Authorities in the United Arab Emirates are working to contain fires, repair damaged infrastructure and resume full operations at Fujairah port after recent drone and missile strikes tied to Iran’s IRGC ignited storage tanks and temporarily disrupted oil loading at one of the world’s most important energy hubs.
Fujairah, the UAE’s flagship export outlet outside the Strait of Hormuz and one of the largest oil storage and bunkering centres globally, has come under repeated attack in recent weeks, with drones striking oil terminals and industrial facilities and triggering large fires visible from the surrounding area. Local media and port sources said several crude and product tanks were damaged and that some loading operations had to be suspended as emergency crews moved in to contain the blazes and assess structural damage.
UAE officials stressed there were no reported casualties, with civil defence teams in Fujairah moving quickly to bring the situation under control and prevent the fires from spreading further across the complex. Oil loadings at parts of the port have since resumed, though traders and shipping sources said some terminals remain offline or are operating under tighter safety protocols, leading to scheduling delays and heightened costs for tankers calling at the facility.
The attacks come amid a sharp escalation between Iran and a U.S.-led coalition, with the IRGC openly threatening to tighten its grip over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and warning that any vessel or energy facility seen as aiding its adversaries could be targeted. Analysts say hitting Fujairah is especially significant because the port and its associated pipelines were designed to give Gulf exporters a way to bypass the choke point, meaning successful strikes there expose a critical vulnerability in global energy security.
Energy markets have reacted nervously, with the series of incidents at Fujairah and nearby infrastructure feeding concerns over supply disruptions and insurance risks for ships operating in the wider Gulf. Regional diplomats are urging de-escalation, while the UAE has vowed to bolster its air defences and coordinate closely with partners to protect strategic assets, even as it seeks to project calm and continuity from a port that remains central to keeping oil flowing to world markets.
