Flights at Dubai International Airport (DXB) were temporarily suspended early Monday morning after a drone-related incident caused a fire near a fuel storage tank, authorities confirmed.
Emergency response teams from Dubai Civil Defence quickly arrived at the scene and successfully contained the fire. Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported, and the situation has been brought under control.
Drone Impact Causes Fire Near Airport
According to the Dubai Media Office, the fire started after a drone struck one of the fuel storage tanks located in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport.
The incident occurred during the early hours of Monday morning, prompting an immediate response from emergency services. Firefighters worked quickly to prevent the flames from spreading to other fuel storage facilities and nearby infrastructure.
In an official statement shared on social media, authorities said:
“Dubai Civil Defence teams have successfully contained the fire resulting from impact to one of the fuel tanks in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport.”
Flights Suspended at DXB
Following the incident, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced the temporary suspension of all flights at Dubai International Airport at around 6:30 AM local time as a precautionary safety measure.
Several incoming flights were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport, which serves as Dubai’s secondary aviation hub.
Major airline Emirates also issued a travel advisory stating that flights to and from Dubai had been suspended until further notice. The airline urged passengers not to travel to the airport until operations resume and to check their flight status for the latest updates.
Roads Around Airport Temporarily Closed
Authorities from Dubai Police temporarily closed several roads around the airport area while emergency services handled the situation.
Traffic restrictions were put in place to ensure that firefighters and emergency personnel could access the site quickly and safely. Roads were gradually reopened once the fire was fully contained.
Incident Comes Amid Regional Security Tensions
The drone-related incident comes amid increased security tensions across the Gulf region.
Recent weeks have seen several drone and missile interceptions involving regional players including Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi recently reported a fire at the emirate’s old airport caused by debris from intercepted missiles, highlighting growing concerns about regional security.
The United Nations Security Council also recently adopted a Bahrain-sponsored resolution condemning attacks targeting Gulf states.
Airport Operations Expected to Resume
Officials confirmed the fire has been fully contained, and safety inspections are currently underway at Dubai International Airport.
Flight operations at DXB — one of the world’s busiest international airports — are expected to resume once safety and security checks are completed.
Passengers scheduled to travel through Dubai are advised to monitor airline announcements and official airport updates before heading to the airport.
