Video.. Dubai Airport Struck in Iranian Missile Attack: All Flights Suspended, Four Injured

Dubai is at the center of a rapidly developing regional crisis on March 1, 2026. Dubai International Airport sustained damage to one of its concourses following Iranian missile strikes targeting the UAE, as part of a sweeping retaliation against U.S. and Israeli military operations. All flights at Dubai Airport have been suspended until further notice, leaving thousands of travelers stranded across the Middle East.

Dubai Airport Concourse Hit, Four Staff Injured in Iranian Strike

A concourse at Dubai International Airport sustained minor damage after an incident that was quickly contained, Dubai Airports confirmed Saturday via the Dubai Media Office. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and are managing the situation in coordination with relevant authorities. Four staff members sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention.

The airport noted that due to contingency plans already in place, most terminals had been previously cleared of passengers before the incident occurred. Social media footage circulating online showed smoke-filled corridors inside parts of the world's busiest international airport. Dubai Media Office warned the public against sharing old fire clips and images being falsely attributed to the current incident.

All Flights at Dubai Airport Suspended Until Further Notice

Dubai Airports confirmed that flights at both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) have been cancelled or delayed due to a temporary partial closure of UAE airspace as an exceptional precautionary measure amid evolving regional security developments. Dubai Airports urged travelers to check with their airlines and not to head to DXB or DWC at this time.

Dubai International Airport alone — the world's busiest airport for international flights — reported more than 700 inbound and outbound flights cancelled. The airport's operator said flights were halted indefinitely at both Dubai International and Dubai World Central. Airlines including Turkish Airlines, Air India, KLM, Delta, and United all confirmed suspensions across the region.

Iranian Missiles Target UAE as Part of Wider Middle East Escalation

Arab media outlets and widely circulated videos showed scenes of damage to a building at the airport following the Iranian missile strike. Earlier Saturday, the UAE announced it had been subjected to Iranian attacks targeting several areas in the country. The strikes appear to be Iran's retaliatory response to coordinated U.S. and Israeli military operations launched against Iranian targets overnight.

Planes that were en route to cities including Tel Aviv and Dubai overnight were diverted or returned to their points of origin. The airspace closures are expected to have significant ripple effects for Dubai-based Emirates airline and many other carriers that operate heavily in and out of the Middle East. India's civil aviation agency designated much of the Middle East airspace as a high-security risk zone at all altitudes.

UAE Schools Switch to Distance Learning as Crisis Deepens

The Dubai Airport crisis is unfolding alongside sweeping safety measures across the UAE. The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education announced that studies will shift to distance learning from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4, 2026, for students and teaching and administrative staff across all public and private schools and universities nationwide. The situation will be continuously assessed and the period may be extended depending on developments.

The General Civil Aviation Authority issued a decision to suspend flight permits for gliders, unmanned aerial vehicles, and amateur aircraft for one week, aimed at enhancing safety levels and protecting the state's airspace. Residents across Dubai received official safety alerts, with authorities reassuring the public that protective measures are in place.

Dubai's Major March Changes Now Overshadowed by Security Crisis

The unfolding crisis arrives during what was supposed to be a milestone month for Dubai. March was set to bring the launch of the Dubai International Vertiport at Dubai International Airport — the city's first flying taxi vertiport — scheduled to open on March 31, 2026, as the first of four across the city. Those plans are now in serious doubt.

UAE fuel prices for March 2026 also rose sharply, with Super 98 petrol climbing to Dhs2.59 per litre, Special 95 to Dhs2.48, and diesel to Dhs2.72 — all effective from March 1. With the regional security situation shifting by the hour, Dubai authorities have urged all residents and travelers to monitor official channels closely and avoid both airports until further notice.