How does each Gulf country intercept Iranian missiles and drones?

On the past Over the past week, residents across the Gulf have watched missiles and drones cross the night sky — sometimes followed seconds later by bright flashes when intercepted by air defense systems. In cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, videos of the interceptions quickly spread across social media, turning what is usually a largely invisible security architecture into something suddenly visible.

Authorities have urged people not to film or share online footage of interceptions or military activity, warning that such videos may reveal sensitive information about defensive operations.

Iran launched waves of missiles and drones towards several Gulf states in response to the US-Israeli strikes that resulted in the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. These attacks sparked air defense responses throughout the region.

Governments from the United Arab Emirates to Kuwait and Bahrain have reported the discovery or interception of hundreds of missiles and drones in recent days targeting airspace, military installations and infrastructure.

Here’s how each country responded.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE operates a multi-layered air defense network designed to intercept threats at different stages of flight. At the highest elevation is the High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, developed by Lockheed Martin, designed to intercept ballistic missiles during the final phase of their descent using a “hit to kill” approach, i.e. destroying the target through direct impact rather than an explosive warhead.

Closer to the ground, Patriot missile defense batteries developed by Raytheon provide another layer capable of intercepting missiles and other air threats at low altitudes. Radar networks detect launches hundreds of kilometers away, allowing operators to calculate trajectories and launch interceptors within minutes.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said, as of writing this report, that 196 ballistic missiles had been detected heading towards the country since the escalation began on February 28. Among them, air defense systems destroyed 181 missiles, 13 missiles fell into the sea, and two missiles fell inside UAE territory. The attacks resulted in the deaths of three people and the injury of 78 others, mostly due to falling debris rather than direct missile impacts.

The attacks also affected digital infrastructure. Amazon Web Services facilities in the UAE and Bahrain were directly bombed, causing structural damage and power outages.

High interception rates highlight the effectiveness of the region’s multi-layered defense architecture, but also reveal the pressure placed on these systems when attacks occur in repeated waves.

“I would rate the performance of missile defense in the Gulf region as tactically capable but strategically exhausting,” says Andreas Krieg, associate professor in the Department of Defense Studies at King’s College London.

He says: “The real story of this escalation is not whether the Gulf is able to intercept it.” “The question is whether it can sustain the interception at the pace these attacks are creating.”

Craig points out that missile defense is increasingly a competition not only of technology, but also of endurance. Each interceptor aircraft can cost millions of dollars, while many drones used in attacks cost a fraction of that amount.

In protracted conflicts, maintaining the interceptor missile stockpile and coordinating defense across multiple locations becomes a major strategic challenge. “Once you are exposed to repeated raids, mixed fire, and long-term drone pressure, the limiting factor becomes magazine depth, speed of resupply,” he says. “And the economics of using expensive interceptors against cheap, persistent threats.”

The UAE has spent more than a decade building up its missile defense architecture, investing heavily in systems such as THAAD and Patriot and integrating them with regional radar and early warning networks.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia operates one of the largest air defense networks in the Middle East, shaped by years of defending against missile and drone attacks targeting its cities and energy infrastructure.

The Kingdom relies heavily on the Patriot missile defense system, supported by radar networks and additional air defense assets designed to intercept ballistic missiles and air threats approaching major population centers and oil facilities. It also operates the PAC-3 MSE interceptor, a more advanced Patriot missile developed by Lockheed Martin, designed to destroy incoming ballistic missiles through direct impact.