A suspected Iranian drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai, triggering a fire and sending black smoke into the air.
US officials confirmed all diplomatic personnel were safe as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the consulate’s chancellery building, igniting a fire near the diplomatic facility.
“A drone, unfortunately, struck a parking lot adjacent to the chancellery building and set off a fire in that place,” Rubio told reporters at the US Capitol.
The incident occurred amid a wave of missile and drone attacks launched by Iran in retaliation for the US–Israeli military campaign against Tehran.
Fire contained, no injuries reported
Dubai authorities confirmed that the fire was caused by a “drone-related incident” near the US Consulate. In a statement on social media, the Dubai Media Office said emergency teams responded immediately and successfully contained the fire.
Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 3, 2026
Authorities later confirmed that the blaze was fully extinguished within about 45 minutes, with no injuries reported.
Dubai officials reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring public safety and security.
Secretary Rubio said all US diplomatic personnel were accounted for following the incident.
Photos: The fire near the US Consulate in Dubai has been fully extinguished, with no injuries reported. Dubai authorities reaffirm their commitment to ensuring everyone's safety and security. pic.twitter.com/OPAOQRHEIG
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 3, 2026
“As you're aware, we began drawing down personnel from our diplomatic facilities in advance of this,” Rubio said.
He noted that the United States had already reduced staffing levels to “bare bones” at regional missions due to the growing threat of Iranian retaliation.
Rubio also warned that US embassies and diplomatic facilities across the region are under “direct attack from a terroristic regime.”
US begins evacuation of Americans
Rubio said the US State Department has been working to assist American citizens leaving the Middle East. According to him, about 9,000 Americans have evacuated the region since Saturday, while 1,500 to 1,600 more have requested assistance.
The State Department has been arranging charter flights, military transport options, and expanded commercial flights by coordinating with airlines to deploy larger aircraft.
Also Read: Iranian drone strikes CIA station in Saudi Arabia
Rubio noted that some planes already en route to the region had to turn back after airspace closures.
US raises travel advisory
Following the incident, the United States raised its travel advisory for the United Arab Emirates to Level 3. The State Department also ordered non-emergency US government personnel and their family members to leave the country.
The move came as Iranian and Iran-backed groups have increasingly targeted US diplomatic facilities, including embassies and consulates across the Gulf.
Videos circulating on social media showed thick black smoke rising near the US Consulate in Dubai shortly after the drone strike. Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that an Iranian drone had hit the US Consulate, according to coverage cited by The New York Times.
Earlier drone strike hit US Embassy in Riyadh
The Dubai incident follows a similar drone attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday. According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense, the strike caused a limited fire and minor material damage to the building.
The US embassy has since urged Americans in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dhahran to shelter in place as security concerns grow.
Additionally, the US Embassy in Kuwait announced that it would remain closed until further notice.
Also Read: US orders staff in Karachi, Lahore to leave Pakistan
The attacks come amid an expanding regional conflict that began after the United States and Israel launched a major military campaign against Iran, which reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
US officials say they expected retaliation from Tehran and conducted preemptive strikes aimed at reducing potential American casualties.
Trump says strike decision preventive
US President Donald Trump rejected claims that Israel pressured the United States into launching the attacks. Speaking during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House, Trump said the decision was based on intelligence assessments.
“We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack first,” Trump said.
“If we didn’t do it, they were going to attack first. I felt strongly about that.”
UAE reports over 1,000 Iranian attacks
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said it had been subjected to more than 1,000 attacks from Iran, more than any other targeted country.
The UAE’s foreign affairs ministry reaffirmed the country’s right to self-defense under international law.
