Middle East port operations mixed as Dubai, Jebel Ali port hit

(Posted on 01/03/26)

Following the US and Israel joint military operation targeting sites in Iran on, 28^th February, Iran has responded with retaliatory action. The strikes at Israel and US allied countries across the region hit military and civilian targets including an American naval base in Bahrain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi international airports and Jebel Ali port in the United Arab Emirates.

IBJ publisher, Ray Girvan, was scheduled to travel to Dubai today, 1^st March, ahead of IBJ’s annual editorial feature on the region. With all flights cancelled, the trip has been postponed and IBJ readers will be kept informed on the timing of the feature’s publication.

There were widespread reports of waves of explosions heard at the time of writing in Dubai on 1^st March as Iran continues attacks on Gulf States. Black plumes of smoke were reported as rising from the Jebel Ali port area, where one of the berths caught fire due to falling debris from an aerial interception of an Iranian missile. Emirates News Agency (WAM), reported that containment is under way with no injuries reported. "Dubai authorities confirm that debris resulting from an aerial interception caused a fire at one of the berths at Jebel Ali Port. Dubai Civil Defence teams responded immediately and are continuing their efforts to fully extinguish the fire," WAM said in a post on its official X account.

Iran has reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the joint attack by the United States and Israel, however, there has been no internationally recognised legal closure. Ali Vaez, director of the Iran project at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera, “Closure of the Strait of Hormuz would disrupt roughly a fifth of globally traded oil overnight – and prices wouldn't just spike, they would gap violently upward on fear alone.”

Inchcape Shipping Services is reporting that several ports in the region continue to operate normally, while others are subject to temporary suspensions or partial closures. Along with the Jebel Ali Port incident, ISS reports:

United Arab Emirates

Sharjah Port remains open and is operating normally.
Fujairah and Khor Fakkan ports are open and operating at full capacity, with no navigational warnings issued by local port authorities.

Kuwait

All ports are open and operational.
Shuwaikh Port is operating at ISPS Level 2, with other ports at ISPS Level 1.
Kuwait Ports Authority (KPA) issued a statement: All vessels currently bound for Shuaiba Port must redirect to Shuwaikh Port to discharge their cargo. This instruction applies provided that the vessel’s draft does not exceed 9.6 meters. Please note that all manifests will be automatically transferred to Shuwaikh Port. Please note that this applies exclusively to container vessels.

Oman

Port operations are partially restricted.
Port of Duqm and Asyad Dry Dock, Duqm, and Salalah have suspended operations. Port of Salalah expected to resume ops by 20:00 hrs today
Ports at Muscat, Mina Al Fahal, Sohar and remain open and operational.

Saudi Arabia

All ports remain fully operational, with no alerts or warnings issued by local port authorities.

Qatar

Ports remain open, with some operational constraints.
Ras Laffan and Mesaieed ports remain open with reduced traffic, and there are reports of GPS signal degradation.
Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports remain open.

Qatar

Ports remain open, with some operational constraints.
Ras Laffan and Mesaieed ports remain open with reduced traffic, and there are reports of GPS signal degradation.
Hamad, Doha and Al Ruwais ports remain open.

Bahrain

All port operations are temporarily suspended, including pilotage services.

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Adani Ports has confirmed Israel-based Haifa Port is fully secure and operational The port authority continues to monitor the situation and is in close coordination with the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety of Israel.