Nigerians were among more than 140 residents injured after Iran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at the United Arab Emirates (UAE), heightening fears among thousands of Nigerians living and working in the Gulf nation.
Truetells Nigeria reports that the attack, which occurred on March 14, represents a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East, with several foreign nationals caught in the aftermath.
According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, the country’s air defence systems successfully intercepted multiple missiles and drones fired from Iran during the assault. In a statement shared on its official X account on Saturday, the ministry said its defence units engaged nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones during the attack.
The ministry confirmed that six people were killed while 141 others sustained injuries, including foreign nationals from several countries. Among the injured were Nigerians, alongside residents from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Other affected nationalities include Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.
Authorities stated that those who lost their lives included citizens of the UAE as well as foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. However, officials did not disclose the exact locations where the casualties occurred.
The UAE Ministry of Defence described the attack as part of ongoing Iranian aggression and revealed that since the start of the conflict, its air defence systems have intercepted a total of 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and about 1,600 drones launched from Iran.
The development has raised concerns among Nigerian communities across the UAE, where thousands of citizens are employed in sectors such as construction, hospitality, logistics and trade. Data from Nigeria’s diaspora authorities indicate that the UAE remains one of the largest destinations for Nigerian migrants in the Middle East, particularly in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
The Nigerian government has previously expressed concerns about the welfare and safety of its citizens in the country, especially amid diplomatic tensions and visa restrictions affecting Nigerians in recent years.
Saturday’s missile strikes have further heightened anxiety among members of the Nigerian diaspora as the Gulf region faces rising military confrontations.
In its statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence assured residents that it remains prepared to counter any threats to national security.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability,” the statement said.
The ministry also noted that its defence systems were still actively intercepting incoming missiles and drones.
Regional media reports suggest the attacks are part of a wider escalation involving Iran and Western-backed forces in the Middle East. Reports indicate that Iran has continued missile and drone strikes across parts of the Gulf despite protests from neighbouring countries.
The strikes are believed to be in retaliation for military operations carried out by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets in the region. Several Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, were reportedly targeted between Friday night and Saturday.
The attacks also caused infrastructural damage in parts of the UAE. Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that United States interests in the UAE could remain potential targets.
Iranian state media reported that the warning followed attacks by US forces on Iranian-controlled islands. The group reportedly mentioned ports, docks and military installations linked to the United States as possible targets and advised residents to avoid such areas to prevent civilian casualties.
Security analysts warn that continued exchanges of threats and military strikes across the Gulf could disrupt economic activities and aviation operations if the conflict escalates further.
As of the time of filing this report, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
