Dubai Airport Attacked by Drones and Catches Fire! Civil Aviation Authority Announces Complete Flight Suspension

By the end of February 2025, after the U.S.-Israel war against Iran began, the Persian Gulf region has experienced over 2,000 missile and drone attacks, with the United Arab Emirates bearing the brunt. Dubai International Airport, a major global transportation hub, was again targeted by Iranian drones today, causing a serious fire. Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced a temporary suspension of all flights arriving and departing.

(US-Iran conflict affects Dubai, causing cancellations of F1 races and crypto conferences)

Dubai Airport attacked by drones, fuel tanks on fire

Bloomberg reports that in the early hours of March 16, 2026, a drone suspected to be from Iran crashed near Dubai International Airport, directly hitting an adjacent fuel storage tank and igniting a fierce fire. Footage circulating on social media shows an explosion after the drone fell, with thick black smoke covering the entire airport area.

JUST IN: Iranian drone strikes near Dubai International Airport, causing a large fire. pic.twitter.com/hBnyBwZh9e

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) March 16, 2026

Dubai fire and emergency response teams quickly arrived on scene and successfully controlled the fire. Officials stated that there are currently no casualties, and firefighting efforts will continue to prevent the fire and damage from spreading further.

Dubai suspends all flights to ensure passenger safety

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced that, to ensure the safety of all passengers and airport staff, all flights at Dubai International Airport are temporarily suspended immediately. Emirates Airlines also posted an announcement on their official social media platforms, suspending all flights to and from Dubai, and urged travelers to check with their airlines for the latest flight information.

Travelers planning to go to Dubai or transfer flights in the coming days should closely monitor official airline announcements and Dubai International Airport updates, and allow extra time for possible delays or changes. The timeline for resumption of flights has not yet been determined; it is recommended to contact the airline directly to confirm travel arrangements.

US-Israel war against Iran impacts Persian Gulf, Middle East conflict escalates

Since the U.S. and Israel declared war on Iran on February 28, 2026, the entire Persian Gulf region has suffered over 2,000 missile and drone attacks targeting diplomatic embassies, military bases, oil facilities, ports, airports, and even hotels and residential areas.

CNA reports that the UAE, which established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, has become one of Iran’s primary targets. Although most incoming missiles have been intercepted by air defense systems, Iran has launched over 1,800 missiles at the UAE to date. Just days before this incident, two drones also crashed near an airport, injuring four people.

The UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed that since the outbreak of hostilities, six people have died, including four civilians and two military personnel. The UAE and other Gulf Arab countries have unanimously condemned Iran’s attacks.

This article “Dubai Airport attacked by drones causing fire! Civil Aviation Authority announces full flight suspension” first appeared on Lian News ABMedia.