Dubai was rocked by a fresh wave of explosions on Saturday, with AFP correspondents reporting loud blasts across the United Arab Emirates’ most populous city as Iran expanded retaliatory strikes following US and Israeli attacks.

The explosions came hours after an initial wave of blasts was heard earlier in the day, intensifying concerns over the widening regional conflict.

According to the Associated Press, air defence fire was seen lighting up the skies over Dubai, the UAE’s commercial hub, as defence systems responded to the incoming threat. Residents reported hearing multiple loud booms echoing across different parts of the city.

Iran has vowed retaliation after large-scale US and Israeli strikes targeted sites inside its territory, raising fears that Gulf nations could increasingly be drawn into the escalating confrontation.