The ATP Fujairah Challenger in the United Arab Emirates was suspended and cancelled on March 3, 2026, due to a security alert from a nearby drone interception, exacerbating disruptions from the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict that has already stranded players in Dubai after their tournament. The ATP prioritised safety, evacuating players and officials while arranging support amid regional tensions.
The suspension hit during qualifying matches at the ATP Fujairah Challenger. On March 3 around 1pm local time, play stopped abruptly following a security alert. Footage captured Japan's Hayato Matsuoka and Belarus's Daniil Ostapenkov mid-match, followed by the umpire and officials evacuating. Ukrainian qualifier Vladyslav Orlov, fresh off a win, posted on Instagram about hearing jets and seeing smoke, saying, "It's not very safe here right now."
This incident ties into broader conflict: US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran over the weekend killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering Iranian drone and missile retaliation on Gulf states including the UAE. Debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, 10-15km from the courts. Local authorities contained the blaze with no injuries there; the UAE Defence Ministry reported intercepting 186 missiles and 755 drones since February 28, with three deaths and 68 minor injuries nationwide.
The ATP cancelled both weeks of the event, stating, "The safety and wellbeing of our players and tournament personnel is our highest priority." Players stayed on-site with covered accommodation and arranged travel. Portuguese player Frederico Silva noted louder jets and visible smoke from 10km-away explosions, commenting, "We thought that in Fujairah we were apart from everything, but it happened close."
This follows players like Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev being stranded in Dubai post-tournament due to airspace closures, with some eventually departing via alternative routes. Airspace issues and conflict continue complicating regional sports, with the ATP monitoring evacuations alongside local authorities. Australians James McCabe, Cruz Hewitt, and Jason Kubler were due for the main draw.
