Drone-related incident sparks fire near Dubai’s international airport

2026-03-16 - 02:34

A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks. (EPA Images pic) DUBAI: A drone-related incident sparked a fire near Dubai’s international airport, city authorities said on Monday, as Iran targets the Gulf financial hub in the Middle East war that began late last month. “A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks,” the Dubai Media Office posted on X. “Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control,” the media office said, adding there had been no reports of injuries. On Wednesday, the city media office said two falling drones wounded four people near the airport, previously one of the world’s busiest. Iran has fired over 1,800 missiles and drones at the United Arab Emirates, more than any other country targeted by Tehran in the conflict, upending travel plans in the financial hub despite its air defence intercepting a vast majority of the projectiles. Iran has taken aim at US assets but also civilian infrastructure, including landmarks, airports, ports and oil facilities around the Gulf, after US-Israeli attacks decimated its leadership. The Emirates’ defence ministry has reported six deaths since the war began, including four civilians and two military personnel, who died in a helicopter crash blamed on a technical malfunction.