Kathmandu, March 16
Dubai International Airport has been temporarily closed. Authorities in Dubai said flights were suspended as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers and staff.
Earlier, officials had said efforts were ongoing to control a fire that broke out near the airport. According to the Dubai Media Office, a drone attack on Monday caused a fire at a fuel tank located near the airport.
Following the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran at the end of February, Dubai International Airport had become the world’s busiest airport for international passengers. According to the BBC, nearly 90 million passengers travelled through the airport in 2025.
Missile and drone attacks in the Gulf region have intensified since the war between the United States, Israel and Iran began on February 28. Since then, Gulf Arab countries have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks.
The targets of these attacks have included not only US diplomatic missions and military bases but also oil infrastructure, ports, airports, hotels, and residential and office buildings.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalised diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, is reported to have been among the most affected by such attacks.
However, other Gulf Arab countries have also been impacted, and all of them have criticised Iran.
