New Delhi: The Iranian retaliatory missile and drone strikes on the United Arab Emirates have caused a vast amount of disruption, including a blaze at an Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centre. The strikes, which were initiated in retaliation for the recent US and Israeli military action towards Iran, were targeted on various locations around the UAE, shaking the image of the country as a safe regional location.
Early Sunday, Amazon’s cloud division confirmed that power was temporarily cut to one of its facilities after objects struck the site. The incident comes as Dubai and Abu Dhabi face one of the most intense security crises in their history, with airports, ports and residential areas impacted.
Fire at AWS availability zone after impact
AWS said that at around 4:30 AM PST, one of its availability zones in the UAE region, identified as mec1-az2, was hit by objects that caused sparks and a fire. An Availability Zone consists of one or more physical data centres that operate independently within a region.
Local fire crews disconnected power to the facility to contain the blaze. AWS stated that it may take several hours to fully restore connectivity in the affected zone. Other Availability Zones in the UAE region remain operational. When asked whether the incident was directly linked to the Iranian strikes, the company declined to confirm or deny any connection.
Airports, resort and residential areas hit
The broader assault caused visible damage across the country. In Dubai, a five-star resort caught fire, and debris reportedly fell near major landmarks. In Abu Dhabi, one person was killed and seven others were injured after strikes affected areas near the airport.
Iran said the attacks were retaliation for coordinated US and Israeli strikes on its territory. UAE officials said air defence systems intercepted several incoming drones and missiles. Authorities described many of the loud explosions heard across the cities as interception efforts rather than direct hits.
UAE’s image as safe haven shaken
The UAE has been advertising its stability over the years as a tax haven destination to investors, tourists and expatriates. Its population of about 11 million is almost 90 per cent foreigners. The economy of the country is dependent on its safety and predictability in a volatile region.
The attacks on Saturday have brought about new issues regarding the security of the region and the continuity of businesses. The UAE has since shut down its embassy in Tehran with the situation getting worse. Although the authorities claim that the situation is controlled, the magnitude of the strikes has rattled both the residents and investors.
The backlash may challenge the long-standing policy of Emirates to maintain a middle ground between regional politics and establish itself as an international business centre.