The UAE said it intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement on Monday, as Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in the Gulf economic and tourism hub for the first time.
The Houthis' military spokesman said they fired Zulfiqar missiles at Abu Dhabi and drones at Dubai in the third such strike on the US-allied Gulf state in the previous two weeks. find out more
He urged people and businesses to "remain away from critical headquarters and facilities" in the UAE, which prides itself on being a safe haven for business and a global tourism destination.
The attack, which came after a three-person attack on a petroleum station in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 17, was seen as an escalation of the Yemen war between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition that includes the UAE.
The attacks, according to a senior Emirati official, were "useless" provocations. In a Twitter post, the official, Anwar Gargash, wrote, "Those who test the UAE are misguided."
The attacks have caused rare security concerns among some inhabitants in a country where expats make up the majority, but they have had no discernible influence on daily life, with restaurants and beaches filled during the mild winter months.
Market mood in the UAE has weakened as a result of Houthi missile launches, but economic specialists believe the strikes, which have been generally stopped, have not yet harmed business or investor confidence.
The missile was intercepted at 20 minutes past midnight, according to the UAE, and its debris fell in an unpopulated region.
It happened during Israel's president's visit to the capital, where he met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss security and bilateral relations. find out more
"While Israel's president is in the UAE building bridges and promoting regional stability, the Houthis continue to launch attacks that endanger civilians," said US State Department spokesman Ned Price in a tweet.
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