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Flights at Dubai International Airport began gradually resuming on Monday, officials said, after a fire triggered by a drone strike forced a temporary shutdown, adding to disruptions at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has severely affected global aviation. Airlines across the region have been cancelling, delaying and rerouting flights as much of the Middle East’s airspace remains restricted due to concerns over missile and drone threats. The crisis has also pushed fuel prices higher, adding further pressure on airlines.
Monday’s incident highlights the difficulties faced by carriers in the United Arab Emirates and the wider aviation sector as they attempt to restore full operations and increase flight capacity.
The latest attack marks the third incident at Dubai International Airport since Iran began launching strikes across Gulf states on February 28, saying the actions target the American military presence in the region.
Although the UAE and several Gulf nations host U.S. military facilities, Iranian strikes have also hit civilian locations, including airports, hotels and ports.
According to the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, a limited number of flights have restarted to certain destinations, with authorities describing the process as a “gradual resumption.” The update was shared through the Dubai Media Office.
Meanwhile, Emirates said it expected to partially restart operations at 06:00 GMT following the attack, which damaged a fuel tank near the airport but did not cause any injuries. Some flights were cancelled, and sister airline flydubai also temporarily halted services. Several flights were redirected to Al Maktoum International Airport.
Since late February, Gulf countries have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks, targeting locations such as U.S. diplomatic missions, military bases, energy infrastructure and residential areas.
The UAE which normalised relations with Israel in 2020 has been among the countries most affected by the attacks. Other Gulf states have also experienced strikes and have strongly condemned Iran’s actions.
Earlier this month, on March 11, two drones were reported to have landed near Dubai’s international airport, which had already suffered damage on the first day of the wider regional conflict.
