Explainer: Dubai dream shaken as Iran war escalates

India Today Explains examines the escalating West Asia conflict, focusing on Iran's relentless attacks on the United Arab Emirates. According to the UAE's defence ministry, more than 1,700 missiles and drones have been launched towards the country, with over 90 per cent intercepted by air defences, fighter jets, and helicopters. Dubai, long marketed as a conflict-proof safe haven, has been significantly impacted, with alerts warning residents to seek shelter. Iran justifies the strikes citing the UAE's strategic alignment with Washington and its partnership with Israel following the 2020 Abraham Accords. The programme details the UAE's multi-layered air defence system, including the THAAD system, Patriot PAC-3, and Pantsir-S1. It also explores potential Gulf nation retaliation strategies and Iran's decentralised 'Mosaic strategy' that allows operations to continue despite leadership eliminations. The conflict threatens Dubai's tourism industry, which generates around 30 billion dollars annually, and risks destabilising the entire region.