Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Two drones fell near Dubai International Airport and Bahrain relocated aircraft to alternative airports on Wednesday as the conflict entered its 12th day and disruptions across the Gulf intensified.
Drone incident near Dubai International Airport
Dubai’s media office confirmed the drone incident near Dubai International Airport and said air traffic was operating normally. Reuters witnesses reported no visible damage to the airport. Four people were injured.
Wider airspace disruption across the Middle East
The strikes came as the US-Israel war against Iran continued to affect regional airspace. Tens of thousands of flights have been cancelled, rerouted or rescheduled worldwide, with much of the Middle East, including Qatar, closed to traffic due to ongoing missile and drone threats.
Dubai International, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, was among the first to sustain damage when the conflict began. Abu Dhabi and Kuwait’s international airports were also hit on the opening day of hostilities.
Bahrain relocates aircraft and carriers operate below capacity
Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs said several Gulf Air aircraft carrying no passengers, along with some cargo planes, had been moved to ensure the continuity and efficiency of air operations. It gave no further details, and Gulf Air was not immediately available for comment.
Tracking data on FlightRadar24 showed multiple passenger jets repositioning to locations in Saudi Arabia over the previous 24 hours.
Regional carriers Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have resumed some services but remain well below normal capacity. Daily flights by the main UAE airlines topped 600 over the weekend before flattening and dipping slightly on Tuesday, according to Flightradar24 data.
Fuel costs and cargo operations affected
The conflict has disrupted a key oil export corridor, pushing jet fuel prices higher and raising fares on some routes. Time-sensitive air cargo has been heavily affected.
Vietnam’s government warned on Wednesday that domestic airlines could face fuel shortages as soon as next month, indicating wider effects beyond the immediate region.
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