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Drone strike hits Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai Port

A drone attack targeting a fully loaded Kuwaiti crude oil tanker at Dubai Port sparked a fire overnight.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Dubai: The tanker, identified as Al Salmi, was struck while anchored off the coast of Dubai, according to the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC). The impact caused visible damage to the vessel and ignited a fire on board, raising initial fears of a potential oil spill in surrounding waters.

However, Dubai authorities swiftly responded to the incident, confirming that emergency teams had successfully contained the blaze. The Dubai Media Office stated that no oil leakage occurred and no casualties were reported.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain also reporting attacks in recent days. Eyewitness accounts described multiple loud explosions echoing across Dubai from early Monday evening until the early hours of Tuesday.

Reporting from the city, journalists noted heightened security activity, with military jets patrolling overhead as residents remained on high alert. “The attacks are getting closer and louder,” one correspondent said, highlighting growing concern among residents.

KPC confirmed that assessments are now underway to determine the extent of damage to the vessel. According to shipping data, the tanker was carrying approximately two million barrels of crude oil sourced from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, with its destination listed as Qingdao, China.

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