This is exhausting’: Ceasefire feels out of reach in UAE as Iran fires missiles and drones
By Sally Lockwood, correspondent in Dubai
We knew this ceasefire would be fragile.
But for the UAE to be attacked - at least twice - within hours of it being agreed is disappointing by anyone’s standard.
The sound of air defence blasts shattered the lunchtime air here and with it, the sense of relief many residents had felt after news of de-escalation between Washington and Tehran.
That followed emergency alerts at around 3:30am, and reports of a fire at a gas facility in Abu Dhabi, just an hour after the ceasefire was announced.
The first wave could perhaps be explained by delays in communication - orders not yet filtering through to Revolutionary Guard missile units.
But a second wave, hours later, is much harder to dismiss.
The UAE’s defence ministry has confirmed 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones have been fired at the country already today. It doesn’t look like much of a ceasefire from here.
And it raises serious questions about control; whether there’s a lack of cohesion within Iran’s command structure, or whether this ceasefire is already beginning to unravel.
It’s hard to overstate how concerned residents were here last night. People went to bed after hearing the US president warn that “a whole civilisation will die tonight.”
Dozens across the Gulf messaged me to say how worried they were. Some had taken precautions at home to protect their children; one said she’d even called relatives in the UK to say goodbye in case something terrible happened.
The relief this morning was palpable. “I don’t think anyone slept last night,” one follower wrote.
And now, the messages I’m receiving speak of confusion, disappointment and fatigue. “This is exhausting,” said one Dubai resident.

One of the messages Lockwood has received
Ceasefires tend to have messy starts.
But trust between Iran and its neighbours has been shattered after nearly six weeks of daily attacks.
And there is now a very real concern over whether Iran can be relied upon to uphold any agreement.
Enfim…