A drone attack near Dubai International Airport triggered a fire on Monday, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend flights at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs. Officials said the blaze was quickly contained and no injuries were reported.
Dubai authorities confirmed that a drone incident near Dubai International Airport (DXB) caused a fire after one of the airport’s fuel tanks was struck.
“A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport affected one of the fuel tanks,” the Dubai media office said in a post on X.
Authorities later confirmed the fire was brought under control and no injuries were reported.
Flights suspended, diverted
Following the incident, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority temporarily suspended flights at Dubai International Airport to ensure the safety of passengers and airport staff.
Some flights were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Jebel Ali, about 20 miles from Dubai, according to Dubai Airports.
Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announces the temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff. Travellers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates regarding…
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 16, 2026
Police also temporarily halted traffic on roads and tunnel links connecting to the airport as emergency crews responded to the situation.
Officials did not immediately specify when normal flight operations would resume.
Emirates suspends flights
In response to the disruption, Emirates airline announced the temporary suspension of all flights to and from Dubai.
The airline urged passengers not to travel to the airport until further notice and advised travelers to contact airlines for updates on their flight schedules.
Emirates said further information would be shared once more details become available and stressed that the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority.
Monday’s attack marks the third drone-related incident near Dubai International Airport since Iran began launching attacks on Gulf countries on February 28.
All flights to and from Dubai have been temporarily suspended.
— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 16, 2026
Please do not go to the airport.
Emirates will share updates when available. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience.
The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority… pic.twitter.com/m5eIloT2wk
On March 11, two drones fell near the airport, which had already suffered damage during the first day of the conflict, when Iran launched overnight attacks across Gulf states.
Dubai International Airport is one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs, making such incidents particularly disruptive to global aviation.
Aviation sector shaken by regional conflict
The ongoing US–Israel war against Iran has thrown global aviation into turmoil, with airlines forced to cancel, reschedule, or reroute flights.
Much of the Middle East airspace remains closed due to fears of missile and drone attacks, creating widespread disruption to international travel.
The crisis has also pushed aviation fuel prices higher, adding further pressure on airlines and global transport networks.
Since the conflict began, Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks, according to regional authorities.
While Iran says it is targeting US military assets and diplomatic missions in the region, many strikes have also affected civilian facilities such as airports, hotels, ports, homes, and office buildings.
Countries including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey host US military facilities.
The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, has faced the largest number of attacks, though all Gulf states have been affected and have condemned Iran.
Saudi Arabia intercepts dozens of drones
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed about 34 drones that entered the airspace of the kingdom’s eastern region early Monday.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Defense spokesperson, at least five separate waves of drones were intercepted.
The updates were released by the Saudi Press Agency on X, highlighting the ongoing scale of drone threats across the Gulf region.
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