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Emirates

Emirates

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Iranian strikes on Gulf airports expose vulnerability of global aviation's most connected hub

Built World

Operating limited long-haul service from March 6; additional cancellations on March 16 following fuel tank strike

Dubai International Airport processed 95.2 million passengers in 2025 and overtook Atlanta in January 2026 as the world's busiest airport. On March 1, Iranian retaliatory missiles and drones struck its terminals, forcing a full evacuation and suspending all operations. On March 16โ€”16 days into the conflictโ€”a drone struck a fuel tank near the airport, reigniting flight suspensions and forcing Emirates to cancel additional flights despite partial airspace reopening. Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Kuwait airports shut down simultaneously on February 28, severing the three Gulf hubs that together route a large share of long-haul traffic between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Updated Yesterday