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UAE issues apology for technical glitch that issued 'incorrect' warning alert
The initial emergency alert that residents received at around 5.17pm asked them to 'seek shelter' amid a 'potential missile threat'
- PUBLISHED: Fri 26 Jun 2026, 6:24 PM UPDATED: Fri 26 Jun 2026, 7:59 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow the Khaleej Times live blog for the latest regional developments with the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect.]
After 53 days, on June 26, UAE residents heard the shrill of the emergency alert on their phones. Seconds later, a safety alert followed, and then a clarification.
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Residents were asked to "disregard the previous warning" they received, as the Ministry of Interior clarified the false alarm. The National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) later confirmed that a sudden technical malfunction caused the alerts to go out.
The authority and relevant entities issued an apology for the "unintentional technical malfunction" and urged members of the public not circulate information that is not issued by official channels. It stressed that the issue has been addressed and handled via authorities.
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"The specialised teams immediately initiated the necessary corrective procedures upon detecting the issue, in accordance with approved plans to ensure service continuity and minimize any potential impact on users," it added.
Members of the public are urged to avoid the circulation of any information that may was not issued by official sources, and to follow updates through approved channels, Ncema clarified.
How residents reacted
Residents' reactions to the incident were a mixture of panic and speed action, since they have learnt by now how to deal in similar situations. Ben Ramas, a Filipino resident, was in the middle of work when the notification went off. "Honestly, my heart just dropped. Even though we’ve grown used to it over the last few months but the fact that it had stopped (during ceasefire) was a huge relief," he said.
On how people at his office received the news, he said: "I remember looking around and seeing people pause, phones in hand, all trying to verify the news.
"When we realised it was an error, people felt relaxed, but also there was a lingering unease about how quickly panic can set in, even when nothing is actually wrong."
For Prashant Mehta, an Indian resident, he felt pure panic. "Again, the alerts have started… for a few seconds my mind just went blank," he said. The first thing he did then was checking on his neighbours and friends. "There was this strange silence on the WhatsApp group. Everyone was trying to understand if it was real," he said."
With a smile on his face, Mehta recalled how his son reacted: "My son said, ‘so no school for me next week?’ I just kept staring at him for a split of second.
"Once it was confirmed as a false alarm, I felt a wave of relief, but also concern about how quickly such alerts can spread fear,” he added.
Mohammed, an Egyptian IT engineer who lives in Dubai, said he got the alert the moment he went back home from work. "It looks like it was by mistake in light of how fast the all clear message came," he said.
Regional hostilities
Hostilities in the region have been at a low since June 17, after US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding, what is colloquially known as a peace deal.
While the UAE engaged 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,263 UAV’s — battling nearly 3,000 attempts of attacks, bilateral relations have been looking up over the last month.
UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Friday, received a phone call from Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi. Both leaders discussed the latest regional developments days after United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the UAE.
Rubio renewed Washington's commitment to the country's security on the first leg of a tour of the Gulf, especially during his meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
"They discussed President Trump's memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region," Rubio's spokesperson Tommy Pigott, adding that the US Secretary of State "reaffirmed the US commitment to the security of the Emirates".
Rubio's three-day tour of the Gulf was the first high-level diplomatic mission since the US-Iran framework agreement last week to end the conflict, which started on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
(With reporting inputs from Nandini Sircar)
Yasmin Hussein is an Assistant Digital Editor who believes that every news story carries a human element. Her motto is 'get it first, but first get it right'.