A drone strike near Dubai International Airport triggered a fire near a fuel tank, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend flight operations on 16 March. The blaze was contained by emergency teams and no injuries were reported. As of 12:30 pm IST, Dubai Media Office shared on X that they were gradually resuming some flights from the airport. They also said that necessary measures were being taken to ensure everyone's safety. Emirates said flights to and from Dubai were temporarily halted and urged passengers not to travel to the airport until further updates. An Emirates flight from Kochi had to return to India after the airport shut down. Some flights were diverted to the nearby Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Authorities also closed nearby roads and airport tunnels as emergency operations continued. The incident comes amid escalating regional tensions and repeated drone and missile attacks across the Gulf linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US.