Iran has threatened to strike ‘all economic centres’ across the Middle East, raising fears that global financial hubs like Dubai could be dragged deeper into the escalating conflict.
An Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander warned Tehran would retaliate if US and Israeli strikes continue, declaring Iran would target the region’s key commercial and economic hubs.
‘We are saying to the enemy that if it decides to hit our main centres, we will hit all economic centres in the region,’ the general said in remarks broadcast on Iranian state media.
He also warned Iran could bring chaos to the global energy market, declaring: ‘We have closed the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, the price of oil is above $80 and will soon reach $200.’
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for flows of both oil and gas from the Middle East, accounting for roughly a fifth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade
The warning came after a drone strike hit the car park of the US consulate in Dubai overnight, sparking a fire that was quickly extinguished with no reported injuries.
British travellers are scrambling to leave the region as flights are disrupted and governments warn nationals to depart amid fears the conflict could widen.
Panic had already spread through Dubai the previous night when missiles streaked across the sky and explosions lit up the city, sending tourists and influencers running for cover.
A drone strike hit the car park of the US consulate in Dubai overnight, sparking a fire that was quickly extinguished with no reported injuries
Videos posted to social media on Tuesday evening showed a huge plume of smoke rising from the building, which local authorities revealed was hit by a missile
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the drone is understood to have struck a car park adjacent to the consulate building, which is situated close to Dubai’s British embassy
Holidaymakers described scenes of chaos as visitors fled beaches, restaurants and luxury hotels while air raid sirens echoed across the emirate.
Footage posted online showed visitors taking cover as the attacks unfolded, with one influencer claiming panicked holidaymakers were grabbing luxury bags as they rushed to safety.
British content creator Mia Plainer said she saw ‘loads of smoke and missiles,’ adding that ‘people literally were grabbing their Hermes and Chanel bags’ as they sheltered.
The escalating conflict is also causing wider disruption across the Gulf, with thousands of cruise passengers now stranded in regional ports.
The passengers and crews are unable to leave the ships, which have become floating hotels, after escalating hostilities raised fears over safety in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes.
At least six ships from major cruise companies are said to be at a standstill awaiting news of when they can leave.
The cruise ship passengers are just the latest holidaymakers to become stranded in the region, with other tourists also caught up in the escalating chaos.
Families have described terrifying scenes as missile interceptions lit up the skies above Dubai, hotels were evacuated and airports descended into confusion as flights were cancelled without warning.
Earlier today, the British Government announced its first emergency evacuation flight to help stranded British nationals escape the war-torn Middle East.
A repatriation flight is currently scheduled to leave Oman’s Muscat International Airport at 11pm local time (7pm GMT) tonight and will prioritise the most vulnerable Brits first as attacks continue to explode across the region.
British nationals and their spouse or partner, and their children under the age of 18, with a valid travel document are all eligible.
The Foreign Office said it would contact British nationals to secure them a way out of the Middle East, and urged people not to travel to the airport unless they have been officially called.
British expats have been increasingly frustrated by the lack of urgency over getting them out of the Middle East – with British Airways running an emergency evacuation flight with more than 100 empty seats.
Despite around 130,000 Brits registering as stranded in the Gulf, around 100 pilots and crew members from BA and other airlines were flown from Muscat to Heathrow on Monday.
More than 11,000 commercial flights have been cancelled with 1 million people affected since airspace over the Gulf largely closed as the US and Israel launched a co-ordinated attack on Iran on Saturday, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Stranded passengers at Dubai airport on Tuesday morning
This handout satellite image taken on March 2, 2026 shows smoke plumes billowing in Dubai after a projectile strike
Iran has responded furiously with retaliation attacks across, targeting US bases across the Middle East – including a CIA station at the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia which was blown up on Monday.
But retaliatory strikes from Tehran have hit expat hotspots such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait – including hotels and airports. The US Consulate in Dubai was also rocked by a drone strike yesterday.
Videos posted to social media on Tuesday evening showed a huge plume of smoke rising from the building, which local authorities revealed was hit by a missile.
A statement read: ‘The competent authorities in Dubai succeeded in extinguishing a limited fire in the vicinity of the U.S. Consulate in Dubai resulting from a drone targeting operation, and the incident did not result in any injuries.’
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the drone is understood to have struck a car park adjacent to the consulate building, which is situated close to Dubai’s British embassy.
Desperate wealthy expats living in Dubai have been driving across the desert to escape the Middle East via neighbouring Oman or Saudi Arabia.
Trump has admitted in interviews that the US was not expecting Tehran to lash out against its Gulf neighbours who are not participating in the campaign but who house US bases.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on Tuesday that the ‘safety and security’ of British nationals was a ‘top priority’.
Airlines are today ramping up their flights out of the Middle East while the war rages on.
Emirates is operating seven flights from Dubai to the UK while Etihad has two Abu Dhabi departures.
Virgin Atlantic will operate a flight from Dubai to London Heathrow.
British Airways has not restarted its usual flying programme from the region, but will run an evacuation flight to Heathrow from Muscat, which it does not usually serve.
