Dubai International Airport Evacuated Following Iranian Drone Strike
Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest aviation hubs, was evacuated today after sustaining damage from an Iranian suicide drone. This incident forms part of a broader wave of retaliatory strikes launched by Tehran across the Middle East, following joint US-Israeli military action against Iranian targets earlier in the day.
Chaos at the Terminal
Dramatic footage circulating on social media shows passengers fleeing terminals at Dubai's primary international airport as smoke filled parts of the concourse. Other images depict sections of the airport completely deserted after the forced evacuation. Dubai Airports confirmed in an official statement that a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident which was quickly contained.
Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and are managing the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities, the statement read. It confirmed that four staff members sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention. The airport authority noted that, due to pre-existing contingency plans, most terminals had already been cleared of passengers prior to the incident.
Flight Suspensions and Travel Warnings
In response to the escalating regional conflict, Dubai Airports suspended all flights at both Dubai International and Al Maktoum International until further notice. Passengers have been strongly urged not to travel to the area. This suspension follows US and Israeli strikes on targets in several Iranian cities on Saturday, including offices associated with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which sent explosions and plumes of smoke over the capital, Tehran.
The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued urgent advice. British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates should register their presence with the UK Government to receive direct updates, the FCDO stated on social media platform X. The office recommends against all travel to Israel and Palestine and advises British nationals in Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait to immediately shelter in place, remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel, and follow instructions from local authorities.
Regional Retaliation and Wider Attacks
The drone strike on Dubai airport is not an isolated event. Iran has launched a series of revenge attacks across the region. The world-famous five-star Palm Jumeirah Fairmont hotel in Dubai was also hit by a Shahed suicide drone launched from Iran, leaving four injured. Footage captured the moment the hotel was struck, with the building's exterior set ablaze.
Further Iranian strikes have been reported. Suicide drones attacked residential skyscrapers in Bahrain, and missiles launched from Iran have reportedly hit US bases in Qatar, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi. Tehran claims to have struck the Fifth Fleet service center in Manama, Bahrain. The Israeli Prime Minister stated in a televised address that airstrikes in Iran had destroyed the Supreme Leader's compound, adding that all indications suggest the leader is no longer present, though this remains unconfirmed.
Impact on Travel and Ongoing Situation
Major airlines are cancelling or suspending flights to the region over the coming days. UK airports are advising passengers to maintain contact with their airlines for the latest updates. The FCDO advises British nationals in the region to take sensible precautions, including staying away from military facilities and ensuring travel documents are up to date.
With hundreds of thousands of British nationals currently thought to be in the Gulf region, the situation remains fluid and highly volatile. Dubai Airports has stated that further updates will be provided as they become available, while the international community watches the escalating conflict with deep concern.
