Up until recently, Dubai International Airport (DXB) was the busiest in the world, though that has changed in the past few weeks. With the United States and Israel attacking Iran, and Iran then responding, there has been chaos in the region, with implications that are being felt globally.
As much as Emirates has been trying to basically resume its full schedule in the coming weeks, things aren’t looking so good, as Dubai faced another major setback today.
In this post:
Dubai Airport fuel tank attacked by drone, causing fire
Early today (Monday, March 16, 2026), Dubai Airport was attacked for the third time in recent weeks. The first attack was on February 28, where a drone directly hit the terminal.
The second attack was on March 7, where we saw a drone just barely miss the terminal and an aircraft.
Now we’ve just seen a third attack, whereby a drone crashed near the airport’s fuel tanks, causing damage. The fire caused by the attack was so bad that it took over 12 hours to extinguish.
As you’d expect, operations at the airport had to be suspended for several hours. It’s hard to know exactly what’s going on and how major the impact on infrastructure was, given that the government very closely controls the narrative around what happens, and it certainly seems like they have the tendency to downplay most things. However, even as operations have resumed, it hasn’t been business as usual.
Dubai bans foreign airlines, Emirates flights add refueling stops
Following today’s attack, there have been a couple of significant developments. First, this evening, the government has reportedly suspended all flights operated by foreign airlines until further notice.
According to reports, the memo that was sent to foreign airlines indicates that in “reference to the prevailing situation within the region and in the interest of the safety of airlines, crew, passengers, employees and the public,” that “landing permission for aircraft operating into DXB/DWC airport(s) in the Emirate of Dubai is suspended until further notice.”
More information about the rationale of suspending foreign airlines but continuing to allow operations by local carriers hasn’t been clarified. So while safety is being mentioned, I imagine there could also be more to this.
It’s also worth pointing out that following the reopening of the airport today, we’ve seen many Emirates flights make stops after departing Dubai, on the way to their destinations. While no official reason has been given, I assume this is related to a limitation on fueling planes due to the airport fuel tank explosion.
It’s anyone’s guess how this all plays out, though these are all horrifying scenes, and I hope this conflict is resolved soon, to minimize casualties and injuries.
I can’t help but think that Gulf carriers won’t be bouncing back from this for a very long time, in terms of a full recovery of sixth freedom traffic that these airlines are known for carrying. Places like Dubai have become what they have because of how well regarded they are for safety, despite the conflicts that sometimes arise in the region. But this is unlike anything the UAE has ever seen.
Bottom line
A fuel tank at Dubai Airport was struck by a drone today, causing a massive explosion, and then a fire that went on for many hours. As you’d expect, airport operations were suspended for several hours.
Beyond that, though, Dubai has now banned foreign airlines, claiming it’s on safety grounds, while local airlines can continue to fly. However, carriers like Emirates are making stops on some flights after departing Dubai, and I’d imagine that’s for refueling.
What do you make of how this situation is playing out at Dubai Airport?
Probably should explain “ sixth freedom traffic” or at least link to an article that defines it. There may even be a OMAAT article on it.
I am not an expert on the Dubai fuel storage situation but there is a reference on a company web site that outlines the 2010 construction of the Al Maktoum International Airport Fuel Farm and its three Jet A1 Aviation fuel storage tanks. If this is the site that was struck the key questions would be are there other fuel tanks at another site and how many of the three tanks were put out of commission? The fuel shortage duration could be lengthy in certain scenarios.
Al Maktoum International Airport Fuel Farm is at DWC, not DXB
Al Maktoum International Airport Fuel Farm is at DWC, not DXB
I don't expect there will be award availability at any sort of reasonable pricing anyway, even after all of this is over.
Speaking of bans, love how you banned all comments for a few days, Ben. Many of us enjoyed the break from your most hateful and/or obnoxious commenters. I had previously personally stopped reading comments by two of your worst offenders. That’s up to four now. It’s easier and healthier when you have the discipline to keep that kind of crap out of your life. Thanks, Ben!
Unless I missed something, Ben didn't ban comments but rather there was a back-end server error that messed things up.
Poor Tim Dumb had to troll elsewhere
*popcorn.gif*
Most likely, it's the aviation fuel shortage that forced DXB to block foreign airlines. Even some EK flights are making a hop to DWC or Jeddah for fuel. EK 201 to JFK hopped over to DWC and is still sitting there. It was supposed to take off from DXB at 6:45 AM and finally took off at 10:19 PM to hop over to DWC and got stuck there for some reason.
Good point.....
Ben, you should remove this or you may get into legal trouble with UAE. i don't think they are approving people posting anything that paints the current situation in a negative light
Meantime, Israel Just shot and Killed an Entire Family with children in a car, Deep inside the West Bank, where they never had any problems. The usual comments from Israeli Military : 'We are looking into it". It seems like Open Season to Kill,Kill as many as you can before the war is over. Don't Forget Israelis again Bombed a Hospital in Beirut and Killed the entire EMT Staff and a whole bunch of Doctors...
Meantime, Israel Just shot and Killed an Entire Family with children in a car, Deep inside the West Bank, where they never had any problems. The usual comments from Israeli Military : 'We are looking into it". It seems like Open Season to Kill,Kill as many as you can before the war is over. Don't Forget Israelis again Bombed a Hospital in Beirut and Killed the entire EMT Staff and a whole bunch of Doctors performing surgeries on children.
Oh yes, the "Victims" are still the Israelis!
It’s vile isn’t it, truly a deplorable nation
Vile is the correct word
That is what I call Trump supporters. They hate it
I bumped into an Isrealie citizen in Asia last week when I was on a subway. I started to talk to him. He said that he thinks Trump's foreign policy is wonderful. Three strangers around me started to laugh at him. He was taken back big time.
Thank you Ben for Fixing the comment section. It was driving me Nuts!
I am due to fly in/out of Doha at the end of May. While I am still leaving some hope that things could calm down by then, this incident today has me closer to just cancelling the booking. I already have a separate one booked via BA.
Likewise but Emirates and Dubai twice towards the end of May. The first flight from UK is cancelled indefinitely, lengthening the outbound transfer time from just over two hours, which I have managed many times, to 11 if I am rebooked on the one remaining earlier flight. Return flights from NZ remain in place but today’s was delayed 12 hours, diverted to Muscat and then flew on to Dubai which would have required a hotel...
Likewise but Emirates and Dubai twice towards the end of May. The first flight from UK is cancelled indefinitely, lengthening the outbound transfer time from just over two hours, which I have managed many times, to 11 if I am rebooked on the one remaining earlier flight. Return flights from NZ remain in place but today’s was delayed 12 hours, diverted to Muscat and then flew on to Dubai which would have required a hotel and a rebooked onward flight to UK.
Emirates status info on its website is sometimes either missing or confusing.
I am leaning towards trying for for a cancellation and refund and then checking costs of alternative Asian or US routing but any risk of being stranded in the Middle East will lead to me taking the Emirates fare on the chin and axing the trip if I can’t secure reasonably priced alternatives. I don’t think the war will end by then as all sides have entrenched positions. Safety first.
I have a flight transiting through DOH this summer. Not sure what to do right now. Common knowledge says to wait for the airline to cancel, but this is a very important trip and the flights were a bit complicated…
If I were you and you’re able, I’d buy a second flight as back up. I used Points.me to find it and now have one reservation with QR and one with BA.
Wish I could. I have a seats.aero pro account. Can’t find anything good that doesn’t transit through AUH or DOH. My final destination is JNB. Original plan was to head over via ICN and return via NRT. Even if I fly east bound, most reasonably priced award flights are through AUH using AA miles.
Cheap fares and award seats soon I hope!
I also support banning foreigners.
Didn't you say you relocated from the US to Turkey? *facepalm*
People were saying it would take many many years for travel to recover after covid....
Once the war resolves, it'll bounce back even faster. They'll lower the prices a little to entice people back, maybe even improve their frequent flyer programs smidge to further entice people. People have incredibly short memories.
"People have incredibly short memories" ... in the Middle East??
How optimistic.
