Dubai Airport Resuming Flights March 7, 2026 — But Drone Strike Causes Fresh Suspension at DXB
Dubai International Airport is fighting its way back to normalcy after one of the worst aviation crises in its history — only to face a new scare this morning when a drone explosion forced a fresh suspension of flights at the world's busiest international hub.
Dubai Airport Hit by Drone Strike Saturday Morning, Operations Briefly Suspended
Air raid alerts sounded across Dubai from around 6:30 a.m. on March 7, sending passengers and airport staff running for cover as shelter-in-place warnings were issued. A drone exploded next to Concourse A, narrowly missing the terminal building and a parked aircraft.
Flights due to land at Dubai International were put into holding patterns over the UAE desert. When air traffic control ordered the skies cleared, incoming aircraft were diverted to Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai World Central, and Muscat.
The Dubai Media Office initially described the event as "a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception," though footage on social media showed a black cloud of smoke rising close to the airfield. AFP journalists reported hearing two blasts in Dubai and one in Bahrain's capital, Manama, where warning sirens also sounded.
Emirates and flydubai Resume Partial Schedule at DXB
Emirates resumed operations roughly 30 minutes after the suspension, confirming that passengers with confirmed bookings for afternoon flights could proceed to the airport. The airline urged all others to stay home until directly contacted.
Emirates is targeting 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations today, representing nearly 60 percent of its global route network. More than 1,140 flights have been handled at DXB and DWC in the past 84 hours, providing approximately 105,000 outbound seats to more than 80 countries.
flydubai resumed a reduced schedule from Terminals 2 and 3, prioritizing customers affected by earlier disruptions. Flight durations may be longer than usual due to temporary rerouting of some flight paths.
What Triggered the Dubai Airport Crisis — Regional Conflict Explained
Flight operations at DXB and Dubai World Central were suspended on February 28, following Iranian retaliatory strikes on neighboring Gulf states in response to ongoing attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Tehran.
More than 20,000 flights across the Middle East were canceled since the escalation began. Cancellations across seven major regional airports — including Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Al Maktoum — exceeded 12,300 flights combined.
Hundreds of thousands of passengers were stranded, with scenes of chaos at terminals during the initial full closures. Hotels accommodated affected passengers, and authorities facilitated essential repatriation movements.
Airline-by-Airline Status at Dubai Airport Right Now
Here is where each major carrier stands as of March 7, 2026:
| Airline | Status |
|---|---|
| Emirates | Resumed — 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations |
| flydubai | Reduced schedule from Terminals 2 and 3 |
| Etihad | Limited ops from Abu Dhabi — 25 international destinations |
| Air Arabia | Suspended until 3:00 p.m. UAE time on March 9 |
| Saudia | Partially resumed — two outbound and two return flights daily |
Emirates customers booked to travel between February 28 and March 31 may rebook on an alternate flight or request other options. Passengers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted if their connecting flight is also confirmed and operating.
Travelers Warned: Do Not Go to Dubai Airport Without Confirmation
Dubai Airports issued a direct warning: "Please do not travel to the airport unless you have been contacted by your airline that your flight is confirmed, as schedules continue to change."
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said he has been on the ground with senior leaders and the wider airport community to support frontline teams, calling the past few days "unprecedented" but expressing confidence in the recovery.
Emirates says a full return to 100 percent of its global route network is expected within the coming days, barring further regional security incidents. The situation remains highly fluid, and travelers are urged to monitor their airline's official channels before making any move toward the airport.
