The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday (Mar 17) announced an “exceptional precautionary measure”, temporarily closing its airspace after its military reported incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. This marks a sharp escalation in the Gulf amid the ongoing war between the US, Israel, and Iran. The country’s General Civil Aviation Authority said the move was intended to ensure flight safety and protect the national airspace. It remains unclear how long the closure will stay in place.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vance-accuses-press-of-driving-a-wedge-between-him-and-trump-defends-iran-war-blasts-dumb-predecessors-1773708013155">Vance accuses press of 'driving a wedge' between him and Trump; defends Iran war, blasts 'dumb' predecessors</a><h2>Dubai airport hit, flights disrupted</h2>The decision came a day after a drone attack set a fuel tank ablaze at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest hub for international travel. Flight operations were disrupted, with airlines including India's IndiGo advising passengers to check real-time updates before heading to the airport.Witnesses described thick smoke rising near the airport, while passengers inside the terminals were moved to safer areas for several hours.Previously, Dubai Airport said that flights to and from DXB are gradually resuming to selected destinations. However, in a later advisory, the airport asked passengers "not to proceed to DXB unless you have been contacted directly by your airline with a confirmed departure time, as schedules remain subject to change.<h2>Civilian killed, multiple strikes reported</h2>A Palestinian civilian was killed on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi after a missile struck a car, according to state media. In Umm Al Quwain, a drone damaged a building but caused no casualties. The UAE has reported at least seven deaths since the conflict began.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-iran-war-trump-wants-to-delay-trip-to-china-summit-with-xi-for-a-month-or-so-here-s-why-1773697685355">Trump wants to delay trip to China, summit with Xi for ‘a month or so’. Here's why</a><h2>Oil operations disrupted in Fujairah</h2>The attacks have begun to hit critical energy infrastructure. A strike on oil infrastructure in Fujairah sparked a fire that authorities said was still being contained. State oil company ADNOC, as per an AFP report citing sources, has halted oil loading operations at its Fujairah facility following repeated strikes.This comes as Iran has stepped up its strikes across Gulf countries, targeting US-linked assets as well as civilian infrastructure such as airports, ports and energy facilities.Officials say more than 1,900 missiles and drones have been launched at the UAE alone, although most have been intercepted. Tehran has meanwhile accused the UAE of aiding strikes on Iranian targets, a claim Emirati authorities have denied. &nbsp;

The United Arab Emirates has taken the "exceptional" step of closing its entire airspace on Tuesday (Mar 17) following a barrage of missile and drone threats from Iran.

The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday (Mar 17) announced an “exceptional precautionary measure”, temporarily closing its airspace after its military reported incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. This marks a sharp escalation in the Gulf amid the ongoing war between the US, Israel, and Iran. The country’s General Civil Aviation Authority said the move was intended to ensure flight safety and protect the national airspace. It remains unclear how long the closure will stay in place. Also read | Vance accuses press of 'driving a wedge' between him and Trump; defends Iran war, blasts 'dumb' predecessors Dubai airport hit, flights disrupted The decision came a day after a drone attack set a fuel tank ablaze at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest hub for international travel. Flight operations were disrupted, with airlines including India's IndiGo advising passengers to check real-time updates before heading to the airport. Witnesses described thick smoke rising near the airport, while passengers inside the terminals were moved to safer areas for several hours. Previously, Dubai Airport said that flights to and from DXB are gradually resuming to selected destinations. However, in a later advisory, the airport asked passengers "not to proceed to DXB unless you have been contacted directly by your airline with a confirmed departure time, as schedules remain subject to change. Civilian killed, multiple strikes reported A Palestinian civilian was killed on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi after a missile struck a car, according to state media. In Umm Al Quwain, a drone damaged a building but caused no casualties. The UAE has reported at least seven deaths since the conflict began. Also read | Trump wants to delay trip to China, summit with Xi for ‘a month or so’. Here's why Oil operations disrupted in Fujairah The attacks have begun to hit critical energy infrastructure. A strike on oil infrastructure in Fujairah sparked a fire that authorities said was still being contained. State oil company ADNOC, as per an AFP report citing sources, has halted oil loading operations at its Fujairah facility following repeated strikes. This comes as Iran has stepped up its strikes across Gulf countries, targeting US-linked assets as well as civilian infrastructure such as airports, ports and energy facilities. Officials say more than 1,900 missiles and drones have been launched at the UAE alone, although most have been intercepted. Tehran has meanwhile accused the UAE of aiding strikes on Iranian targets, a claim Emirati authorities have denied.

