Dubai International Airport has resumed flights to selected destinations after a temporary suspension caused by a drone strike early Monday morning. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority advised passengers to check with their airlines for the latest updates regarding their flights, as operations were gradually restored following the incident.
The suspension was put in place after a drone struck a fuel tank near the airport complex, causing a large fire that sent thick black smoke visible from several kilometers away. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene, and the fire was eventually contained with no injuries reported at the airport. The Dubai Media Office confirmed the strike and said it occurred in the early hours of March 16th. Emirates airline had earlier announced the suspension of all flights and urged passengers not to proceed to the airport.
Separately, Abu Dhabi authorities confirmed an incident in the Al Bahyah area where a missile struck a civilian vehicle, killing one person of Palestinian nationality. Iran's media operations centre issued a warning that further attacks on Dubai and Doha could follow in the coming hours, signalling that the strikes are part of a sustained campaign rather than isolated incidents.
Monday's attack is widely seen as a deliberate escalation in Iran's targeting approach, with hits on critical fuel and logistics infrastructure capable of halting operations entirely. The strikes come as Gulf Arab states have now faced more than two thousand missile and drone attacks since the conflict broke out.