The United Arab Emirates reopened its airspace early Tuesday morning after the Gulf nation fully shut down air traffic as it intercepted drones and missiles.
The country's General Civil Aviation Authority said air traffic operations have returned to normal. It had closed the UAE’s airspace around two hours earlier as an “exceptional precautionary measure” aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and air crews and safeguarding the country’s territory, the WAM news service reported.
The decision was taken following a comprehensive assessment of security and operational risks, and in full coordination with relevant national and international authorities, the report said. It was the first time in more than two weeks of hostilities and air travel disruptions that the UAE announced a full closure of airspace.
ALSO READ | United Arab Emirates briefly closes airspace as Mideast fighting escalates
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The brief shutdown came a day after Dubai’s main international airport halted flights for several hours after a drone strike triggered a fuel-tank fire. Drone and missile fire has regularly kept aircraft circling Dubai's busy airport, heavily affecting Middle East tourism worth about $367 billion a year. Air freight rates have also surged as much as 70% on some routes.
In a statement on X posted by the Dubai Media Office earlier on Monday, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority flagged a "gradual resumption" of some flights to selected destinations.
"Civil Defense teams have confirmed that the fire in a fuel tank in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport has been extinguished. Cooling operations are now underway," the media office said in a separate post.
Emirates airline said it expected to partially resume operations at 0600 GMT after the attack, which prompted authorities to divert some flights to the smaller Al Maktoum international airport.
Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since February 28, with targets including U.S. diplomatic missions and military bases but also key oil infrastructure as well as homes and offices.
The UAE, which normalised relations with Iran's arch-foe Israel in 2020, has faced the brunt of the attacks.
The country's General Civil Aviation Authority said air traffic operations have returned to normal. It had closed the UAE’s airspace around two hours earlier as an “exceptional precautionary measure” aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and air crews and safeguarding the country’s territory, the WAM news service reported.
The decision was taken following a comprehensive assessment of security and operational risks, and in full coordination with relevant national and international authorities, the report said. It was the first time in more than two weeks of hostilities and air travel disruptions that the UAE announced a full closure of airspace.
ALSO READ | United Arab Emirates briefly closes airspace as Mideast fighting escalates
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
The brief shutdown came a day after Dubai’s main international airport halted flights for several hours after a drone strike triggered a fuel-tank fire. Drone and missile fire has regularly kept aircraft circling Dubai's busy airport, heavily affecting Middle East tourism worth about $367 billion a year. Air freight rates have also surged as much as 70% on some routes.
In a statement on X posted by the Dubai Media Office earlier on Monday, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority flagged a "gradual resumption" of some flights to selected destinations.
"Civil Defense teams have confirmed that the fire in a fuel tank in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport has been extinguished. Cooling operations are now underway," the media office said in a separate post.
Emirates airline said it expected to partially resume operations at 0600 GMT after the attack, which prompted authorities to divert some flights to the smaller Al Maktoum international airport.
Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since February 28, with targets including U.S. diplomatic missions and military bases but also key oil infrastructure as well as homes and offices.
The UAE, which normalised relations with Iran's arch-foe Israel in 2020, has faced the brunt of the attacks.
