March 16, (THEWILL) — Hundreds of travellers were stranded and flights temporarily suspended on Monday after an Iranian drone strike ignited a fuel tank at Dubai International Airport, triggering a massive fire and disrupting operations at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
Authorities said the attack occurred around 4 a.m. local time, when a drone struck a fuel storage facility within the airport vicinity, setting off a blaze that forced aviation authorities to halt flight operations as emergency services battled to contain the flames.
Airport officials later confirmed that the fire was brought under control by sunrise, with no casualties reported.
However, thick smoke was still seen rising from the area hours later while police closed several roads around the airport as a precaution.
The airport authority announced a temporary suspension of flights to ensure the safety of passengers and staff, advising travellers to contact their airlines for updates on departures and arrivals.
The disruption affected thousands of passengers at the airport, which handled more than 95 million travellers in 2025, making it one of the busiest international aviation hubs globally.
Operations later began to resume gradually to selected destinations after emergency teams secured the affected facility and carried out safety assessments.
Emirates, the flagship carrier operating from Dubai, initially asked passengers to stay away from the airport after suspending all its flights earlier in the morning.
In a later update posted on X, the airline said it expected to “operate a limited schedule” after 10 a.m., though some flights would remain cancelled as the situation stabilised.
“We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience. The safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority and will not be compromised,” the airline said.
The strike is the latest in a series of attacks linked to escalating regional tensions following the United States–Israel strikes on Iran, which analysts say have triggered retaliatory actions across the Gulf.
Security officials noted that the latest attack was the largest targeting the airport since the escalation began, raising concerns about the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure across the region.
Iran had earlier warned that banks and other commercial facilities in Dubai’s financial district could be targeted and urged civilians to stay away from major ports and infrastructure sites it described as potential military-linked facilities.
Despite the disruption, aviation authorities said efforts were ongoing to fully restore operations at the airport while security and safety assessments continued.
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