Several explosive-laden drones have hit fuel trucks in Abu Dhabi port in the United Arab Emirates, sparking explosions and fires and killing three and wounding others.

The Saudi-led Coalition said in a statement on Monday that the drones were launched from Sana'a airport in Yemen after Iran-backed Houthi militia claimed responsibility for the assault.

Al Mayadin television close to Iran said that Houthis had fired 20 drones and ten ballistic missiles at the target, but there is no independent confirmation.

According to the Abu Dhabi police, three fuel tanker trucks exploded in the industrial Musaffah area near oil storage facilities firm Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, adding that separate "minor" fire broke out at a construction site of the emirate’s main airport.

"Initial investigations found parts of a small plane that could possibly be a drone at both sites that could have caused the explosion and the fire," the police statement said, adding that there was no "significant damage" from the attack and a full investigation has been launched.

Houthis’ military spokesman said they launched a military operation "deep in the UAE" and would announce details in coming hours.

Iran-backed Houthi group conducts regular cross-border missile and drone attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia but claims of attacks inside the UAE have been rare and mostly denied by Abu Dhabi, which largely scaled down its military presence in Yemen in 2019 amid a stalemate and heightened regional tensions with Iran.