Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Panic swept through Dubai International Airport after an incident authorities said caused minor damage to a terminal, as reports circulated that an Iranian suicide drone strike was part of a widening wave of retaliation across the Middle East.
Dubai Airports confirmed that a concourse at Dubai International Airport sustained limited damage in what it described as an incident that was quickly contained. Emergency teams were deployed immediately, and four airport staff members were injured and received medical treatment.
Dramatic videos shared on social media showed passengers fleeing one of the airport’s terminals as smoke filled parts of the building. Images also showed sections of the normally crowded hub temporarily deserted following the evacuation.
Authorities said contingency plans had already cleared most passengers from terminals, helping to limit casualties. The airport operator added that further updates would be issued as more information becomes available.
Flights suspended across Dubai
Earlier, Dubai Airports announced the suspension of all flights at both Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport until further notice, urging passengers not to travel as regional tensions surged following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The disruption quickly rippled through global aviation, with major airlines cancelling or rerouting flights to the Gulf and UK airports advising travelers to check directly with carriers.
Incident reported in Abu Dhabi
A similar incident was reported at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, where airport authorities said one person identified as an Asian national, was killed and seven others were injured.
Officials did not immediately provide full details of the incident, but said emergency services responded and the situation was under control.
Regional escalation
The airport disruptions came hours after the United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on multiple targets inside Iran, including facilities linked to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation had destroyed the supreme leader’s compound and suggested Khamenei may have been killed, though the situation remains highly fluid with conflicting claims from Iranian officials earlier in the day.
Iran has since launched retaliatory attacks across the region, according to multiple regional reports, targeting Israel and several Gulf states.
Reports of strikes on hotels and bases
Unverified footage circulating online appeared to show fires at prominent Dubai landmarks, including the Fairmont The Palm on Palm Jumeirah and the iconic Burj Al Arab. Local authorities have not fully confirmed the extent of damage at these sites.
Regional security sources and Iranian statements claimed missile and drone attacks also targeted locations in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, including facilities associated with US forces.
Government travel warnings
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office urged British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Qatar and the UAE to register their presence for emergency updates and to follow local authority guidance.
The FCDO advised against all travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories and told British nationals in several Gulf countries to consider sheltering in place, avoid unnecessary movement and stay clear of military sites.
Heightened fears of wider conflict
The rapidly evolving situation has raised fears of a broader regional confrontation, with aviation, energy infrastructure and major urban centers now on heightened alert.
Security analysts warn that further retaliation by Iran or its regional allies could trigger additional disruptions across Gulf airspace and commercial hubs in the coming days, as governments scramble to contain the fallout from the escalating US-Israel-Iran confrontation.
