A missile alert sounded across Dubai Friday, only to be swiftly retracted by authorities, indicating the warning was likely issued by mistake.
The brief text message, issued by the UAE’s Interior Ministry, caused widespread alarm among residents, after Iranian missiles and drones targeted the UAE during the height of the Iran war.
While the warning was issued just after 5:15 p.m. local time, officials offered no immediate explanation for what triggered the erroneous notification.
The mobile phone alert startled many in Dubai, coming weeks after a ceasefire in the conflict.
The incident unfolded amidst escalating regional tensions, following a suspected Iranian drone attack on a tanker off the coast of Oman on Thursday.
Tehran has increasingly challenged regional powers and the United States over its control of the Strait of Hormuz, despite an existing interim deal in the Iran war.
Shortly after the alert, a telephone call took place between UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Sheikh Abdullah reportedly told Araghchi that the UAE “emphasized the importance of full commitment” to the interim agreement between Iran and the United States.
He added that “serious diplomacy and responsible dialogue are the optimal path for addressing all regional and international crises.”
