A fire erupted at the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, halting some oil-loading operations, following reported debris from an intercepted drone. The incident occurred amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and after the United States conducted strikes against targets in Iran on Friday.
The Fujairah government’s media office stated that the fire was caused by debris from an intercepted drone, and that no injuries were reported. Local outlets reported a suspension of some oil-loading operations following the strike. The Port of Fujairah, located on the UAE’s east coast, is a critical maritime facility, exporting an average of 1.7 million barrels of crude oil and refined fuels each day in 2025, according to Reuters.
The incident follows Iranian statements indicating retaliation for U.S. Strikes on Kharg Island, a key oil depot in Iran located approximately 300 miles from the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump stated on Friday via Truth Social that the U.S. Had “totally obliterated” military targets on Kharg Island. The strikes targeted facilities involved in processing nearly all of Iran’s oil exports.
The UAE Defense Ministry reported intercepting nine ballistic missiles and 33 uncrewed aerial vehicles launched from Iran on Saturday. In a post on X, the ministry stated that since the beginning of what it termed “blatant Iranian aggression,” UAE air defenses have engaged a total of 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 UAVs.
The ongoing conflict, which began last month with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, has disrupted regional airspaces and significantly impacted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has announced it will release 400 million barrels from reserves in response to the disruptions, marking the largest coordinated release in the agency’s history. The IEA reported that global oil supply will drop by 8 million barrels a day in March, and that disruptions extend beyond upstream production and exports to include refineries and gas processing facilities.
Oil prices surged past $100 a barrel on Friday, driven by the escalating conflict and supply concerns. The IEA stated that the current situation represents the largest oil market disruption in history. A satellite image taken on Saturday showed smoke from the fire spreading over the Gulf of Oman, according to NASA MODIS data.
