As the war in Iran continues, Americans are being advised to reconsider travel to the UAE due to the ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran (the vast majority of which have been successfully intercepted) and significant disruptions to commercial flights.
To date, UAE air defenses have intercepted 1,806 drones, 357 ballistic missiles, and 15 cruise missiles across the country. At least eight people have been killed—six civilians and two military personnel, and 160 people have been injured. While attacks from Iran continue, the intensity has slowed in recent days, and daily life in Dubai is continuing.
For residents and visitors alike, mobile phone safety alerts activate to warn of any incoming threats, urging people to take shelter when needed, with follow-up alerts declaring when it’s safe to resume activities.
from level 2 („exercise increased caution”) to level 3 („reconsider travel”) on March 3, stating “the Iranian regime has publicly stated its intention to target locations in the UAE associated with the United States.”
UAE airspace was temporarily closed earlier this month following a drone strike near the Dubai airport. On March 18, the
advised Americans in the UAE to shelter in place “when reports of incoming missiles and drones are received and to stay there until an all-clear notification is received from the Ministry of the Interior (MOI).”
Luxury hotels in Dubai have also been impacted. Debris from a drone interception caused a minor fire on the outer façade of Jumeirah Burj Al Arab earlier in March, while luxury hotel Fairmont The Palm caught fire after falling debris from an interception landed at its entrance. Four people were hospitalized following the incident, according to the Dubai Media Office.
The Dubai Media Office, an official government agency that continues to post
, said the UAE maintains robust crisis response frameworks, noting that authorities are closely monitoring developments to provide residents and visitors with timely updates. The government of Dubai has also told travelers to refrain from taking or sharing videos and photos of military activity (including incident sites and debris), which could result in fines, imprisonment, or deportation under UAE law.
This article was updated on Friday, March 27, 2026.
. Local airlines, including Emirates and Flydubai, are operating the majority of inbound and outbound flights from the city’s two key airports, Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC), while a handful of international airlines, including Qatar Airways and Air India, are flying ad-hoc services to and from the city.
Several major international airlines have suspended routes to the city for weeks and months to come, including
A limited number of commercial flights are arriving and departing Dubai International Airport (DXB). In a
, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said that DXB is operating at 40-45% of its normal flight schedule.
A vast majority of these flights are operated by Emirates and FlyDubai, with occasional flights from other Middle Eastern and Asian airlines. Emirates’ flights include some services between Dubai and the UK. (If you have an upcoming flight to or from the region, here’s
what travelers need to know about Middle East flight disruptions and airspace closures
In a March 18 alert, the US embassy said that airports in the UAE „continue to be affected by the changing security environment and airports may close or flights may be canceled with little notice.” The embassy advised passengers not to go to the airport without a confirmed ticket and communication from their airline. Some airports are allowing access only to travelers with confirmed tickets.
