The Dubai Media Office has confirmed that all flight operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s busiest international hub, have been temporarily suspended. This measure, also affecting Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), comes as a precautionary response to rapidly deteriorating regional security amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war.
According to official statements from Dubai Airports and the Dubai Media Office, the full suspension was announced following airspace closures and direct threats to Gulf infrastructure.
The airport shutdown stems directly from the broader military conflict that erupted in late February 2026. On February 28, joint US and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian military sites, reportedly killing high-ranking officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in initial attacks. This triggered immediate Iranian retaliation, including ballistic missile and drone barrages aimed at Israel, US bases, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the region, with reports of missiles and drones intercepted over UAE and Saudi airspace. In one incident, a concourse at Dubai International Airport sustained minor damage, and four staff members were injured during an early strike or event. Iranian attacks have targeted Gulf airports and energy infrastructure, prompting widespread airspace closures across Iran, Iraq, Syria, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and partial restrictions in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The conflict has rapidly escalated into a full-scale war, with US and Israeli forces establishing air superiority over parts of Iran through sustained airstrikes on air defenses, missile sites, and other targets. Iran has responded with waves of missiles and drones, affecting civilian aviation corridors and forcing reroutes that increase fuel costs and flight times for global carriers.
