UAE Capital Rocked By Explosions, Huge Emergency Response Underway

In the late night hours local time, the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi was shaken awake after at least two large explosions sent people panicking, resulting in a large police and emergency response, and parts of the city on effective lockdown. 

Social media footage and images showed at least one explosion erupting at the top of a high residential or hotel building, which many fear may have been a missile or drone attack from nearby Yemen. There’s also speculation the blasts came from within the high-rise building.

Purported video shows an explosion in #AbuDhabi which may have been hit by a #Houthi rocket. Two explosions have been heard so far. #Dubai #UAE #UAE_Safe #UAETeamEmirates #Palmeiras #Yemen #AbuDhabiAttack pic.twitter.com/uTeVeUiifz

— Hamza Azhar Salam (@HamzaAzhrSalam) February 8, 2022

At the moment the city has many foreigners and soccer teams staying at hotels, given Abu Dhabi is set to host the UEFA’s Club World Cup Competition in the coming days.

Police have reportedly blocked major highways leading into the city, as there are fears the area is under Houthi rocket attack. According to unconfirmed reports, the top of a hotel building is on fire. 

A state of emergency in the capital, #AbuDhabi, and a closure of highways, after huge explosions shook the city.#UAE pic.twitter.com/BBFMT4HEbQ

— Bin Ghaleb (@GhalebM0nz1i7) February 8, 2022

At this early report little has been confirmed, and it’s unclear if there are casualties.

I just heard a second bomb and cops are out blocking the roads and shit pic.twitter.com/e2BezmW7Kb

— BING BONG (@UnNowan) February 8, 2022

UAE: Reports of an explosion Abu Dhabi and emergency services responding to a tower block. Initial reports it may have been a rocket attack.

Smoke comes out of the building after the explosion. pic.twitter.com/eKBBeET9VK

— Shehzad Ali (Turk) (@shehzadturk) February 8, 2022

In the past weeks the UAE has been target of multiple drone and missile attacks from Yemen, with Houthi leaders vowing the country would “no longer be safe”. The UAE has been Saudi Arabia’s closest ally in executing the war in Yemen since 2015, with the Emirates deploying jets and pilots to conduct airstrikes, often resulting in mass civilian casualties. 

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