Dubai International airport resumes select flights following temporary suspension

Dubai International Airport has resumed flights to selected destinations after temporarily suspending operations following a drone strike near the airport in the early hours of Monday.

The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said flight operations are being restored gradually and advised passengers to check directly with their airlines for the latest information before travelling to the airport. Emirates also confirmed it would begin partially resuming services after initially suspending all flights.

The temporary suspension disrupted operations at one of the world's busiest international aviation hubs, affecting departures, arrivals and connecting passengers.

Drone strike triggered emergency response

According to the Dubai Media Office, a drone struck a fuel tank close to the airport complex, triggering a fire that produced thick black smoke visible across parts of the city.

Emergency response teams were deployed immediately and successfully contained the blaze. Authorities said no injuries were reported at the airport.

During the disruption:

• Flight operations were temporarily suspended.
• Some inbound aircraft were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport.
• Emirates instructed passengers not to travel to the airport until further notice before announcing a limited resumption of services.

Regional tensions continue to affect aviation

The airport disruption comes amid heightened security concerns across the Gulf region.

Separately, authorities in Abu Dhabi confirmed an incident in the Al Bahyah area in which a missile struck a civilian vehicle, killing one Palestinian national. At the same time, Iran's media operations centre warned of potential further attacks targeting Dubai and Doha, indicating the strikes could continue.

The incident highlights the growing risks facing regional aviation as geopolitical tensions increasingly affect critical transport infrastructure.

Airlines and passengers face fresh disruption

Dubai International serves as a major global transit hub connecting Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Even short interruptions to operations can have a cascading impact across international airline networks.

According to official updates:

• Flights are resuming gradually to selected destinations.
• Some services remain cancelled or delayed.
• Passengers have been advised to verify flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Airlines continue to adjust schedules as operations normalise.

The incident also disrupted aircraft rotations and connecting itineraries for airlines operating through Dubai.

Authorities continue monitoring the situation

The temporary closure followed what officials described as a precautionary response while emergency services secured the affected area and ensured airport operations could resume safely.

Although flight movements have restarted, authorities continue to monitor the operational situation as airlines work to restore normal schedules. The latest disruption underscores the vulnerability of major aviation hubs to regional security incidents and the importance of contingency planning as geopolitical tensions persist.