Dubai International Airport Shuts Down After Iran Targets UAE
Iran launches massive missile and drone strikes across the UAE, targeting Dubai and Abu Dhabi in a major regional escalation. Dubai International Airport (DXB) suspends all operations as a luxury hotel on Palm Jumeirah is hit.
In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Iran launched a series of missile and drone strikes across the region on Saturday, targeting assets in several Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The attacks come in retaliation to what Iranian state media described as a "massive" joint US-Israeli assault on Tehran and other Iranian sites earlier in the day.
Explosions rocked multiple locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with UAE defense systems intercepting a barrage of incoming projectiles.
The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed that air defense systems successfully neutralized several missiles and drones, describing the incident as a "blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law."
Debris from intercepted missiles fell in populated areas of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, causing limited damage and at least one reported fatality in Abu Dhabi.
A luxury hotel on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah, the Fairmont, was engulfed in flames following what witnesses and social media footage described as a direct hit from an Iranian missile or drone. Videos circulating online showed plumes of smoke rising from the site, with residents fleeing the area amid chaos. Iranian media acknowledged launching attacks on US-hosted assets in Gulf states but did not specify targets in Dubai.
In response to the strikes, Dubai International Airport (DXB)—the world's busiest hub for international travel—and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) have suspended all operations indefinitely.
Authorities cited safety concerns amid the regional hostilities, leading to the cancellation of over 700 inbound and outbound flights at DXB alone. Airspace closures extended across the UAE, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and parts of Saudi Arabia and Oman, stranding thousands of passengers. Similar incidents were reported in neighboring countries. In Kuwait, a drone strike on the international airport caused minor injuries to employees and limited damage to a terminal.
Bahrain saw explosions at a high-rise building and the US naval base, while Jordan and other states reported interceptions. UAE residents received alerts urging them to seek shelter, with evacuations reported near key sites like the Burj Khalifa.
Casualty figures remain unclear, but initial reports indicate injuries from debris and at least one death.
The strikes follow weeks of heightened tensions, including Iranian threats to target UAE economic hubs such as the Dubai Airport Free Zone and other strategic areas.
Regional leaders, including Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, have engaged in urgent discussions with UAE officials.
India has issued advisories for its citizens stranded at UAE airports, with notable figures like badminton star PV Sindhu affected en route to international events.