A drone attack near Dubai International Airport hit a fuel tank, causing a fire near the airport, which civil defense teams later brought under control with no injuries reported, the Dubai Media Office said in X. The incident led to a temporary suspension of flights to and from Dubai in the early hours. Dubai Police also closed Airport Road, the airport tunnel and the intersections at Cargo Village and Marrakech Street leading to the airport.
However, the airport began to gradually resume flights as the day progressed on Monday. Officials said the resumption would be gradual and some flights would operate to select destinations.
The incident highlighted the challenges faced by UAE airlines and the wider aviation industry as they try to restore normal operations amid escalating regional tensions. It was the third attack on Dubai International Airport since Iran launched attacks against Gulf nations on February 28, which Tehran says target the US presence in the region.
In a statement on X, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said there would be a “gradual resumption” of some flights, according to the Dubai Media Office.
Dubai Airports announces the diversion of some flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 16, 2026
Emirates stops operations
Emirates airline said all flights to and from Dubai have been temporarily suspended. The airline also advised passengers not to go to the airport. The airline posted on X saying they will share updates when they are available.
All flights to and from Dubai have been temporarily suspended.
Please don’t go to the airport.
Emirates will share updates when they become available. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience.
The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority… pic.twitter.com/m5eIloT2wk
— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 16, 2026
Iran’s attacks in the Gulf
Since February 28, Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks against US diplomatic missions, military bases and key oil infrastructure, as well as residential and commercial areas. On March 11, two drones fell near Dubai International Airport, which had also suffered damage on the first day of the conflict during an Iranian attack on the Gulf states.
Other airlines rescheduled
Other airlines, including Air India and Air India Express, reduced some ad hoc operations between India and the UAE on Sunday (March 15, 2026), citing instructions from UAE authorities. Most of the UAE-bound flights operated by the airlines from cities like Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Hyderabad were cancelled.
The announcement came a day after the two airlines said they would operate a combined total of 72 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the Middle East on Sunday, according to Khaleej Times. Of these, 52 non-scheduled flights were planned between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Update: Due to the evolving situation in the Middle East, flight operations have been further restricted in Dubai, resulting in changes to flight schedules.
Customers traveling to/from Dubai should check their flight status at https://t.co/ll3K8Px1Ht before departing to… https://t.co/j3mr7nyxCv
– IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) March 14, 2026
Both Air India and Air India Express operated only one return flight from Dubai to Delhi on Sunday, instead of the five and six flights respectively scheduled earlier. Meanwhile, all five scheduled Air India Express flights to Abu Dhabi were cancelled. The airline continued to operate services from Sharjah to Delhi, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram, and flights from Ras Al Khaimah to Kozhikode and Kochi.
IndiGo also further restricted its flight operations to Dubai on Sunday, citing the “evolving situation in the Middle East”, leading to changes in its schedules. The move came a day after the airline put some flights scheduled between March 16 and 28 to the Middle East and select European routes on sale as part of efforts to rebuild its network across the region.
