The Ruwais refinery in the United Arab Emirates, one of the largest in the world, suspended production on Tuesday after a drone attack in the area, according to a source close to the matter, amid a climate of concern in the Gulf oil monarchies.

Since the war launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel, Iran has retaliated by targeting American interests in the region, but also civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and airport infrastructure.

The Ruwais site, operated by the national company Adnoc, had to suspend its activities as a "precaution", a source close to the matter told AFP.

Authorities had previously announced a fire in the industrial area, without specifying exactly where.

"As we were about to leave, we saw trails of flame rising from the complex, accompanied by loud noises resembling explosions," said a driver who came to pick up the staff evacuating the refinery, speaking on condition of anonymity.

- Global "repercussions" -

As the conflict enters its eleventh day, the head of Saudi oil giant Aramco, Amin Nasser, expressed his concerns on the occasion of the publication of the group's annual results on Tuesday.

He stressed the importance of resuming maritime traffic in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which is de facto controlled by the Iranian government and through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production passes.

"The longer the disruption lasts, the more catastrophic the consequences will be for global oil markets," warned Mr. Nasser.

Crude oil prices have seen sharp fluctuations due to supply disruptions, jumping 30% on Monday to nearly $120 a barrel before falling back.

"It is absolutely crucial that shipping resumes in the strait," added the Aramco official, describing the current war as "the biggest crisis the region's oil and gas industry has ever faced."

Qatar also warned of global "repercussions," stating that these Iranian attacks constituted "a dangerous precedent," according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari.

"The Gulf energy sector is being hit on several fronts: energy facilities are being targeted, export capacities via the strait are being hampered and storage capacities are saturated," Robert Mogielnicki of the Institute of Arab States of the Gulf in Washington told AFP.

- Profits down -

Qatar's national gas company, QatarEnergy, one of the world's largest producers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), announced last week the suspension of its production, while Kuwait's oil company has scaled back its operations.

On Monday, an Iranian airstrike also caused a fire at the oil complex in the city of Al-Maameer, Bahrain. The national oil company Babco invoked the "force majeure" clause, which protects it from penalties and potential breaches of contract with its customers.

In Saudi Arabia, attacks targeted the Saudi complex of Ras Tanoura operated by the company Aramco, leading to the suspension of some of its operations.

This gigantic complex houses one of the largest refineries in the Middle East and is a cornerstone of the kingdom's energy sector. Saudi oil fields have also been targeted.

Even before the start of the war, Aramco, the world's leading crude oil exporter, had seen its results decline: its net profit fell by 12% last year, to $93 billion (nearly €80 billion), affected in particular by US tariffs and the erosion of prices.

His boss nevertheless welcomed "another year of record oil demand in 2025".

Throughout 2025, the OPEC+ oil alliance, of which Saudi Arabia is a key member, oversaw a rise in production, which flooded the oil market and weighed on prices.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari warned on Tuesday that attacks on energy facilities, "by both sides, set a dangerous precedent… and will have repercussions worldwide."

Later that evening, the Qatari Ministry of Defense announced that it had intercepted a salvo of missiles after AFP journalists heard explosions in Doha.

AFP journalists also reported hearing explosions around Manama, the capital of Bahrain, while the United Arab Emirates said it was "responding to missile and drone threats from Iran".

Bahrain reported intercepting 106 missiles and 176 drones, while Kuwait reported intercepting 237 and 445 respectively since the start of the conflict.