The United Arab Emirates has taken the "exceptional" step of closing its entire airspace on Tuesday (Mar 17) following a barrage of missile and drone threats from Iran.

Do not 'proceed to DXB unless...': Dubai shuts airspace; massive flight chaos as 1,900 Iranian missiles, drones rain down on UAE

Authorities report a drone attack near Dubai International Airport struck a fuel tank, causing fires and raising safety concerns. The incident comes amid rising tensions in the Gulf and highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to aerial attacks. Emergency services responded quickly to contain the blaze, and investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the attack and assess damage to the facility.


Breaking | Authorities: Drone Attack Near Dubai International Airport Hit a Fuel Tank

After Iranian missiles struck the Gulf region in retaliation for the US and Israel attack, it resulted in widespread disruption across some of the world’s busiest aviation routes. The severely affected airports include Dubai International Airport, the world’s second busiest airport, which typically handles around 92 million passengers annually, with a takeoff or landing roughly every 72 seconds around the clock.&nbsp;The Dubai International Airport first came to a halt on Saturday (February 28, 2026), and within hours, major Gulf aviation hubs, including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, were forced offline. &nbsp;Over the following three days, at least 12,000 flights were cancelled, accounting for around 40 per cent of scheduled departures, leaving more than one million passengers stranded, according to a report by Al Jazeera.<h3>Why does Iraq's and Iran's airspace matter?</h3>In addition to airports in the region, the airspace above Iraq and Iran also acts as a crucial corridor connecting Europe with South and Southeast Asia. The centre of this route containing three major Gulf airports handle around 90,000 transit passengers each day. Airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways, together generate more than $68 billion in annual revenue.&nbsp;When the conflict escalated, dozens of airlines withdrew from the region almost immediately. At least 145 aircraft already in the air were forced to turn back mid-flight, while the skies above Iran quickly emptied. While stranded passengers faced immediate disruption, the impact extended far beyond airport terminals. Although air cargo accounts for less than one per cent of global trade by weight, it represents about 35 per cent of global trade by value, transporting more than $8 trillion worth of goods annually.&nbsp;Air freight carries goods that require rapid delivery, including vaccines with expiry dates, semiconductors for just-in-time manufacturing, and fresh produce with limited shelf life. Rerouting flights to avoid airspace above Iran has become very costly. Meanwhile, alternative routes can add up to 90 minutes to flight times, increasing operating expenses by roughly $6,000 per hour.&nbsp;Following the airstrikes, Brent crude prices rose by 4.5 per cent, while airline stocks declined across Asia and Australia. Airlines typically pass such rising costs to passengers, meaning fares could remain elevated for months.<h3>How closure of flights and airspace affect remittance?</h3>In the United Arab Emirates, more than 60 per cent of migrant workers earn less than $1,360 per month, including construction workers, drivers, and domestic workers who support families back home. Remittances from Gulf workers form a major financial lifeline for several countries.&nbsp;&nbsp;Indian workers in the Gulf send home about $49 billion annually, while Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE transfer more than $17 billion. Bangladeshi workers in the region send around $11 billion each year. When Gulf aviation hubs shut down, the impact extends far beyond disrupted travel. The consequences reach households thousands of miles away, families waiting for remittances that may never arrive.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-was-zahra-haddad-adel-mojtaba-khamenei-s-wife-killed-in-us-israel-strike-on-iran-know-more-about-family-kids-1773036204637">Who Was Zahra Haddad-Adel? Mojtaba Khamenei’s wife killed in US-Israel strike on Iran: Know more about family, kids</a>

Over the following three days after the war broke out, at least 12,000 flights were cancelled, accounting for around 40 per cent of scheduled departures, leaving more than one million passengers stranded.

