The United Arab Emirates has said it will pay for the hotels and meals of more than 20,000 passengers stranded in the country after missile and drone strikes hit key infrastructure in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and forced the closure of major airports.
Flights across the UAE and parts of the Gulf have been suspended following the attacks, which damaged airport facilities and disrupted regional airspace.
The strikes, part of Iran’s retaliatory barrage across the region, hit Dubai and Abu Dhabi overnight, damaging terminals at Dubai International Airport and forcing the suspension of operations at several airports. Authorities say around 20,200 passengers have been affected by flight cancellations or rescheduling as airlines and airports across the region halt operations and assess damage.
According to reports, Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 was struck by a drone, prompting the evacuation of the area. The airport was hit again in the early hours of Sunday morning, with black smoke seen rising above the city.
Dubai Airports has suspended all flight operations from both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) until further notice. One of the concourses at DXB was damaged on 1 March and four members of staff were injured.
Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi has also suspended operations after debris from the interception of a drone fell near the airport. Authorities reported one death and several injuries across the city following the incident.
In Dubai, several well-known landmarks were also affected. The Burj Al Arab hotel was hit during the attacks, triggering a fire in the building. The fire was later brought under control and people who had been evacuated were allowed to return.
DUBAI IS SCARRED.
But little is emerging. Dubai government has threatened to slap fines upto 200K Dhirams on anyone making videos of Iranian drone hits. Dubai doesn’t want reels to shatter billions it invested to pivot towards an economic future less dependent on oil. pic.twitter.com/RbIfk09HhG— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) March 1, 2026
Jebel Ali Port also experienced damage after falling debris caused a fire that lasted until the early hours of the morning.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said it had intercepted a large number of incoming projectiles during the attacks. Officials reported that the country successfully destroyed 136 ballistic missiles and 209 drones that were headed towards UAE territory.
The aviation disruption has left thousands of travellers stranded across the country. In response, authorities have instructed hotels to extend stays for guests who cannot leave due to flight cancellations.
The General Civil Aviation Authority said the government is “bearing all hosting and accommodation costs for affected and stranded passengers”.
A circular sent to hotels from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi instructed properties to allow affected travellers to remain in their rooms until they can depart.
“In light of the current circumstances and given that some guests have reached their check out date but are unable to travel for reasons beyond their control, you are kindly requested to extend their stay until they are able to depart,” the circular said.
“The cost of the extended stay will be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi.”
The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism has also asked hotels to allow travellers to extend their stays under the same conditions as their original bookings. Hotels that encounter guests unable to cover additional costs have been asked to notify authorities.
Airlines across the region have suspended or adjusted services as airspace restrictions spread across the Gulf. Emirates has halted flights until 3 pm local time on Tuesday, while Etihad Airways said its flights will remain suspended until 2 pm local time the same day.
Airports in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah are also closed until further notice.
The disruption extends beyond the UAE. Hamad International Airport in Qatar has suspended all flight operations, with passengers advised not to travel to the airport. Qatar Airways said it will provide an update on 3 March.
Kuwait has also closed its airspace after Terminal One of Kuwait International Airport was struck by a drone on 28 February, injuring nine workers. The Public Authority for Civil Aviation said damage assessments are under way to restore operations as soon as possible.
Other airlines have begun adjusting routes and cancelling services across the region. Oman Air said flights to and from Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam and Kuwait were cancelled for 2 March, while other services may face delays.
Saudia has also cancelled flights to and from several destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait and Bahrain until late on 2 March.
Despite the ongoing disruption, authorities say emergency measures are in place to support stranded travellers while airports assess damage and prepare to gradually restore flight operations.
Photo Credit: Kjersti Joergensen / Shutterstock.com
