Gulf States: Situation & Travel Update

On 28 February, Iran initiated ballistic missile and attack drone strikes targeting Israel and US military facilities and sites known to host US military personnel across the Middle East, in response to joint US and Israeli airstrikes inside Iran. The targeting pattern of Iranian strikes has evolved to increasingly include civilian-profile targets such as hotels, international airports, and critical national infrastructure. Iranian strikes have continued into 7 April.

On 31 March, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that it would attack US companies in ⁠the region beginning 1 April in retaliation ⁠for attacks on Iran. The IRGC published a list of 19 companies with corporate offices in the region: Microsoft, Apple, Google (Alphabet), Nvidia, Intel, IBM, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, Boeing, Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, Palantir, JPMorgan, General Electric, G42, and Spire Solutions. These are almost all US companies, excluding G42 and Spire Solutions, which are both Emirati companies. All 19 companies maintain a regional presence across the Middle East, with offices, data centres or commercial operations primarily concentrated in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, alongside additional operations in Qatar, Bahrain and Israel.

On 2 April, two US strikes targeted the newly built B1 bridge linking Tehran to Karaj. In response, Iranian media published a list of major bridges across the region. The list includes the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Sea Bridge in Kuwait, the King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, the Sheikh Zayed Bridge and Sheikh Khalifa Bridge in the UAE, and the King Hussein Bridge, Damia Bridge, and Abdoun Bridge in Jordan. On 7 March, the King Fahd Causeway was temporarily closed due to the threat of Iranian attacks. This is the only road connection between Bahrain and the Arabian Peninsula.

On 7 April, the Israeli military warned the people of Iran to avoid rail infrastructure, with their X account stating: “Dear Citizens, for the sake of your security, we kindly request that from this moment until 21:00 Iran time, you refrain from using and travelling by train throughout Iran. Your presence on trains and near railway lines endangers your life.” A rail bridge was subsequently struck in Kashan, central Iran. This almost certainly increases the likelihood that Iran will target trains in Jordan and the Gulf.

On 5 April, US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran, calling on authorities to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree to a deal on ending the conflict. He threatened on Truth Social that if Iran does not open up the Strait of Hormuz, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran.” He later added that the deadline to reach an agreement would be 20:00 EST on 7 April (00:00 UTC on 8 April), and that if an agreement is not reached, then “[a] whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

Following the US ultimatum, Iranian officials threatened to “irreversibly destroy” critical national infrastructure (CNI), including power plants and water systems, in response to US strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) stated that it hit three petrochemical complexes in Iran on 6 and 7 April. Iran subsequently stated that Israel Electric Company, Saudi Arabia’s Marafiq utility company, UAE’s TAQA power generation company, and QatarEnergy are “legitimate targets”.

Early 7 April, the US and Israel reportedly conducted a series of strikes on military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island. Unconfirmed reports suggest that a radar station, military base, air defence and docking facilities were struck. Kharg Island is Iran’s primary oil terminal, handling roughly 90 per cent of the country’s crude exports. While targets were limited to military assets, with no confirmed strikes on oil infrastructure, retaliatory Iranian strikes against regional energy infrastructure are likely.

As of 7 April, there is a total closure of airspace in Kuwait. Bahraini airspace is closed with very limited exceptions. The UAE’s airspace has restricted access by way of Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) zones. In Qatar, while the airspace is closed to almost all commercial flights, Qatar Airways flights continue to operate with special permission. Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Oman’s airspace remains open.

Saudi forces continue to regularly report the interception of Iranian drones and missiles over the country’s territory. However, on 4 April, Saudi media reported no Iranian attacks for the first time in more than a month. On 4 April, Iranian officials stated that Saudi power generation facilities, alongside Emirati and Israeli ones, would be considered “legitimate targets” following the US-Israeli attacks on the petrochemical complex near Mahshahr.

Saudi authorities reported that Iranian forces fired missiles at Saudi energy facilities in the Eastern Province on 6 April. Iranian media claimed that the attack damaged the industrial zone in the city of Al Jubail.

On 7 April, the King Fahd Causeway was temporarily closed in response to Iranian threats to target key bridges in the region.

At least two people have been killed and 22 injured in Saudi Arabia, as of 09:45 UTC on 7 April.

As of 7 April, Saudi Arabia’s airspace is open.

Air defences were activated in response to Iranian ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and attack drones between 2 and 7 April. Following an overnight attack on 2-3 April, Kuwaiti authorities denied social media rumours of a possible radiation leak in the country. Fires broke out at multiple units of Al Ahmadi Port Refinery, and a water and desalination plant was also damaged.

