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The UAE sent a brief incoming missile alert to phones across Dubai before withdrawing it as a technical malfunction. The false warning underscored the fragility of the US-Iran ceasefire and wider Gulf tensions.
Dubai,UPDATED: Jun 26, 2026 21:28 IST
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates issued an incoming missile alert for Dubai on Friday, before quickly telling people to "disregard the previous warning" and later saying it was caused by a technical malfunction. The mobile phone alert startled many across Dubai and was the first such warning since the United States and Iran reached an interim ceasefire in the war last week.
The incident highlighted continuing tensions in the region amid recent developments, including an attack on a cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Iran is also suspected of launching a drone attack on a tanker off the coast of Oman on Thursday, as Tehran continues to challenge the region and the US over its control of the strait, despite the current interim deal in the war.
The brief text alert sent by the UAE's Interior Ministry on Friday afternoon was also the first of its kind in Dubai during the Iran war. However, similar alerts have been issued elsewhere in the region warning of incoming Iranian missiles and drones since the war began on February 28, when the US and Iran launched their strikes on Iran.
Shortly after the alert, the Emiratis said there was a telephone call between Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The UAE said Sheikh Abdullah told Araghchi that the country had "emphasised the importance of full commitment" to the interim deal between Iran and the US. "Serious diplomacy and responsible dialogue are the optimal path for addressing all regional and international crises," it said.
The US and Iran are still negotiating the terms of the interim peace deal, including the movement of ships through the key strait and the future of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Under the interim deal, both sides have 60 days to work out the details, even as Friday's false alert in Dubai reflected the tensions that remain in the region.
With PTI Inputs
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Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jun 26, 2026 21:28 IST
