A fire broke out in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) following a suspected drone incident, the UAE News Agency reported on May 4. Civil defense teams responded immediately and are working to contain the fire.

Authorities said three workers sustained moderate injuries and were transferred to hospital.

In a separate statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence said it had intercepted four cruise missiles launched toward the country. Three were destroyed over territorial waters, while one fell into the sea.

The incident came amid recent shifts in UAE’s energy sector. The country has announced its withdrawal from both Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) in May 4 followed by the decision to exit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil producers (OPEC+).

Iran fired more than 2,800 drones and missiles at the UAE from February 28, when the US-Israel war on Iran began, until a ceasefire took effect on April 8.

Fujairah hosts a major port, pipeline and other petroleum installations that bypass the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz. While damages to the zone is still not specified, but it could affect UAE as includes the Habshan–Fujairah Pipeline that transports oil from Abu Dhabi’s fields to Fujairah.

Fujairah exported more than 1.7 million barrels per day (bbl/d) of crude oil and refined products last year, according to Reuters.