Reports indicate the drone targeted the airport's control tower, missing by "just a few meters," according to multiple sources.
The impact site was described as landing "just a few hundred meters" from parked aircraft near a concourse.
Dubai authorities characterized the event as a "minor incident caused by debris from an interception," with the UAE's air defenses intercepting one unidentified object near the airport.
"For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crew, operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended," stated the Dubai Media Office in a social media post.
The airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, resumed partial operations later in the day.
Flydubai, a UAE-based low-cost carrier, suspended its flights to Israel following the strike, as part of broader disruptions.
Emirates and other airlines also halted operations temporarily.
Emirates has since begun resuming flights after Iran signaled it would not attack neighbors unless provoked.
The strike occurred amid Iran's retaliatory attacks on Gulf states hosting U.S. bases, including the UAE, shortly after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an apology to neighboring countries for recent strikes and promised to halt attacks unless they originate from those territories.
Iranian state media has not confirmed specifically targeting the control tower.
The UAE has intercepted over 1,000 drones so far in the conflict, with air defenses handling 15 ballistic missiles and 119 drones on Saturday alone.
