UAE Constructs Metal Barriers to Protect Oil Tanks Near Dubai Airport

The United Arab Emirates has started building large metal structures known as cope cages around oil storage tanks near Dubai International Airport. An image shared on X by Israel's i24 News outlet on May 13, 2026, shows partially completed metal enclosures on fuel tanks, with construction underway on additional barriers.

This appears to be the first reported use of such defenses in the UAE or other Gulf Arab nations. The structures are designed to mitigate damage from one-way attack munitions such as the Shahed-136 by creating a physical barrier between the point of impact and the target.

They are not intended to protect against ballistic missiles or cruise missiles. The UAE has faced repeated Iranian attacks using these types of drones during the conflict. According to the UAE Defense Ministry, its air defenses engaged a total of 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,265 UAVs launched by Iran.

Two major energy sites, the oil storage facilities at the Port of Fujairah and the Habshan natural gas processing facility, sustained damage from these strikes. The Habshan facility is not expected to return to full capacity until 2027.

Iranian strikes on UAE energy infrastructure began after the conflict started on February 28. Attacks have included drone strikes on oil storage facilities in Fujairah that caused large fires. Fujairah serves as the UAE's only major oil export terminal bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

The most recent Iranian attack occurred on May 10, more than a month after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire took effect. The UAE has also taken offensive actions during the conflict. Reports indicate it conducted secret airstrikes on Iranian targets. The construction of the metal barriers represents an additional layer of passive defense for critical energy assets.

Russia has used similar metal caging and mesh nets on its oil storage tanks and refineries to counter Ukrainian drone attacks for several years. Satellite imagery and photographs show these defenses at facilities including the Nurlino station and a refinery in Samara.

In some cases, the netting failed to prevent damage from strikes. @TheWarZoneWire reported that the Pentagon issued new guidance shortly before the current conflict emphasizing increased use of netting, cables, and other passive physical defenses for critical infrastructure.

The guidance marked a shift from previous U.S. military positions that had questioned the utility of such measures. It remains unclear when construction of the UAE structures began, how many are being built, or their full effectiveness. The effectiveness of the barriers will be tested only if Iran conducts further attacks on these sites.