Dubai Airport Shut Down After Iran Strikes Hit World's Busiest Travel Hub
Dubai International Airport is closed until further notice this Sunday, March 1, 2026 ET, after Iranian retaliatory strikes struck the UAE, causing damage to a terminal concourse and triggering the suspension of all commercial flight operations at one of the busiest airports on earth. Thousands of passengers remain stranded as the crisis deepens across the Gulf region.
Dubai Airport Confirmed Damaged — Four Staff Injured
Dubai International Airport confirmed minor structural damage and four staff injuries following the incident on March 1, 2026, during heightened regional hostilities. A thick plume of smoke rose near Dubai International Airport following a second major incident in the city, and a concourse sustained minor damage with emergency response teams immediately deployed.
Most terminals had already been cleared of passengers under contingency plans ahead of the strike, and Dubai Civil Defense teams responded immediately to a separate fire at a berth at Jebel Ali Port caused by aerial interception debris — no injuries were reported at that site.
All Dubai Flights Suspended Until Further Notice
All flights from Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport have been suspended until further notice. Dubai Airports advised any passengers due to travel not to go to the airport, as the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority introduced a temporary partial closure of UAE airspace amid rapidly evolving regional security developments.
Flight movements at Emirates, the world's largest international airline, have been suspended indefinitely. Etihad Airways extended cancellations until 2:00 AM Monday ET equivalent, while Qatar Airways confirmed all flights remain halted with an update expected Monday morning. flydubai extended its own suspension through 3:00 PM UAE time on Monday, March 2, 2026.
What Travelers Need to Do Right Now
Emirates has confirmed that passengers booked to travel within the next 72 hours can rebook on an alternate flight up to 10 days from their original travel date, or request a full refund. Those who booked through a travel agent should contact the agent directly.
Etihad passengers may rebook free of charge or request a full refund. Air Arabia has also temporarily suspended all flights to and from the UAE and will notify affected customers directly. Sharjah International Airport announced the suspension of all flights until further notice. Passengers across all carriers are urged not to travel to any UAE airport and to monitor their airline's official channels for updates.
Abu Dhabi Airport Hit — One Dead, Seven Injured
The damage was not limited to Dubai. A drone strike at Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport killed one person and injured seven, the airport confirmed in a statement on social media. Authorities confirmed the fatality was caused by debris from an aerial interception rather than a direct strike on the terminal building itself.
Qatar and Bahrain also came under attack, piercing both kingdoms' polished image as luxurious, stable havens in an unstable region. Missiles were intercepted over the Qatari capital, while officials at Bahrain International Airport confirmed a drone strike damaged that facility.
Global Airline Disruption Spreads Beyond the Gulf
Singapore Airlines cancelled its Singapore-Dubai service until March 7. Virgin Atlantic cancelled its London Heathrow to Dubai flight as a precautionary measure and temporarily avoided Iraqi airspace. Lufthansa confirmed cancellations to and from Tel Aviv. British Airways cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv and Bahrain for several days.
India's double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was among those caught up in the airport chaos as she attempted to reach the All England Open Badminton Championship in the UK, describing the moment as "an extremely tense and scary moment for all of us." The Dubai airport crisis represents the most severe disruption to global aviation since the COVID-19 pandemic, with no confirmed timeline for reopening at the time of publication.
