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Waves of blasts heard over Dubai, Doha for second day, witnesses say

By Maha El Dahan and Andrew Mills
By Maha El Dahan and Andrew Mills
Mar 1, 2026
Smoke billows from Jebel Ali port after an Iranian attack, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Smoke billows from Jebel Ali port after an Iranian attack, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, United Arab Emirates, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY — Amr Alfiky

By Maha El Dahan and Andrew Mills

DUBAI, March 1 (Reuters) - Loud blasts were heard in Dubai and the Qatari capital Doha for the second day on Sunday, witnesses said, as Iran's retaliatory strikes on neighbouring Gulf states in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic widened.

Iran had said it would target U.S. bases in the region but it has hit a range of other targets across Gulf cities.

Two people were injured in Dubai after shrapnel from drones fell over two houses when they were intercepted, aDubai Media office statement said.

Dubai's international airport, its landmark Burj Al Arab hotel and posh man-made Palm Jumeirah Island all suffered damage.

Thick black plumes of smoke continued to rise from the Jebel Ali port area where one of the berths caught fire earlier on Sunday because of debris from an aerial interception of a missile.

Dubai is the biggest tourism and trade hub in the Middle East and its airport is one of the world's busiest travel hubs.

Qatar's interior ministry said on Sunday it was responding to a limited fire in an industrial zone after debris fell from an intercepted missile.

(Reporting by Maha El Dahan in Dubai and Andrew Mills in Doha; Editing by Edmund Blair and Christian Schmollinger)