Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai International Airport was gradually resuming flights on Monday after a drone attack caused a fire and forced a temporary suspension, authorities said. The incident added to disruptions across Middle East aviation linked to the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.
Gradual resumption of operations
In a statement on X, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority flagged a “gradual resumption” of some flights to selected destinations, the Dubai Media Office said.
The Emirates airline said it expected to partially resume operations at 06:00 GMT following the attack, which affected a fuel tank near the airport, but caused no injuries. Emirates said on its website that some flights had been cancelled.
Sister airline flydubai also halted flights temporarily, and some flights were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport.
Broader regional aviation disruption
The U.S.-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. The crisis has also pushed fuel prices higher.
Monday’s incident underscored challenges for UAE airlines and the wider aviation industry as they seek to ramp up capacity and return operations to normal.
Attacks on Gulf states and civilian sites
The incident was the third attack at Dubai International Airport (DXB) since Iran launched assaults on Gulf nations on February 28, strikes Tehran has said were aimed at the U.S. presence in the region.
While the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries host U.S. military facilities, Iran has used missiles and drones to target civilian facilities such as airports, hotels and ports.
Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since February 28, with targets including U.S. diplomatic missions and military bases, as well as key oil infrastructure, 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, though all Gulf Arab states have been affected and all have condemned Iran.
How have the repeated attacks affected your travel plans through the Middle East?
