Dubai Airport Attack: Video Shows Explosion As Strike Sparks Travel Chaos

A video appears to show a drone strike near Dubai International Airport on Saturday, which triggered flight suspensions, confusion for travelers, and hours of disruption.

The footage, which was verified by the BBC, shows an explosion followed by a large plume of smoke rising from the strike site close to the terminal building.

Dubai International Airport is one of the world’s busiest airports, handling around 92.3 million passengers in 2024.

Any disruption at the airport can ripple across global aviation networks, affecting long‑haul connections, cargo movements, and airline schedules far beyond the Gulf region.

Saturday's incident unfolded amid heightened regional tensions and added to days of airspace restrictions that have already and left thousands of passengers facing delays, cancellations, and .

In the footage, a man can be heard referring to "another drone," while a whirring sound is audible moments before the blast, the BBC reported.

The broadcaster said the precise impact location could not be independently confirmed, though the footage appears to show the explosion near Concourse A at the airport.

Following reports of the incident, flight operations at Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended as a safety measure, according to Dubai Airports.

Emirates, the airport's largest carrier, also announced a suspension of flights to and from Dubai, advising passengers not to travel to the airport while the situation was assessed.

"All flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice," Emirates said in a now-deleted customer update posted on X.

Those announcements triggered widespread confusion among travelers, with flights delayed, cancelled, or placed on hold. Passengers were also advised to wait for direct airline confirmation before heading to terminals.

Dubai Airports later confirmed a partial resumption of operations, saying some flights had begun operating from Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport.

Emirates also said it had resumed limited services, allowing passengers with confirmed bookings for operating flights to proceed to the airport, while warning that schedules remained subject to change.

Dubai Airports said in a statement: "Dubai Airports confirms partial resumption of operations from today, March 7, with some flights operating out of Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC)."

Emirates said in a customer update posted on X: "Emirates has resumed operations. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoon’s flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating."

President Donald Trump said the U.S. military was performing "phenomenally" against Iran as he demanded Tehran's "unconditional surrender."

Airport and airline officials have warned that flight schedules could continue to change with little notice, depending on airspace access and security conditions.

Dubai Airports said further updates would be issued as conditions evolve, while airlines urged passengers to rely on official notifications rather than social media footage as operations gradually stabilize.