Drone attacks from Iran have struck the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ), the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) biggest port and oil storage facility, sparking a fire.
Fujairah sits on the UAE’s eastern coast, on the Gulf of Oman – rather than the Persian Gulf – and so vessels do not need to navigate the Strait of Hormuz to reach it.
The UAE, which before the war began produced more than 3.4 million bpd of crude, operates a 1.5 million bpd pipeline that can transport some crude to bypass Hormuz.
With the narrow sea passage controlled by Iran largely shut to exports, significant disruptions at Fujairah would force the large crude producer to shut down more production.
Though Iran has repeatedly said it does not intend to attack its neighbouring countries, and only seeks to strike US military bases in the region, drone attacks have continued to target Gulf transport and oil infrastructure.
Dubai’s international airport was hit in a separate “drone-related incident” hours apart.
Flights were temporarily suspended after a fire broke out near the airport.
According to officials, Iran has launched over 1,900 missiles and drones at the UAE since the war between the US and Israel, and Iran, began last month.