Dubai International Airport (DXB) reported minor damage to part of a passenger concourse and four injuries after what local officials described as an “incident,” as Iranian missile and drone strikes spread beyond US targets and into key Gulf transport hubs.
Dubai Airports said a concourse at DXB “sustained minor damage” in an incident that was “quickly contained,” adding that emergency response teams were deployed and were coordinating with relevant authorities. Dubai’s media office said four airport staff were injured and received medical attention.
Local officials did not provide further details on what caused the incident. Videos circulated online overnight appeared to show smoke and damage inside the airport complex.
Multiple Iranian 🇮🇷 Shahed-136 UAVs struck Dubai International Airport (DXB) in UAE 🇦🇪 forcing immediate evacuations and cancellations of over 1,000 flights
— Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) February 28, 2026
Striking civilian targets in Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain, was the most reckless decision Iran has made today pic.twitter.com/ycvtHjEpFY
Drone interception near Burj Al Arab, debris-related incidents reported
UAE officials said debris fell in multiple areas of the country, causing limited material damage. The UAE Ministry of Defence said it detected 137 ballistic missiles launched toward the country, destroying 132 of them, and detected 209 drones, intercepting 195.
A drone was intercepted near the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, with debris causing a minor fire on the outer facade. An additional fire at one of the berths at Jebel Ali Port after debris from an aerial interception, and a separate fire near another hotel on Palm Jumeirah.
Airline operations affected, Emirates suspends flights to and from Dubai
The incident at DXB unfolded amid widespread regional airspace restrictions and airline suspensions. Emirates said on March 1, 2026, it had “temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai” due to multiple regional airspace closures, with the suspension in place until 1500 UAE time on March 2, 2026.
Airlines suspended flights across much of the Middle East as the situation escalated, with flight tracking showing large areas of regional airspace largely empty.