Dubai authorities shut down four major roads including Airport Road and Casablanca Street early Monday after a drone struck a fuel storage tank near Dubai International Airport (DXB), sparking a large fire and briefly disrupted flights at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
Drone incident near Dubai International Airport
The incident occurred around 4:00am local time, when the drone impact caused flames and thick smoke to rise near the airport’s fuel facilities. Emergency teams from Dubai Civil Defence rushed to the scene and successfully brought the fire under control within hours. Officials confirmed no injuries were reported.
As a precaution, flight operations at DXB were temporarily suspended, with several aircraft circling in the air or diverting to nearby airports. Some flights were redirected to Al Maktoum International Airport, while others returned to their original departure points.
Dubai’s media office said the shutdown was necessary to ensure passenger and staff safety while emergency teams responded to the fire.
Dubai Police close 4 major roads
As emergency teams worked to secure the area, Dubai Police temporarily shut several major roads and access routes around the airport to allow fire crews and security teams to respond safely.
The closures affected important routes serving the airport area, including:
- Airport Road
- Casablanca Street
- Al Khawaneej Street
- Rebat Street
Police also restricted tunnel access leading directly to airport terminals, urging motorists to avoid the area and use alternative routes until emergency operations were completed. Traffic diversions were implemented across nearby districts such as Al Garhoud and Umm Ramool, creating temporary congestion during the early morning commute.
Flight operations briefly suspended
The disruption at DXB had ripple effects across the global aviation network. As the world’s busiest airport for international travel, the hub handled more than 95 million passengers in 2025, meaning even short suspensions can impact flights worldwide.
Authorities temporarily suspended departures and arrivals while firefighting operations continued and airport safety checks were carried out.
Airlines across the region issued travel advisories as flights were delayed, cancelled, or rerouted during the emergency response.
Drone attack linked to wider Gulf tensions
The incident comes amid rising regional tensions in the Middle East, with drones and missiles increasingly targeting critical infrastructure across Gulf countries.
Security analysts say airports, ports and fuel facilities have become strategic targets in the ongoing regional conflict, raising concerns about aviation safety and infrastructure protection.
Authorities in Dubai said the situation was fully under control and urged residents and travellers to rely only on official updates as investigations continue.
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