UAE Builds Massive Anti-Drone ‘Cages’ to Protect Energy Facilities

The United Arab Emirates has built massive metal structures around fuel storage tanks in Dubai to protect them from Iranian drone attacks.

OSINT researcher Egypt’s Intel Observer published footage of the protective structures.

Unlike typical Russian protective structures, which are built around individual storage tanks, the UAE constructed a single large metal framework over the entire tank farm.

Although this approach requires significant resources, it may provide better protection by increasing the distance between a drone’s detonation point and the storage tanks.

The construction of such structures was first reported in May 2026, when protective frameworks were spotted over oil storage tanks near Dubai International Airport.

The structures are primarily designed to protect against one-way attack drones, including Shahed-136 drones, which Iran has used extensively against the UAE.

Since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran in February 2026, the Emirates have faced particularly intense Iranian attacks, many of which targeted energy infrastructure.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, the country’s air defense forces have engaged 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles and 2,265 drones launched by Iran.

On March 16, an Iranian drone attacked a fuel storage tank near Dubai International Airport. The strike caused a fire and temporarily suspended airport operations.