Dubai airport shuts down, Burj Khalifa evacuated amid Iran missile strikes across Gulf

The abrupt shutdown has disrupted global air travel and left thousands of passengers stranded inside terminals.

Dubai Airports authorities announced that operations at both DXB and Al Maktoum International Airport had been halted until further notice, stressing that passenger safety remained the top priority amid rapidly escalating regional hostilities.

Passengers stranded as authorities issue advisory

In an official statement, Dubai Airports urged travellers not to head to the airport and advised them to contact their airlines directly for updates. 

Officials said further announcements would follow as the situation continued to develop.

Videos circulating online showed packed departure halls and confused passengers seeking information, underscoring the scale of disruption at an airport that normally handles hundreds of thousands of travellers each day.

Conflict escalation triggers aviation chaos

The shutdown followed a sharp escalation in the Middle East conflict after joint US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian positions earlier in the day. 

Iran retaliated with ballistic missile launches aimed at US military installations and allied sites across the Gulf region.

Explosions were reported across several capitals, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Riyadh and Manama, highlighting how quickly the confrontation spilled beyond its original theatres.

Air defences activated, civilian casualty reported

In the United Arab Emirates, air defence systems intercepted several incoming missiles. 

However, falling debris killed at least one civilian in Abu Dhabi, according to the UAE Ministry of Defence. 

Authorities described the incident as a dangerous escalation that threatened civilian safety and regional stability.

Witnesses in Dubai said powerful blasts shook buildings, with some residents reporting missiles streaking visibly across the night sky.

Burj Khalifa evacuated

As tensions intensified, Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was evacuated after explosions were heard across Dubai. 

Media reports said the evacuation followed Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting US military locations across the Gulf.

Residents described multiple waves of explosions throughout the day, with one witness telling the media that the blasts were strong enough to rattle windows.

Military targets across Gulf

The missile strikes targeted locations hosting American forces, including Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain’s Juffair area, where smoke was seen rising nearby.

Qatar said its air defences successfully intercepted incoming projectiles, adding that no casualties or damage were reported in residential areas.

In Kuwait, an Iranian strike damaged a runway at Ali Al Salem Air Base, which hosts Italian air force personnel involved in regional surveillance missions. 

Italian officials confirmed that their service members took shelter safely during the attack.

Saudi Arabia condemns ‘brutal aggression’

Saudi Arabia strongly denounced the strikes as brutal Iranian aggression. 

Residents in Riyadh reported multiple detonations that shattered the city’s usual calm, reflecting the conflict’s growing reach.

The UAE Ministry of Defence also condemned the assault, calling it a blatant and dangerous escalation while asserting that its defensive systems performed effectively. 

Officials said the country reserved the right to respond proportionately.

Global travel disruption deepens

The sudden halt at DXB, a critical global transit hub, has triggered widespread disruption across international aviation. 

Major carriers, including Emirates, temporarily grounded flights to and from Dubai and urged passengers to rely on airline updates rather than travelling to terminals.