Drone attack sparks fire near Dubai airport, flights temporarily suspended | Watch

Following the incident, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced a temporary suspension of flights at the airport as a precautionary measure.

Flights at Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended after a drone attack sparked a fire in the vicinity of the airport, authorities said on Monday.

According to the Dubai Media Office, the drone struck a fuel tank near the airport, resulting in a blaze.

"Authorities are dealing with a fire resulting from a drone attack in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport," the media office said, adding that no injuries were reported.

JUST IN: A drone just hit a fuel tank at the busiest airport in the Middle East. The Dubai Media Office confirmed it 23 minutes ago. “A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently… https://t.co/XX1hadTdJEpic.twitter.com/cfzg1sAmSn

— Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡ (@shanaka86) March 16, 2026

Emergency responders worked to bring the fire under control, and officials later confirmed that the blaze had been contained. The fire was caused by the drone “impact,” the media office said.

Following the incident, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced a temporary suspension of flights at the airport as a precautionary measure.

"Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announces the temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff," the media office said in a post on X.

Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines for updates regarding their flights.

The incident comes amid widening regional tensions since the outbreak of the war involving the U.S., Israel and Iran on February 28.

Since the conflict began, Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks targeting a wide range of sites, including US diplomatic missions and military bases, as well as critical infrastructure such as oil facilities, ports, airports, hotels, and residential and office buildings.

The United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, has faced some of the heaviest attacks during the conflict. However, all Gulf Arab states have been affected and have condemned Iran over the strikes.