ABU DHABI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Three foreign nationals of Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh have been killed and 112 residents of multiple nationalities have suffered minor injuries in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amid the recent escalating regional tensions, the UAE's Defense Ministry said Saturday.

Since the start of what the ministry described as Iranian attacks, the UAE's air defense systems have detected 221 ballistic missiles, 1,305 drones, and eight cruise missiles, the ministry said in a statement.

It said the air defense systems intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones launched toward the country on Saturday alone.

Meanwhile, local media reports, citing the UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, said that the country's private sector, including key activities such as service delivery, project implementation, facility construction, supply chain maintenance and technological development, continues to operate at full capacity despite the current regional situation.

Still, the ministry encouraged companies to adopt remote work where possible and to avoid having workers present in open outdoor areas except for essential tasks, while urging employers to follow updates from official sources, according to the reports.

The development came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. assets across the Middle East.