Drone Strikes Impact Amazon Web Services Data Centers in UAE and Bahrain

On March 1, 2026, Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported that two of its data centers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and one in Bahrain were damaged by drone strikes amid escalating tensions related to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The strikes resulted in significant disruptions to AWS operations, including power outages and structural damage to the facilities.

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AWS confirmed that at approximately 4:30 a.m. PST, objects struck its data center in the UAE, identified as mec1-az2, causing sparks and a fire. The UAE fire department subsequently cut power to the facility while crews worked to extinguish the blaze. The drone strikes were linked to Iran's retaliatory actions following U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran, which have included missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region. AWS stated that the strikes had caused structural damage, disrupted power delivery, and necessitated fire suppression activities, leading to additional water damage.

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The drone strikes have taken the affected data centers offline, disrupting several AWS services, including EC2 compute, S3 cloud storage, and DynamoDB database offerings. AWS is working to restore service availability but anticipates a prolonged recovery due to the extent of the physical damage. The company has advised customers in the region to back up their data and consider migrating workloads to other AWS regions to mitigate the impact of the conflict.

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AWS has acknowledged the ongoing conflict's unpredictability, stating, "We expect recovery to be prolonged given the nature of the physical damage involved." The company is collaborating with local authorities to ensure the safety of its personnel during recovery efforts. In light of the situation, AWS has also warned customers of potential delays in deliveries across the Middle East.

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While AWS has not confirmed a direct link between the drone strikes and the broader conflict, the situation has raised concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in conflict zones. Critics argue that the ongoing military tensions pose significant risks to civilian and commercial operations, highlighting the need for enhanced security measures for data centers and other essential services.

Amazon Cloud Infrastructure in U.A.E. Goes Silent after Hit by Iranian Drone

There are discrepancies regarding the extent of the damage and the timeline of events. While AWS has reported significant structural damage and operational disruptions, some sources indicate that connectivity in other zones within the UAE remains unaffected. Additionally, the exact nature of the "objects" that struck the facilities has not been clarified, leaving questions about the specifics of the attacks.

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• “These strikes have caused structural damage, disrupted power delivery to our infrastructure, and in some cases required fire suppression activities that resulted in additional water damage.” — Amazon Web Services

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• “We expect recovery to be prolonged given the nature of the physical damage involved,” — Amazon Web Services

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The situation remains fluid as AWS continues to assess the damage and work towards restoring services in the affected regions.

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