Dubai Airport Hit, Fairmont Palm Dubai Struck, US Navy Base in Bahrain Targeted as Iran Bombs Gulf Region
Iran launched a sweeping retaliatory campaign across the Gulf on Saturday, February 28, 2026 ET, striking Dubai International Airport, the Fairmont Palm Dubai hotel, the US Naval Base in Bahrain, and multiple targets across Qatar, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE — plunging a region long defined by stability into an unprecedented crisis.
Dubai Attacked by Iran: Airport, Palm Jumeirah, and Burj Al Arab Hit
Dubai International Airport — one of the world's busiest for international traffic — sustained minor damage to a concourse after a reported Iranian strike, with four staff members injured and emergency response teams immediately deployed.
Multiple videos geolocated by CNN show a Shahed drone attack near the Fairmont Hotel in Dubai, causing a large explosion and a fire at the landmark Palm Jumeirah property. The Palm Jumeirah district, a global symbol of UAE luxury, was no longer a safe haven.
Dubai Media Office confirmed drone debris from Iranian strikes damaged both the city's airport and the Burj Al Arab hotel, halting regional flights. The iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel becoming a casualty underscored the scale of the assault on Dubai.
Dubai Airports confirmed that all flights in and out of the city's two main airports have been suspended until further notice. Passengers were advised not to travel to the airport and to contact their respective airlines directly.
US Navy 5th Fleet Bahrain Naval Base Struck by Iran
In one video filmed near the US Navy's military base in Manama, Bahrain, an Iranian Shahed drone is seen making direct impact with a radar dome at the facility — a strike that occurred near an earlier attack on the Fifth Fleet.
The tiny Gulf kingdom hosts Naval Support Activity Bahrain, where the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command headquarters are based. Bahrain's deep-water port can accommodate the largest US military vessels, including anti-mine vessels and logistical support ships.
Bahrain called the attack a "treacherous" strike and "a blatant violation of the kingdom's sovereignty and security," with the Interior Ministry confirming several residential buildings in Manama were hit and civil defense engaged in firefighting and rescue operations.
UAE News: Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, Riyadh All Under Threat
In the UAE, Iranian missiles and intercepts sent debris over Abu Dhabi and the Palm Jumeirah area of Dubai, leading to multiple injuries and shutting down flights at Dubai's main airports. The UAE foreign ministry confirmed its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed a new wave of Iranian missiles and drones.
At Abu Dhabi's airport, at least one person was killed and seven others wounded during what the facility's authority called an "incident." Dubai airport and Kuwait's airport were also hit.
Qatari officials said Iran launched 65 missiles and 12 drones towards the Gulf state on Saturday, most of which were intercepted, but 16 people were injured in the attacks. Witnesses in Doha reported hearing several loud bangs and seeing thick black smoke on the horizon.
Second Day of Blasts: Dubai, Bahrain, Doha Rocked Again
Explosions were heard for a second day on Sunday morning in Dubai, Manama, and Doha, raising fears of a wider conflict. Puffs of white smoke from missile interceptions appeared in Dubai's skies, while billows of dark smoke rose over its port of Jebel Ali, one of the busiest ports in the Middle East.
Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE all temporarily closed their airspace and condemned Iran's attacks on their territories. Sea vessels operating in the Gulf received messages on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the key oil export route connecting Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the UAE to global markets.
Major carriers responded swiftly. Emirates suspended all flights to and from Dubai until at least 3:00 p.m. local time Monday. Etihad Airways suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi until Monday morning. Qatar Airways suspended flights temporarily, and Singapore Airlines canceled its Singapore-Dubai service until March 7.
The Gulf region's reputation as the world's most reliable aviation corridor and a safe luxury destination now faces its most severe test in modern history.
