE this week.

“The incident in the Ajban area resulted in minor to moderate injuries sustained by 6 individuals of Nepali nationality and 5 individuals of Indian nationality, and one major injury sustained by an individual of Nepali nationality,” the Abu Dhabi Media Office said. “The public is reminded to obtain information only from official sources and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information.”

Additional incidents and industrial impact

• On Wednesday an Indian national was injured by shrapnel from an intercepted drone near the Umm Al Thuoob Industrial Area in Umm Al Qaiwain, the state-run WAM news agency quoted the Umm Al Qaiwain Government Media Office: “The incident led to the injury of one Indian national.”
• Earlier last week, five Indians were injured near the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) when a ballistic missile was intercepted by UAE air defences, local media reported.
• Prior to that, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said an Indian national was among two people killed in the UAE when debris from intercepted missiles landed on a street.
• Abu Dhabi also halted operations at the Habshan gas facility after debris from an intercepted attack fell in the area and triggered a fire. The site, operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (Adnoc), is the UAE’s primary natural gas processing centre and serves as the starting point for Adnoc’s crude pipeline to Fujairah.
• Kuwait’s Mina Al Ahmadi oil refinery was reported hit hours earlier, with active units catching fire, and authorities said a power and water desalination plant was targeted, sustaining damage to several components.

The incidents are part of a wider regional escalation since 28 February, when the United States and Israel carried out a large-scale joint offensive against Iran and Tehran launched retaliatory strikes, according to reporting that places UAE facilities and population centres at increased risk from intercepted missiles, drones and resulting debris.

Beyond immediate injuries and infrastructure disruption, authorities have imposed travel and entry restrictions affecting Iranian nationals. Emirates and flydubai have stated on their websites that Iranian citizens are barred from entering the UAE except for limited categories, while travel agencies reported a surge in visa rejections for Iranians since the conflict began.

As operations at major energy and utility sites remain constrained and civilian injuries continue, government media offices have repeatedly urged residents and the international community to rely on official updates. The Abu Dhabi Media Office’s reminder to “obtain information only from official sources and to avoid spreading rumours or unverified information” underscores the challenges of confirming reports amid ongoing activity across the Gulf.