Fire near Dubai airport under control after drone attack, authorities say

Flights suspended, authorities did not say when they are expected to resume

Dubai ​authorities brought under control on Monday a fire caused by a drone attack ‌near the city's international airport that forced a temporary suspension of flights, though no injuries were reported, they said.

However, according to a video shared by Drop Site News, the fire at the fuel depot near Dubai International Airport is still burning as of this morning.

 

It is morning now in Dubai. And the fuel depot near Dubai International Airport is still burning after last night’s successful drone attack.

All flights in and out have been suspended.

pic.twitter.com/ZbqZTfQXJT

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) March 16, 2026

The US-Israel war against Iran has thrown global aviation into turmoil, with flights cancelled, ​rescheduled and rerouted, as most Middle East airspace stays shut over fears of ​missile and drone attacks, while the crisis sends fuel prices soaring.

Monday's incident is ⁠the third at the Dubai airport, one of the world's busiest international travel hubs, ​since Iran began its retaliation on US bases embedded in Gulf nations on February 28.

Read: Drone strikes near Dubai airport deepen Gulf aviation chaos

"A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai ​International Airport affected one of the fuel tanks," the Dubai media office said on X.

Traffic was ‌temporarily halted ⁠on road and tunnel links with the airport, police said, while the Emirates airline suspended flights to Dubai.

Some flights were diverted to the Al Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai media office said on X.

Authorities did not say when they expected flights to resume, however.

US military bases in Gulf ​Arab states have faced ​more than 2,000 ⁠missile and drone attacks since February 28, with some attacks also hitting civilian infrastructure.

The United Arab Emirates, which ​normalised relations ⁠with Israel in 2020, has faced the brunt of the attacks, though all Gulf Arab states have been affected.

On March 11, two drones ⁠fell ​near the Dubai international airport, which suffered damage on the ​first day of the conflict during an overnight Iranian attack across Gulf states.