Explosions shook buildings in Dubai on Friday, sending a large plume of smoke over the central area of the Middle East’s financial hub, marking day 14 of the conflict between the United States-Israel, and Iran.Click here for live updates on day 14 of Middle East warAn AFP correspondent on the scene described the building as having “shaken” and reported a “huge explosion.”Sirens were audible from the direction of Sheikh Zayed Road, the main arterial road of the UAE’s largest city.“An explosion at the Dubai International Financial Centre, right next to my building,” Mario Nawfal, a Dubai-based Australian entrepreneur and prominent X user, wrote in a post.He also shared a video of the blast alongside the message.However, Dubai authorities described the event as a “minor incident” caused by a “successful interception.”“Authorities confirm that debris from a successful interception caused a minor incident on the façade of a building in central Dubai. No injuries have been reported,” the Dubai Media Office wrote on X.The development comes a day after a drone fell near the city’s financial district following Iran’s threat to hit economic institutions, prompting some companies to evacuate staff.The UAE has come under repeated Iranian fire during the Middle East war, with Dubai’s airport, one of the world’s biggest, repeatedly targeted as well as its port and luxury real estate including the Palm Jumeirah.Iran, which was struck by joint US‑Israeli attacks on February 28 that triggered the current conflict, has since launched retaliatory strikes on Gulf states hosting US military bases, and by targeting Israel.The US‑Israel operation killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and his son Mojtaba has since been named the country’s new supreme leader. However, Mojtaba is also said to have sustained injuries during the conflict.
