Missile debris kills 3rd Pakistani in UAE amid Iran war

Published March 17, 2026
Workers sit on a wall against the backdrop of the city skyline as they take a break in Dubai on March 11. — AFP
Workers sit on a wall against the backdrop of the city skyline as they take a break in Dubai on March 11. — AFP

Another Pakistani national was killed due to “falling debris” following the interception of a ballistic missile in the United Arab Emirates, the country’s media office said on Tuesday.

The development marks the third instance of a Pakistani national losing their life in an attack in the UAE during the ongoing war between Iran, the US, and Israel.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office, in a statement on X, said that the authorities “responded to an incident involving falling debris in the Baniyas area, following the interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems”.

“The incident resulted in the death of a Pakistani national,” it said.

The Pakistan Embassy in the UAE, in a statement on X, expressed sorrow at the death and said it was in “close coordination” with local authorities.

The embassy said that it will extend “all possible support to the bereaved family,” and added that the embassy will “facilitate the repatriation process at the earliest possible time”.

“In this hour of grief, we share in the family’s pain and offer our deepest condolences and prayers,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s Ministry of Defence said its air defences were “responding to incoming missiles and drone attacks originating from Iran”.

The ministry confirmed that the “sounds heard in scattered areas across the country are results of air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting drones and loitering munitions”.

In light of the prevailing situation, the Dubai Media Office has issued a safety guide.

On March 8, a Pakistani driver was killed when “debris from an aerial interception” fell onto a vehicle in Dubai’s Al Barsha area late.

Another Pakistani national — identified as Mureed Zaman — was reported dead due to falling debris in Abu Dhabi on February 28, the same day the war began, with the US and Israel launching attacks on Iran.

Zaman had been working in Abu Dhabi for nearly eight years, earning a livelihood through labour work and driving. He had been supporting his family back home.

Opinion

Editorial

Water vision
01 May, 2026

Water vision

WATER insecurity in Pakistan has been building up for decades as per capita water availability has declined from...
Vaccine policy
01 May, 2026

Vaccine policy

PAKISTAN has finally approved its first National Vaccine Policy; a step the health ministry has rightly described as...
Labour rights
Updated 01 May, 2026

Labour rights

THE annual observance of May Day should move beyond statements about the state’s commitment to the rights of...
UAE’s Opec exit
Updated 30 Apr, 2026

UAE’s Opec exit

THE UAE’s exit from Opec is another sign of the major geopolitical shifts that are reshaping the global order. One...
Uncertain recovery
30 Apr, 2026

Uncertain recovery

PAKISTAN’S growth projections for the current fiscal present a cautiously hopeful picture, though geopolitical...
Police ‘encounters’
30 Apr, 2026

Police ‘encounters’

THE killing of nine suspects by Punjab’s Crime Control Department across Lahore, Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh ...