Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Dubai International Airport (DXB) — one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs — has been severely disrupted and partly damaged after Iranian missiles struck parts of the airport and surrounding infrastructure amid the widening Middle East war, aviation authorities and eyewitness reports confirmed.
The attacks, part of a broader wave of Iranian retaliatory strikes against U.S. and allied interests following joint U.S.–Israeli military operations against Iran, forced the UAE to shutter commercial flight operations at both DXB and its secondary hub, Al Maktoum International Airport. Airlines including Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad temporarily suspended services as airspace closures and safety concerns spread across the Gulf.
According to officials, a concourse at Dubai International sustained damage, and emergency responders were deployed to contain fires and secure the area. At least four airport workers were reported injured after the incident, though authorities said passenger terminals had been largely cleared prior to the strike.
The closures have contributed to a global travel crisis, with tens of thousands of flights cancelled or rerouted across the Middle East and beyond as regional airspace remains largely restricted or closed. Major carriers have grounded routes that normally traverse Gulf hubs, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers and disrupting global aviation networks.
The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship in the UAE also issued advisories urging residents and visitors to stay informed through official channels as the security outlook remains fluid. While limited repatriation flights have begun in some cases, normal airport operations are expected to remain halted until airspace safety can be assured and military threats diminish.
The strike on Dubai — a global financial, tourism, and travel center — marks one of the most consequential escalations of the conflict, extending the war’s effects far beyond frontline theatres into critical civilian infrastructure and international economic arteries.
As the situation develops, both regional governments and international partners are assessing the damage, evaluating security measures, and coordinating efforts to reopen key transit hubs once conditions permit.