Iranian drone strike near Dubai Intl. Airport's terminal forces emergency flight suspensions

Authorities confirmed that flights and airport activities at DXB were suspended as a precautionary measure to protect passengers, airline staff and flight crews. 

The incident unfolded amid escalating tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

The suspension created travel uncertainty for thousands of passengers travelling through the Gulf region.

Footage shows drone strike near terminal

Video footage circulating online appeared to show an Iranian drone striking near the airport complex. 

The incident occurred less than an hour after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a televised statement apologising to neighbouring countries for attacks launched during the ongoing conflict.

Despite the alarming footage, there were no immediate reports of structural damage at the airport or injuries to passengers or staff.

In the broadcast statement, Pezeshkian said Iran’s interim leadership council had decided to halt further attacks against neighbouring states unless they initiated military action against Iran.

“I apologise to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran,” Pezeshkian said in the address aired on state television.

He added that the leadership council had agreed that no additional missile launches or attacks would target neighbouring nations unless Iran itself came under attack from those territories.

Airport authorities implement safety protocols

Following the incident, officials at Dubai International Airport released a statement confirming that operations were suspended in accordance with emergency safety procedures.

“For the safety of passengers, airport staff and airline crew, operations at Dubai International have been temporarily suspended,” airport authorities said in a post on X. “All procedures are being managed in line with established safety protocols.”

Later, airport authorities announced that limited operations had resumed.

According to the statement, partial services restarted, with some flights departing from both DXB and Al Maktoum International Airport.

Officials advised passengers not to travel to the airport unless their airline confirmed that their flight was scheduled to operate, warning that flight timetables continued to change due to the evolving situation.

Regional airspace threat forces flight delays

Authorities said the suspension of flights was directly linked to Iranian drone activity near the airport and the potential threat to civilian airspace.

Air defence systems in the United Arab Emirates reportedly intercepted incoming aerial threats, with debris from the interceptions falling near civilian areas, including locations close to airport infrastructure.

The Dubai Media Office explained that aviation operations were paused while officials assessed the security situation and ensured aircraft movements would not face any risk.

The move was intended as a temporary safety precaution as regional tensions continued to escalate.

Gulf aviation network hit

The conflict has already caused extensive disruptions across the Gulf’s aviation network.

Emirates confirmed that flights to and from Dubai were fully suspended on March 7 due to safety concerns arising from the drone threat.

However, the airline later announced to partially resume its services to and from Dubai airports.

Passengers affected by the cancellations were offered options, including ticket rebooking or refunds.

Airspace closures and operational restrictions have also affected airports in neighbouring countries. 

Several flights were cancelled or delayed at major hubs in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain as thousands of travellers faced disruptions.

Some services have resumed on a limited basis, particularly flights carrying stranded passengers or urgent travel cases. 

However, airline schedules remain unstable as authorities continue to monitor the security environment.

Escalating conflict raises airspace safety concerns

The aviation disruption reflects the broader geopolitical tensions unfolding across the region. 

The current crisis is linked to the intensifying conflict involving Iran and its regional adversaries, which has seen the use of ballistic missiles, drones and retaliatory strikes across the Persian Gulf.

Air defence forces in the UAE have intercepted multiple airborne threats in recent days. 

While these interceptions prevented direct strikes on infrastructure, falling debris from destroyed drones and missiles has landed near populated areas, including zones close to major airports.