Dubai is planning to incorporate underground facilities, including fuel tanks, in the development of its new airport to enhance resilience against potential future drone or missile attacks linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, stated that while parts of the airport infrastructure might require reinforcement or hardening, storing critical elements such as fuel tanks below ground is being actively considered in the design phase as a risk mitigation measure.
Despite the regional tensions sparked by the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel, Dubai remains committed to its expansive multibillion-dollar airport project. The new facility aims to handle up to 250 million passengers annually. Griffiths emphasized that this strategic direction remains unchanged, citing discussions with Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Airports, who confirmed the long-term plans would continue unaffected by current security concerns.
Dubai International Airport, opened in 1960, was once the world's busiest international airport but dropped out of the global top five in early 2026 amid turmoil in the region’s airspace related to the conflict. The airport’s above-ground fuel tanks were targeted during missile and drone strikes at the peak of hostilities, briefly halting operations. Nevertheless, Griffiths noted that flights were able to resume within an hour and assured that operational safety was maintained throughout.
During the initial phase of the conflict, Emirates, Dubai’s flagship carrier, temporarily grounded its fleet before resuming flights within days. The airline navigated narrow air corridors under the protection of United Arab Emirates military aircraft. The airport itself experienced multiple drone and ballistic-missile incidents nearby. However, thanks to coordinated real-time communication with UAE civil defence and military authorities, staff could quickly move passengers to underground shelters when threats were detected.
Griffiths reported a total of 111 alerts over the period, with only 17 resulting in strikes, most of which caused minimal damage. Crucially, there were no fatalities related to the attacks. After each incident, the airport received clearance to return to normal operations typically within 10 minutes, reflecting an efficient emergency response system.
Passenger traffic declined sharply from 7.4 million in February to 2.5 million in March but has since gradually recovered, reaching 6.3 million by July. Although the airport is government-owned and does not disclose financial details, Griffiths expressed optimism about the outlook, stating that the situation has stabilized and a full recovery in passenger volumes is expected early next year.