Overnight 3-4 April, the IRGC claimed to have targeted US bases on Kuwait’s Bubiyan Island. Power outages were reported in parts of Jahra, with crews working to repair the main transformer station. A fire broke out at Shuaiba oil complex following an attack drone strike overnight, 4-5 April. “Significant damage” was also reported at a Kuwait City building housing multiple government ministries, as well as two power generation units at two power plants, which were rendered out of service, and multiple oil and petrochemical sites.

Overnight 6-7 April, debris injured six people in a residential area in north Kuwait. 15 US military personnel were also reportedly injured during an attack drone strike.

At least seven people have been killed, and dozens have been injured in Kuwait, as of 09:45 UTC on 7 April.

As of 7 April, the airspace remains closed in Kuwait.

Air defences were activated multiple times in response to Iranian ballistic missiles and attack drones between 2 and 7 April. On 5 April, Bahraini authorities claimed that the military intercepted at least 13 Iranian drones over its airspace in the previous 24 hours.

On 5 April, Bahraini authorities noted that an Iranian drone attack had likely damaged the GPIC petrochemicals plant, located in the northeast of Bahrain. The attack reportedly caused “multiple fires” to break out inside the plant’s operational units. Further damage was also reported at a BAPCO Energies storage facility.

On 7 April, all traffic was suspended on the King Fahd Causeway between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, severely limiting options to leave Bahrain.

At least three people have been killed, and dozens have been injured in Bahrain, as of 09:45 UTC on 7 April.

As of 7 April, the Bahraini airspace is closed with very limited exceptions. Passengers wishing to depart the region have been able to depart via King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, depending on the operational status of the airport (with operations being frequently temporarily suspended for short periods of time), the King Fahd Causeway, and shelter-in-place advisories.

Air defences were activated in response to Iranian ballistic missiles and attack drones between 2 and 7 April. On 4 April, Iran stated that QatarEnergy was a “legitimate target” following US-Israeli strikes on its petrochemical facilities.

At least 16 people have been injured in Qatar, as of 09:45 UTC on 7 April.

As of 7 April, while the airspace is closed to almost all commercial flights, Qatar Airways flights continue to operate several international routes with special permission.

Air defences were activated multiple times in response to Iranian ballistic missiles and attack drones between 2 and 7 April. On 2 April, the IRGC stated that its navy attacked data centres belonging to the US company Oracle in Dubai; a claim which UAE authorities dismissed as “fake news”. On 3 April, a fire was reported at Habshan gas plant following an Iranian strike, with one Egyptian national killed and four injured, including two Egyptian and two Pakistani nationals; operations at the gas field were subsequently suspended.

Emirati emergency crews responded to reports of debris from a suspected Iranian ballistic missile in Ajban, east of Abu Dhabi, which caused at least 12 injuries to Indian and Nepali nationals. Later on 3 April, two fires were reported at the Royal Airwing building at Dubai International Airport (DXB / OMDB). Emirates Global Aluminium says its plant near Abu Dhabi suffered “significant” damage following an Iranian attack, adding that returning the facility to full production may take up to 12 months.

Overnight 3-4 April, debris fell on a building in the Marina area of Dubai; no injuries were reported. Debris also fell on an “Oracle building” in Dubai’s Internet City; no injuries were reported. Overnight 4-5 April, Iranian authorities stated that the UAE’s TAQA power generation company was a “legitimate target”. Early 5 April, multiple fires were reported at Borouge petrochemicals plant in Abu Dhabi after it was hit by debris, forcing operations to be suspended. Iranian authorities stated that its attacks had targeted energy infrastructure in the UAE on 5 April, threatening further attacks if the US hit Iranian civilian infrastructure.

On 5 April, multiple suspected projectiles fell near a container ship during loading operations at the UAE’s Khor Fakkan port. On 6 April, one person was injured after a building was damaged by a ballistic missile strike in the Musaffah neighbourhood of Abu Dhabi. An attack drone also struck a telecommunications company building in Fujairah. At least four people were injured in attacks on 6 April.

On 7 April, two people were injured after a ballistic missile strike on Sharjah telecom building, belonging to the Thuraya Telecommunications Company.

At least 12 people have been killed and 221 injured in the UAE, as of 09:45 UTC on 7 April.

As of 7 April, the UAE’s airspace has restricted access by way of Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) zones.

At least three people have been killed and 15 injured in Oman, as of 09:45 UTC on 7 April.

As of 7 April, the airspace remains open in Oman.