After Iranian missiles struck the Gulf region in retaliation for the US and Israel attack, it resulted in widespread disruption across some of the world’s busiest aviation routes. The severely affected airports include Dubai International Airport, the world’s second busiest airport, which typically handles around 92 million passengers annually, with a takeoff or landing roughly every 72 seconds around the clock. The Dubai International Airport first came to a halt on Saturday (February 28, 2026), and within hours, major Gulf aviation hubs, including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, were forced offline. Over the following three days, at least 12,000 flights were cancelled, accounting for around 40 per cent of scheduled departures, leaving more than one million passengers stranded, according to a report by Al Jazeera. Why does Iraq's and Iran's airspace matter? In addition to airports in the region, the airspace above Iraq and Iran also acts as a crucial corridor connecting Europe with South and Southeast Asia. The centre of this route containing three major Gulf airports handle around 90,000 transit passengers each day. Airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways, together generate more than $68 billion in annual revenue. When the conflict escalated, dozens of airlines withdrew from the region almost immediately. At least 145 aircraft already in the air were forced to turn back mid-flight, while the skies above Iran quickly emptied. While stranded passengers faced immediate disruption, the impact extended far beyond airport terminals. Although air cargo accounts for less than one per cent of global trade by weight, it represents about 35 per cent of global trade by value, transporting more than $8 trillion worth of goods annually. Air freight carries goods that require rapid delivery, including vaccines with expiry dates, semiconductors for just-in-time manufacturing, and fresh produce with limited shelf life. Rerouting flights to avoid airspace above Iran has become very costly. Meanwhile, alternative routes can add up to 90 minutes to flight times, increasing operating expenses by roughly $6,000 per hour. Following the airstrikes, Brent crude prices rose by 4.5 per cent, while airline stocks declined across Asia and Australia. Airlines typically pass such rising costs to passengers, meaning fares could remain elevated for months. How closure of flights and airspace affect remittance? In the United Arab Emirates, more than 60 per cent of migrant workers earn less than $1,360 per month, including construction workers, drivers, and domestic workers who support families back home. Remittances from Gulf workers form a major financial lifeline for several countries. Indian workers in the Gulf send home about $49 billion annually, while Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE transfer more than $17 billion. Bangladeshi workers in the region send around $11 billion each year. When Gulf aviation hubs shut down, the impact extends far beyond disrupted travel. The consequences reach households thousands of miles away, families waiting for remittances that may never arrive. Also read: Who Was Zahra Haddad-Adel? Mojtaba Khamenei’s wife killed in US-Israel strike on Iran: Know more about family, kids

Over the following three days after the war broke out, at least 12,000 flights were cancelled, accounting for around 40 per cent of scheduled departures, leaving more than one million passengers stranded.

Iran war in numbers: 92 million passengers affected as flights, airspace disrupted in Gulf region; remittances take a hit

The Airports Council International (ACI) World has released the 2025 Edition of its World Airport Traffic Dataset, listing the world’s busiest airports in 2024 across three major categories: passenger traffic, air cargo volumes, and aircraft movements. 


The Airports Council International (ACI) World has released the 2025 Edition of its World Airport Traffic Dataset, listing the world’s busiest airports in 2024 based on passenger traffic, air cargo volumes, and aircraft movements. Here's the list of the top ten busiest airports: &nbsp;

World's 10 busiest airports of 2024 revealed: Can you guess which Indian city made it to the list?

By: Satwik Tewari 
 
Despite a 45-day shutdown of one of Dubai International Airport's two runways for maintenance, the number of travellers utilising the airport nearly quadrupled during the second quarter. The world's busiest international airport handled 14.2 million passengers in the three months to the end of June, up almost 191 percent year on year, continuing growth for nine straight quarters since the start of the coronavirus epidemic, state-owned operator Dubai Airports said on Wednesday.

The airport's resurgence, which serves as the hub for long-haul carrier Emirates, coincides with a robust rebound in foreign traffic. According to the International Air Transport Association (Iata), international traffic increased by approximately 230 percent year on year in June, aided by the relaxation of travel restrictions in most Asia-Pacific regions.Passenger volumes more than doubled to 27.9 million in the first half of the year, according to Dubai Airports, compared to the same period last year. This is 1.2 million fewer than the previous year's total annual traffic at the airport.

The airport exceeded 67.5 percent of its pre-pandemic passenger throughput in the first half of 2019.Despite "unprecedented challenges" and "macroeconomic factors" affecting the global economy and tourism sector, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) reported 7.12 million international visitors in the first half of 2022, nearly three times the 2.52 million recorded in the same period the previous year.

Dubai Airports now anticipates 62.4 million passengers in 2022, up from an earlier figure of 58.3 million in May. DXB remained India's leading source country in terms of passenger counts, with traffic hitting 4 million passengers in the first half of the year, fueled mostly by key metropolitan destinations such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad. Saudi Arabia came in second with 2 million passengers, followed by the United Kingdom with 1.9 million.

The top three destinations were London (1.3 million passengers), Riyadh (910,000 passengers), and Mumbai (760,000 passengers). Despite the disruption, huge queues, and delayed luggage at major European and American airports, DXB stated that 96% of travelers waited less than five minutes at the exit passport control.

The average wait time at the security checkpoint on departure was less than three minutes for 97 percent of all passengers.Cargo volumes for the first six months of the year declined roughly 19% year on year to 910,075 tonnes in the air freight market. According to Dubai Airports, DXB's cargo traffic suffered during the second quarter as major freight operators returned to Dubai World Central (DWC) in March.

Furthermore, overall cargo volumes were impacted by a lower capacity during the northern runway restoration operation, which ran from May 9 to June 22, because a large amount of cargo traffic at DXB is carried in the belly-hold of passenger aircraft, according to the report. 
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By: Satwik Tewari Despite a 45-day shutdown of one of Dubai International Airport's two runways for maintenance, the number of travellers utilising the airport nearly quadrupled during the second quarter.

By: Satwik Tewari Despite a 45-day shutdown of one of Dubai International Airport's two runways for maintenance, the number of travellers utilising the airport nearly quadrupled during the second quarter. The world's busiest international airport handled 14.2 million passengers in the three months to the end of June, up almost 191 percent year on year, continuing growth for nine straight quarters since the start of the coronavirus epidemic, state-owned operator Dubai Airports said on Wednesday. The airport's resurgence, which serves as the hub for long-haul carrier Emirates, coincides with a robust rebound in foreign traffic. According to the International Air Transport Association (Iata), international traffic increased by approximately 230 percent year on year in June, aided by the relaxation of travel restrictions in most Asia-Pacific regions.Passenger volumes more than doubled to 27.9 million in the first half of the year, according to Dubai Airports, compared to the same period last year. This is 1.2 million fewer than the previous year's total annual traffic at the airport. The airport exceeded 67.5 percent of its pre-pandemic passenger throughput in the first half of 2019.Despite "unprecedented challenges" and "macroeconomic factors" affecting the global economy and tourism sector, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) reported 7.12 million international visitors in the first half of 2022, nearly three times the 2.52 million recorded in the same period the previous year. Dubai Airports now anticipates 62.4 million passengers in 2022, up from an earlier figure of 58.3 million in May. DXB remained India's leading source country in terms of passenger counts, with traffic hitting 4 million passengers in the first half of the year, fueled mostly by key metropolitan destinations such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad. Saudi Arabia came in second with 2 million passengers, followed by the United Kingdom with 1.9 million. The top three destinations were London (1.3 million passengers), Riyadh (910,000 passengers), and Mumbai (760,000 passengers). Despite the disruption, huge queues, and delayed luggage at major European and American airports, DXB stated that 96% of travelers waited less than five minutes at the exit passport control. The average wait time at the security checkpoint on departure was less than three minutes for 97 percent of all passengers.Cargo volumes for the first six months of the year declined roughly 19% year on year to 910,075 tonnes in the air freight market. According to Dubai Airports, DXB's cargo traffic suffered during the second quarter as major freight operators returned to Dubai World Central (DWC) in March. Furthermore, overall cargo volumes were impacted by a lower capacity during the northern runway restoration operation, which ran from May 9 to June 22, because a large amount of cargo traffic at DXB is carried in the belly-hold of passenger aircraft, according to the report. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Dubai airport passenger number triples to 14.2 million in Q2, up 230% on year

Earlier, the inclement weather conditions clogged roads that were later reopened and caused water logging at Dubai International Airport causing flights to be either delayed or diverted.

Dubai's Burj Khalifa gets struck by lightning

In pics: Indians turn Dubai airport into World's busiest international airport in 2018