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Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the busiest aviation hubs in the world, is at the center of unconfirmed reports on Saturday, March 7, 2026, after explosions and smoke were reportedly seen near the airport during escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Reports of explosions near DXB

According to early accounts circulating on social media and aviation tracking platforms, explosions were reported near Dubai International Airport between approximately 03:30 and 04:00 UTC. Witnesses shared images and videos showing smoke rising in the vicinity of the airport area.

Some reports suggest the incident may have been caused by an Iranian drone or missile targeting assets in the region. However, there is no official confirmation yet from UAE authorities or Dubai Airports that the airport itself was directly hit.

Initial indications suggest that the smoke could have resulted from either a projectile landing near surrounding infrastructure or debris from an intercepted drone or missile.

Impact on flights and airport operations

The situation briefly disrupted air traffic around DXB. Flight-tracking data showed several inbound aircraft entering holding patterns east of the airport, with some pilots aborting their approach and diverting to other airports.

Average delays at the airport were reported to be around 45–50 minutesparticularly affecting arriving flights. Some aircraft were seen circling for over 40 minutes as a precaution while authorities assessed the security situation.

Airlines, including Emirates and flydubai, have advised passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport as schedules remain volatile.

Wider regional conflict

The reported incident comes amid a rapidly escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The confrontation intensified after coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian military and nuclear facilities, leading to large-scale retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran across the region.

Several U.S. military installations in Gulf countries have reportedly been targeted, while air defenses across the region remain on high alert.

No confirmed direct strike on the airport

At this stage, there is no verified confirmation that Dubai International Airport itself was hit by a missile. Authorities have also not reported casualties or major structural damage to airport terminals.

Given the rapidly evolving situation and the circulation of unverified footage online, officials have urged caution in interpreting early reports.

Further confirmation from UAE authorities and aviation officials is expected as more information becomes available.