A drone strike near the United Arab Emirates’ only nuclear power station has increased tensions across the Gulf. The incident took place on Sunday near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region, where a fire broke out after a drone hit an electrical generator outside the facility’s secured perimeter.

UAE officials blamed Iran or one of its regional allies for the attack, calling it a “dangerous escalation” while peace talks are stalled. The fire was quickly contained, and authorities confirmed there were no injuries, no radiation leak, and no risk to public safety.

Drone strike sparks regional alarm

The UAE defense ministry reported that three drones entered the country from the west. Officials said air defense systems stopped two of them, but the third reached the Barakah nuclear site.

The drone reportedly struck “an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant in the Al Dhafra area,” which caused a small fire. Authorities said the nuclear reactors continued to operate as usual, and safety measures were put in place immediately.

“Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the attacks, and updates will be disclosed upon completion of the investigations,” the ministry added.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed that the fire was limited to an external electrical generator and did not affect nuclear operations. The UAE foreign ministry called the strike an “unacceptable act of aggression” and said that attacking civilian nuclear sites breaks international law and humanitarian principles.

UAE points finger at Iran and proxies

Senior Emirati officials suggested that Iran or its allied groups were behind the attack. Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, condemned the strike in a post on X.

“The terrorist targeting of the Barakah clean nuclear power plant, whether carried out by the principal perpetrator or through one of its agents, represents a dangerous escalation,” Gargash wrote on X. Gargash described the incident as “a dark scene that violates all international laws and norms” and accused those responsible of ignoring civilian lives.

The UAE has grown closer to Israel and the U.S. during the ongoing conflict. Emirati officials have also accused Tehran of backing attacks on Gulf oil and economic sites since fighting began in February.