DUBAI — A “drone-related incident” sparked a fuel tank fire near Dubai International Airport on Monday, briefly disrupting flights as tensions in the Gulf continue amid ongoing attacks attributed to Iran.
Airport authorities said operations were temporarily suspended as a precaution but were gradually resuming to selected destinations later in the day. The Dubai Media Office reported that a fire that broke out at a nearby fuel tank had been contained, with no injuries reported.
Witnesses told AFP they saw thick black smoke rising near the airport around 10 a.m. local time. One witness at the airport said passengers waiting for flights were evacuated to a lower floor for several hours following the incident.
The disruption prompted the airline Emirates to announce it would operate a limited flight schedule after 10 a.m. Dubai time, with some flights canceled. Earlier, the airline had advised passengers not to travel to the airport while authorities assessed the situation.
Police temporarily closed the main road leading to the airport as emergency responders worked at the scene.
The incident follows recent drone activity near the airport, including an attack last week in which falling drones injured four people, according to authorities. Regional tensions have escalated since the start of the Middle East conflict, with Iranian forces reportedly launching more than 1,900 missiles and drones toward the United Arab Emirates.
In neighboring Saudi Arabia, the defense ministry said its forces intercepted over 60 drones early Monday in the eastern part of the country.
Iran has targeted military assets as well as civilian infrastructure, including airports, ports, and oil facilities across the Gulf, following attacks by the United States and Israel that struck Iranian leadership and military sites.
The UAE has reported six deaths since the conflict began, including four civilians and two military personnel killed in a helicopter crash blamed on a technical malfunction.