The aluminium industry in West Asia has entered into a new volatile phase, with the direct attack on two major aluminium facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain as a result of the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict. Reports confirm that Al Taweelah smelter of Emirates Global Aluminium and Aluminium Bahrain’s (Alba) facility have faced Iranian missiles and drone attack on March 28, 2026, and undergone substantial damage.

The aluminium industry in West Asia has entered into a new volatile phase, with the direct attack on two major aluminium facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain as a result of the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict. Reports confirm that Al Taweelah smelter of Emirates Global Aluminium and Aluminium Bahrain’s (Alba) facility have faced Iranian missiles and drone attack on March 28, 2026, and undergone substantial damage.

Currently, both Emirates Global Aluminium and Aluminium Bahrain are assessing the extent of the damage to their facilities, while remaining focused on maintaining employees’ safety.  However, already by now, various sources suggest two employees of Alba and six of EGA have sustained injuries, alongside significant structural damage.

Also read: Strait of Hormuz closed, trade in disruptions, and crude oil price is on rise - what do they all mean for the global aluminium market?

AL Circle source suggests that the power plant area, carbon area, and aluminium handling area at Al Taweelah production base in the Khalifa Economic Zone (KEZAD) have faced the maximum destruction. The operation is on hold now, and people have been asked to stay at home. However, EGA has assured that jobs will remain secure.

Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “The safety and security of our people is our top priority at EGA at all times.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has characterised this attack as a retaliatory strike following a joint US-Israeli operation against Iranian steel plants that was launched from military bases hosting US forces in Gulf States.

The United States secures 21 per cent of its imported primary aluminium from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. In the first eleven months of 2025, the US hauled 584,000 tonnes of aluminium crude metal and alloys from the UAE and Bahrain out of the total import volumes of 2.79 million tonnes.

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On March 15, Alba had cut production capacity by 19 per cent of its 1.6 million tonnes of annual output. The decision was taken as an operational measure to preserve business continuity amidst ongoing supply disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz closure, said the company on March 15.

AL Circle source also reports that EGA’s DUBAL operation, located in the Jebel Ali industrial area of Dubai, is continuing its operations, albeit it has limited resources for 10 to 12 days. EGA’s senior management is reportedly reviewing the entire situation.

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