Wtf is wrong with you!?!?!?
Just look at the endless number posts on any forum, in the comment section on this blog, or social media platform of people constantly asking “Am I gonna fly next week, next month, in June, etc.” A large amount of people don’t care that a war just resolved if it even resolves by then. Heck, they don’t care if the war is still ongoing. They just want to get from A to B. It will...
Just look at the endless number posts on any forum, in the comment section on this blog, or social media platform of people constantly asking “Am I gonna fly next week, next month, in June, etc.” A large amount of people don’t care that a war just resolved if it even resolves by then. Heck, they don’t care if the war is still ongoing. They just want to get from A to B. It will have a short dip, but just like Covid, or 9/11, or any other major event, travel will rebound and faster than anticipated.
"People have incredibly short memories" ... in the Middle East??
How optimistic.
Is this being done primarily for safety/risk reasons, or is it to ensure that the traffic that remains (of which I understand there's a fair bit; people visiting for Easter, etc) goes on Emirates?
@ Chris D -- It's a fair question. Officially it's the former. I doubt the airline is doing this simply as a favor to Emirates, though it may also come down to lack of access to fuel at the moment, and not wanting to get foreign airlines tangled up in that.
Wow this is very bad news. I pray for the safety of all innocent people.
The United Arab Emirates needs to vastly improve the saftey of their air defenses.
Looks at other countries, like Riyadh airport or Tel Aviv’s Ben Guruon, they are properly defending their sovereignty with solid air defense systems.
Riyadh and Tel Aviv are much further from Iran and therefore bit more time to react and defend
Distance is also a factor here. Dubai is much closer to Iran than Riyadh or Tel Aviv, which is precisely why DXB tends to be more affected than RUH, TLV or even AUH.
For example, a potential threat aimed at RUH first has to traverse through Eastern KSA (and thankfully, they're mostly eliminated there). This is why DMM tends to suspend operations more frequently than Riyadh does. The same applies to Tel Aviv, as it...
Distance is also a factor here. Dubai is much closer to Iran than Riyadh or Tel Aviv, which is precisely why DXB tends to be more affected than RUH, TLV or even AUH.
For example, a potential threat aimed at RUH first has to traverse through Eastern KSA (and thankfully, they're mostly eliminated there). This is why DMM tends to suspend operations more frequently than Riyadh does. The same applies to Tel Aviv, as it takes time for drones/missiles to travel across Iraq and Syria, allowing Israel to mobilize and prepare its defenses before the threats actually enter the Israeli airspace.
Another factor is that since 28 February, the UAE and Kuwait have experienced more drones/missiles from Iran than Israel did. Coupling the higher number of threats with their close proximity to Iran helps explain why these incidents occur.
To be honest, considering the volume of drones/missiles, they have done a commendable job intercepting threats while still trying to keep operations running.
Iranians should consult the Israelis in "How to Blow up High Rises" Israelis did a Good Job of Blowing up WTC on 9/11 and Blamed the Dumb Bastar*s who acknowledged it just to become Famous. G.Bush Himself said, the WTC was Blown up.
A ban and a suspension don’t sound like the same thing.
@ CF Frost -- Maybe we have different definitions of the word ban, but the one I'm using is "officially or legally prohibit." Dubai has officially prohibited foreign airlines from flying to the airport until further notice, and I'd consider that to be a ban. But suspension of course works as well...
The irony here is that the Dubai Free Trade Zone looked the other way for years when Iran was stockpiling all of the supplies and components for the weapons now being used in the attacks. Sheikh got paid which is all that matters.
There are obviously bigger concerns, but I am selfishly sad I will have to cancel both an Etihad Apartment 2x booking, as well as a non-refundable positioning flight from Asia to get there.
I get why the airlines are acting the way they are in the face of catastrophic revenue loss, but it sure isn't very customer friendly (the incremental waivers are tough to manage in the very unknowable circumstances)
Yes, We were to fly the Residence as well Mar 10th AUH-YYZ. The flight flew, but we had no way to get to AUH as our flight there was on Qatar and Qatar is not operating hardly at all.