Dubai Airport Temporarily Suspended After Drone Incident, Delaying Emirates Maldives–Dubai Flights

A drone incident near Dubai International Airport (DXB) has triggered a fire affecting one of the airport’s fuel tanks, leading to widespread operational disruption across the region. According to the Dubai Media Office, Dubai Civil Defence teams are currently working to bring the fire under control, and no injuries have been reported.

Authorities confirmed that an unauthorised drone was detected in the vicinity of the airport, resulting in an impact that caused a fire at a fuel facility connected to DXB operations. Emergency teams were deployed within minutes and are continuing efforts to fully contain the blaze.

The incident has forced multiple Emirates flights inbound to Dubai to divert to alternate airports across the region. Several aircraft already en route were returned to their departure points due to the temporary suspension of arrivals.

The disruption has also affected outbound services. Emirates flight EK657 from Male’, scheduled to depart at 09:05, has been delayed as Dubai temporarily halts inbound and outbound movements.

Emirates has urged customers not to travel to the airport until further notice, stating that updates will be shared as soon as the situation stabilises. The airline emphasised that the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority and thanked travellers for their patience during the unexpected disruption.

Dubai Civil Defence continues to work at the scene, and authorities are monitoring the situation closely. Further operational decisions will depend on the progress of firefighting efforts and safety assessments around the affected fuel infrastructure.