Iranian Retaliatory Strikes Rock Dubai, Airport Hit and Luxury Hotels Including Burj Al Arab and Fairmont The Palm Catch Fire
Iranian missile threats triggered evacuations and a full suspension of flight operations at Dubai International Airport late Saturday, as the widening confrontation between Iran, Israel and the United States spilled directly into the Gulf’s civilian infrastructure, forcing authorities across the United Arab Emirates to activate emergency security measures and issue nationwide shelter alerts.
 |
| Image Source: Visegrad24 |
Dubai Airports confirms that a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and are managing the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities. Four staff…
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 28, 2026
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 28, 2026
Iranian suicide drone strikes the famous “6 star hotel” Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.”
The 60-story hotel is now on fire. pic.twitter.com/3opWoOwFe0
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 28, 2026
There are reports of injuries in Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport, where an Iranian drone struck.
🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/zepTWBaMQZ
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 28, 2026
An Iranian drone attacked Dubai International Airport
Preliminary reports indicate the strike hit the airport grounds. No information has been released yet on casualties or damage.
🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/8qaM6Dt1pn
Authorities urged citizens and residents to stay away from windows and open areas and await further instructions as air defence systems intercepted incoming projectiles over parts of Dubai’s skyline.
Dubai Airports confirmed that operations at both Dubai International Airport (DXB) — one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs — and Dubai World Central–Al Maktoum International Airport were suspended until further notice amid escalating regional security risks.
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 28, 2026
Iranian suicide drones just struck Dubai International Airport pic.twitter.com/h19kvfEbhQ
Passengers were advised not to travel to airports and to contact airlines directly as arrivals and departures were halted following regional airspace closures.
Visible damage and fires were reported in parts of the city, including Palm Jumeirah, where debris linked to intercepted missiles struck a building, injuring four people who were transferred to medical facilities.
Dubai Airports confirms that a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained. Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and are managing the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities. Four staff…
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 28, 2026
Authorities said emergency teams secured affected sites and brought fires under control. Explosions and interception activity were reported across multiple districts, including Downtown Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road corridors and Marina high-rise clusters, though officials did not confirm direct hits on major landmarks.
Officials also moved to counter misinformation circulating online, with the UAE National Media Council issuing an advisory directing media outlets and residents to rely only on verified official sources and refrain from sharing unconfirmed images or videos.
Authorities clarified that viral visuals suggesting damage to the Burj Khalifa were outdated and unrelated to current events, though precautionary evacuations were carried out around prominent public locations due to falling-debris risks.
🇦🇪 An emergency evacuation is underway at Dubai International Airport.
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 28, 2026
Sirens can be heard. pic.twitter.com/el49DtdgVl
The escalation followed Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf after joint United States and Israeli strikes inside Iran earlier Saturday.
Regional defence systems were activated as projectiles were reported across multiple Gulf states, with one civilian death confirmed in Abu Dhabi after debris fell in a residential area.
The crisis quickly disrupted regional mobility and commerce. Thousands of passengers were stranded across Gulf airports as airspace restrictions spread across Israel, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iran.
Airlines described the cascading cancellations as a “logistical nightmare,” with aircraft, crews and travellers stranded across international routes linking Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
«F*cking hell!»
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 28, 2026
A video has emerged showing the damage to the Fairmont The Palm hotel in Dubai, near which, presumably, a drone fell. https://t.co/kBQKCIq5b8 pic.twitter.com/1rvxu910gf
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said he had spoken with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressing concern over the escalating situation and seeking assurances regarding the safety of the large Indian community in the Emirates. The Indian embassy confirmed it was coordinating with UAE authorities and airlines to assist stranded passengers.
Educational institutions across the UAE shifted to remote learning until mid-week as part of precautionary measures, while authorities urged calm and emphasized that security agencies remained in control of the situation.
UPDATE: Dubai Media Office stated "The competent authorities in Dubai announced that a drone had been intercepted, and its shrapnel caused a limited fire on the exterior facade of the Burj Al Arab Hotel, and civil defense teams were able to control the incident without any injuries occurring."
ALSO READ: