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Gulf States: Situation & Travel Update

Sustained Iranian Attacks Reshape Gulf Security

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | INTELLIGENCE WINDOW: 17 Mar 2026 – 18 Mar 2026

Since 28 February, Iran has conducted missile and attack drone strikes against targets in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman in response to joint US and Israeli airstrikes inside Iran. The attacks have continued into 18 March.
On 18 March, Iran issued an evacuation warning for oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, threatening that they would be targeted in “in the coming hours”. The warning follows gas facilities at Iran’s South Pars field being reportedly struck by Israel a few hours earlier. Specifically, the warning was directed towards: Saudi Arabia’s Samref Refinery and Jubail Petrochemical Complex, the UAE’s Al Hosn Gas Field, and Qatar’s Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex, Mesaieed Holding Company and Ras Laffan Refinery.
On 17 March, Kuwaiti authorities reported two people injured by debris over the previous 24 hours, following attacks involving two ballistic missiles and 13 attack drones.
Saudi authorities stated that two attack drones were intercepted on approach to the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh on 18 March, with a third attack drone also announced as intercepted over Riyadh.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, stated that deployed Australian troops were safe after an Iranian projectile hit an area near Al Minhad Air Base on 18 March, which is around 24km south of Dubai.
Travel agents in Oman are reportedly recording a significant surge in interest for getaways for UAE residents during the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holidays. Heavy traffic is expected at key crossings such as the Hatta border crossing.
Iran has continued strikes against civilian targets, economic assets and critical national infrastructure. Attacks have resulted in material damage at airports, ports, desalination plants, international hotels, government offices, oil and gas infrastructure, and locations hosting US military personnel.
The rate of Iranian ballistic missiles fired at the Gulf states has decreased since 28 February. However, attack drone use has remained high, with the threat of attack drone strikes likely to remain high in the short-to-medium term. Heavy air defence interceptor usage is likely reducing stockpiles in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE, potentially forcing air defences to prioritise targets and increasing the likelihood of successful penetrations.
As of 18 March, the airspace remains closed in Kuwait. Bahrain and Qatar are allowing limited flights, requiring prior permission. The UAE’s airspace has restricted access by way of Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) zones; Saudi Arabia’s airspace has a partial closure affecting the area bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf. Oman and Jordan’s airspaces remain open.

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Situation Update: Iran Continues Missile and Drone Attacks Across the Gulf

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 18 March.

On 18 March, Iranian state media reported the issuance of an evacuation warning for oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, threatening that they would be targeted “in the coming hours”. The warning follows gas facilities at Iran’s South Pars field being reportedly struck by Israel a few hours earlier on 18 March, with the threatened attacks almost certainly intended to be retaliation. Specifically, the warning was directed towards: Saudi Arabia’s Samref Refinery and Jubail Petrochemical Complex, the UAE’s Al Hosn Gas Field, and Qatar’s Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex, Mesaieed Holding Company and Ras Laffan Refinery.

As of 18 March, there is a total closure of airspace in Kuwait. Bahrain is enabling a highly limited number of departures from Bahrain International Airport (BAH / OBBI) following a specific route, with prior permission. The UAE’s airspace has restricted access by way of Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) zones. In Qatar, the airspace remains restricted, although arrivals and departures via defined waypoints are now allowed after permission has been given. The airspace remains closed to overflights. Saudi Arabia’s airspace has a partial closure affecting the area bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf. Oman’s airspace remains open, with Muscat becoming the preferred airport among airlines in the region wishing to perform relief flights. Jordan’s airspace remains open, but aircraft are advised to carry extra fuel in case of delays.

Saudi Arabia

Between 17 and 18 March, Saudi authorities reported the interception of around 12 attack drones in unspecified parts of Eastern Province during three waves of attacks, the interception of a ballistic missile near Al Kharj, and the falling of debris near Prince Sultan Air Base (next to Al Kharj) following another missile interception, with no damage reported. Saudi authorities furthermore stated that two attack drones were intercepted on approach to the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh on 18 March, with a third attack drone also announced as intercepted over Riyadh.

On 18 March, Iranian state media reported the issuance of an evacuation warning for Saudi Arabia’s Samref Refinery and Jubail Petrochemical Complex, threatening that they would be targeted “in the coming hours”.

At least two people have been killed and 12 injured in Saudi Arabia as of 16:00 UTC on 17 March.

As of 18 March, Saudi Arabia’s airspace has a partial closure affecting the area bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf; however, this does not affect commercial flights departing major Saudi airports.

Kuwait

Early 18 March, Kuwaiti authorities stated that air defences intercepted seven attack drones in unspecified areas. On 17 March, Kuwaiti authorities reported two people injured by debris over the previous 24 hours, following attacks involving two ballistic missiles and 13 attack drones. Air defences were subsequently activated against a new attack in an unspecified part of northern Kuwait. Interceptions continued overnight 17-18 March, with Kuwait’s Defence Ministry announcing that air defences were intercepting ballistic missiles and attack drones.

