Tech giant Amazon has confirmed that two of its data centres in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were struck by drones, causing disruptions to cloud services across the region.
The attacks come amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, following intensified conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Amazon reported structural damage, power outages, and temporary shutdowns of some servers, affecting both businesses and individual users dependent on its cloud infrastructure.
Nijatravel reports that in addition to the UAE facilities, a nearby data centre in Bahrain experienced ancillary damage due to drone activity, although it was not directly hit. AWS has advised customers to migrate workloads to unaffected regions or alternate availability zones to minimize downtime. Readers can also explore our coverage on how geopolitical conflicts affect global travel and technology infrastructure to understand the broader implications for businesses and travelers.
The strikes highlight the growing vulnerability of cloud computing hubs in geopolitically unstable regions. As AWS continues to restore services, companies relying on its infrastructure for mission-critical operations—including banking, healthcare, and logistics—face potential delays and interruptions. Experts emphasize the importance of disaster recovery strategies and risk management for digital operations in high-risk areas.
Amazon acknowledged that full operational restoration may take several hours or longer, depending on the extent of repairs and safety evaluations. While no injuries were reported at the facilities, the incident underscores the intersection of technology and global security risks, particularly for multinational companies operating in volatile regions.
Analysts note that the drone strikes coincided with broader Iranian military operations targeting Gulf infrastructure in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli actions. The situation has already affected air travel, energy facilities, and critical infrastructure, signaling potential wider impacts on regional commerce and connectivity.
For travelers and businesses, the attacks serve as a reminder of the increasing interplay between geopolitical tensions and technology-dependent services. Companies with operations in the Middle East are urged to review continuity plans and cybersecurity safeguards to mitigate the effects of such disruptions.