The UAE Ministry of Defence announced on April 9, 2026, that its air defence systems did not detect any ballistic missiles, cruise missiles or UAVs launched from Iran during the past hours. The update marks a notable shift after weeks of sustained aerial attacks on the country from Iranian forces since the war began in late February.
Since the onset of Iranian attacks, UAE air defences have engaged a total of 537 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles and 2,256 UAVs. That puts the total number of intercepted aerial threats at over 2,800 since the conflict started.
No injuries were recorded in recent hours, keeping the total number of injured at 224 individuals of various nationalities. Those injured include Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, Turkish, Iraqi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Omani, Jordanian, Palestinian, Ghanaian, Indonesian, Swedish, Tunisian, Moroccan and Russian nationals.
No fatalities were reported in the past hours. Since the start of the Iranian attacks, the total number of military martyrs has reached two, in addition to a Moroccan civilian contracted with the Armed Forces. The total number of civilian fatalities stands at 10, from Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, Indian and Egyptian nationalities.
The wide range of nationalities among the injured and deceased reflects the UAE’s large expatriate population. The country is home to millions of foreign workers from across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
UAE Affirms Full Military Readiness After Iran Ceasefire
The Ministry of Defence affirmed its full readiness to address any threats and to respond firmly to any attempts that aim to undermine the UAE’s security. The ministry said it remains committed to ensuring the protection of the country’s sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguarding national interests.
The statement comes a day after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 8. Despite the truce, Gulf states including the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar reported intercepting missiles and drones throughout the day on April 8. A fire was reported at Abu Dhabi’s Habshan gas complex and a Saudi pipeline was hit by a drone. Kuwait reported 28 Iranian drone attacks, while the UAE faced 35 drone attacks causing extensive damage. Qatar confirmed it had intercepted seven missiles and drones.
Iranian state television confirmed the April 8 attacks were carried out in response to the bombing of Iranian oil facilities. Vice President JD Vance, who is scheduled to lead the US delegation to Islamabad for peace talks on Saturday, described the ceasefire as a “fragile truce.”