At least six people have been killed, and dozens have been injured in Kuwait, as of 16:00 UTC on 17 March.

As of 18 March, the airspace remains closed in Kuwait.

Bahrain

Overnight 17-18 March, air raid sirens sounded multiple times across Bahrain, with the public asked to take shelter. On 18 March, the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) affirmed that no abnormal radiation levels had been recorded in Bahrain’s airspace or territorial waters.

At least two people have been killed, and dozens have been injured in Bahrain, as of 16:00 UTC on 17 March.

As of 18 March, the Bahraini airspace is heavily restricted. On 13 March, Bahrain amended its airspace closure, enabling a highly limited number of departures from Bahrain International Airport (BAH / OBBI) following a specific route, with prior permission.

Qatar

Overnight 17-18 March, there were reports of interceptions over Doha. The Qatari Defence Ministry stated that its armed forces intercepted a ballistic missile attack targeting the country. On 17 March, military officials stated that air defence systems intercepted nine missiles and several attack drones.

On 18 March, Iranian state media reported the issuance of an evacuation warning for Qatar’s Mesaieed Petrochemical Complex, Mesaieed Holding Company, and Ras Laffan Refinery, threatening that they would be targeted “in the coming hours”.

At least 16 people have been injured in Qatar, as of 16:00 UTC on 17 March.

As of 18 March, the airspace remains heavily restricted in Qatar. Arrivals and departures via defined waypoints are allowed after permission has been given.

UAE

Emirati authorities stated that air defences responded to missile and attack drone threats overnight 17-18 March, with attacks continuing into the morning of 18 March. The UAE’s Ministry of Defence claimed that explosions heard in the UAE, including in Dubai, were the result of air defence activity. Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, stated that deployed Australian troops were safe after an Iranian projectile hit an area near Al Minhad Air Base on 18 March, which is around 24km south of Dubai.

On 18 March, Iranian state media reported the issuance of an evacuation warning for the UAE’s Al Hosn Gas Field, threatening that it would be targeted “in the coming hours”.

At least eight people have been killed and 157 injured in the UAE, as of 16:00 UTC on 17 March.

As of 18 March, the UAE’s airspace has restricted access by way of Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) zones.

Oman

Travel agents in Oman are reportedly recording a significant surge in interest for getaways for UAE residents during the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holidays, which will occur on either 19 or 20 March, depending on moon sightings. This has almost certainly been in part conditioned by the ongoing elevated security concerns in the UAE in comparison to Oman. Heavy traffic is expected at key crossings such as the Hatta border crossing.

Oman is currently assessed to have a lower conflict-related risk profile compared to the neighbouring UAE and the Omani airspace remains open. As a result, Oman is being used by airlines and international governments as a base for repatriation flights. There is considerably elevated demand for flights running from Oman.

At least three people have been killed and 15 injured in Oman, as of 16:00 UTC on 17 March.

As of 18 March, the airspace remains open in Oman.

Regional Advisory

Further Iranian strikes remain highly likely in the near term. While US military installations likely remain the highest priority target, Iranian strikes will also likely continue targeting civilian-profile sites. Iran has continued strikes against civilian-profile targets and economic interests, airports, including oil and gas infrastructure and desalination facilities. Iranian officials have repeatedly threatened to carry out further attacks on US and Israeli-linked companies across the region.

While interception rates overall remain high, there have been numerous recorded cases of projectiles penetrating air defences. There is also a high risk of secondary impacts, including debris from intercepted threats, further extended airspace closures, maritime traffic interference, and wider transport and commercial disruption across the region.

Reporting indicates that the volume of Iranian ballistic missiles fired at the Gulf states has significantly diminished since 28 February, almost certainly due to expended ballistic missile stockpiles and the destruction of transporter erector launchers (TELs) by US-Israeli strikes. However, attack drone use has remained high, with the threat of attack drone strikes likely to remain high in the short-to-medium term.

Sustained Iranian attack drone and missile strikes are likely to result in critical shortages of air defence interceptors across the region, especially in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE. Critical shortages in air defence interceptors will likely force air defence systems to prioritise targets and increase the likelihood of successful penetrations. Furthermore, Iranian strikes have damaged regional air defence infrastructure, including radar systems critical for early warning, target acquisition, and tracking, likely degrading detection capabilities and reducing reaction times for air defence systems.

It is highly advised not to film or distribute footage of strikes, damage or military activity. In the UAE, authorities have warned that publishing or circulating “rumours, false news, or news from unknown sources through social media platforms or other information technology” is illegal, with at least 45 people being arrested so far, including a British tourist who allegedly filmed missile strikes in Dubai. In Bahrain, at least two individuals have been confirmed as arrested for “filming, live streaming, clipping, and publishing events in a manner constituting a legal violation”. Qatar’s Ministry of Interior warned that gathering at incident sites or photographing and sharing content related to field developments may result in legal accountability, and has arrested at least 313 people of various nationalities for “producing and sharing misleading information”. Omani authorities have stated: “Beware of sharing or publishing any captured photos or videos. They should be shared only with the competent authorities”.

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