Abu Dhabi, Dubai hit as Iran retaliates against Israel-US strikes

Residents of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates reported loud explosions Saturday lunchtime, after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. After vowing retaliation, Iran has since launched a first large-scale wave of retaliatory missiles on regional targets.

Abu Dhabi is home to a base housing US personnel, while Dubai is a financial hub in the region.

The UAE's state news agency WAM said the military had intercepted several Iranian ballistic missiles, but one man was killed in Abu Dhabi by falling missile debris in a residential area.

Abu Dhabi said it "reserves its full right to respond", slamming the attacks as "a dangerous escalation", a statement said.

Iran has so far confirmed some US military bases targeted in Gulf region as Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the fifth US base in Bahrain.

Earlier the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said it had closed its airspace "temporarily and partially" as an exceptional precautionary measure.

Agence France-Presse also reported explosions in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh.

Britain has updated its travel advice for the UAE since the attacks started, citing risks of travel disruption and other unforeseen impacts.