Emirates has severely restricted flight operations at Dubai International Airport following a drone-related fire, as the widening military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran disrupts critical Gulf infrastructure. The war, now in its third week following coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, has triggered widespread retaliatory attacks across the Arabian Peninsula.
The operational pivot by the UAE’s flagship carrier reflects escalating safety concerns across regional airspace. The disruptions mirror broader industry pullbacks, as Indian airlines and other international carriers suspend routes to the Middle East to avoid the crossfire of intercepted projectiles.
A drone-related incident sparked a fire near the Dubai International Airport, leading authorities to temporarily halt and subsequently limit all flight schedules. In a separate incident within the United Arab Emirates, another drone strike ignited a fire at the Fujairah industrial oil zone. According to the Abu Dhabi Media Office, a missile also struck a civilian vehicle in the Al Bahyah area on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, killing one Palestinian national.
The geographic scope of the conflict continues to expand. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting 60 drones over its airspace. Meanwhile, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, severely disrupting global commercial shipping routes.
Direct military engagements between the primary adversaries remain active. US fighter jets reportedly targeted military facilities near the Chabahar Free Trade Zone, while strikes in Iran’s Markazi province killed at least five people. The Israeli military confirmed it destroyed an aircraft at Mehrabad airport previously used by the late Ali Khamenei. Concurrently, Al-Jazeera reported that at least one Iranian missile impacted central Israel, though no immediate casualties were noted.
Dubai resumes flights after drone attack sparked fire at airport, as Trump urges allies to address Strait of Hormuz tensions. https://t.co/KZW2pWTnZv pic.twitter.com/Ja72FYhJsZ
— ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) March 16, 2026
Diplomatic and evacuation efforts are operating concurrently with the military exchanges. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that over 550 Indian nationals were evacuated from Tehran with facilitation from Armenia. In the United States, President Donald Trump stated his administration is in discussions with Tehran but asserted the Iranian government is not yet ready for a diplomatic resolution. Trump also claimed that ongoing US operations have reduced Iran’s drone manufacturing capabilities to roughly 20 percent of their former capacity.
Efforts to secure international waterways remain stalled. While the US administration pushes for an international naval coalition to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, key allies including Japan and Australia have declined to deploy maritime forces to the region.