TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An emergency alert blared on Gabriel Firmansyah Harris’ mobile phone in Abu Dhabi at 03:00 AM on Sunday, March 1, 2026, jolting the Indonesian graduate student awake.
Gabriel, who is pursuing a master’s degree at Mohamed bin Zayed University, said the message was a government warning instructing residents to stay indoors.
“It was a missile attack warning from the UAE government, telling us to remain at home,” he told Tempo on Tuesday, March 3.
Explosions followed shortly after the alert, he said, as Iranian missiles were intercepted in the air. “The blasts continued for about 10 minutes,” he added.
Iran launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on the United Arab Emirates on February 28, targeting areas hosting US military facilities, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The assault was described as retaliation for earlier strikes by Israel and the United States.
Gabriel said he was at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Abu Dhabi during the initial wave of attacks on Saturday. He and other Indonesians were holding a religious recitation event attended by around 160 children.
“While the children were praying, we suddenly heard a loud explosion. I thought something had fallen on the embassy building,” he recalled.
After checking a WhatsApp group, he learned that Iran had launched missiles toward US military bases in Abu Dhabi. A friend outside the embassy later told him that the UAE’s air defense system was intercepting the missiles midair.
The blasts forced organizers to end the event early. Some parents rushed to pick up their children, while others preferred they remain at the embassy, which they considered safer.
Gabriel said that missile interception sounds could still be heard in the following days. “The sounds and the flashes in the sky are clearly audible and visible,” he said.
The escalating conflict has also disrupted travel plans. A family visit from Istanbul scheduled for March 4 was canceled due to flight suspensions. Gabriel himself canceled his planned return to Indonesia on March 11.
The Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi held an emergency meeting with community members on the first day of the attacks, urging citizens to remain calm and prepare a “go bag” for potential evacuation.
The Indonesian Embassy and the Consulate General have since issued a Level III alert for Indonesian citizens in the UAE, advising them to heighten vigilance, limit outdoor activities, and follow instructions from local authorities and Indonesian diplomatic missions.
As of Sunday afternoon, the UAE Ministry of Defense said it had detected 165 ballistic missiles, destroyed 152 of them, and intercepted two cruise missiles. At least three people were reported killed and 58 others injured in the attacks.
Read: Iran Says It Will 'Set Ablaze' Any Ship Trying to Pass Through Strait of Hormuz
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