Fire near Dubai airport under control after drone attack, flights suspended

Updated 16 Mar, 2026 12:50pm 2 min read
Exterior of Dubai International Airport (DXB) after two drones came down in the vicinity of the airport, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. – Reuters
Exterior of Dubai International Airport (DXB) after two drones came down in the vicinity of the airport, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. – Reuters

Dubai ​authorities brought under control on Monday a fire caused by a drone attack ‌near the city’s international airport that forced a temporary suspension of flights, though no injuries were reported.

The US-Israel war against Iran has thrown global aviation into turmoil, with flights cancelled, ​rescheduled and rerouted, as most Middle East airspace stays shut over fears of ​missile and drone attacks, while the crisis sends fuel prices soaring.

Monday’s incident is ⁠the third at the Dubai airport, one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs, ​since Iran began its attacks on Gulf nations on February 28, saying they aim ​at the US facilities in the region.

While the United Arab Emirates and Gulf countries such as Iraq, Jordan and Turkey host US military facilities, Iran has used missiles and drones to target civilian ​facilities such as airports, hotels and ports.

“A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai ​International Airport affected one of the fuel tanks,” the Dubai media office said on X.

Traffic was ‌temporarily halted ⁠on road and tunnel links with the airport, police said, while the Emirates airline suspended flights to Dubai.

Some flights were diverted to the Al Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai media office said on X.

Authorities did not say when they expected flights to resume, however.

Gulf ​Arab states have faced ​more than 2,000 ⁠missile and drone attacks since February 28, with targets including US diplomatic missions and military bases, but also key Gulf oil ​infrastructure, as well as homes and offices.

The United Arab Emirates, which ​normalised relations ⁠with Iran’s arch-foe Israel in 2020, has faced the brunt of the attacks. But all Gulf Arab states have been affected, and all have condemned Iran.

On March 11, two drones ⁠fell ​near the Dubai international airport, which suffered damage on the ​first day of the conflict during an overnight Iranian attack across the Gulf states.

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