Drones near Dubai airport cause Gulf-wide aviation disruptions

Two drones fell near Dubai International Airport, causing Bahrain to urgently evacuate several planes from its airspace. This escalation of conflict within the Gulf region is severely disrupting air traffic and has led to widespread flight cancellations and schedule changes worldwide. The crisis is particularly acute for critical transit points like Dubai, which handles a significant portion of global passenger movement.

The US-Israel military campaign against Iran has already resulted in tens of thousands of cancelled flights, rerouted routes, and schedule adjustments across the Middle East, including Qatar. This disruption has pushed aviation into its worst crisis since the pandemic began. Key hubs like Dubai International Airport are now experiencing unprecedented cancellations and flight delays, affecting long-haul travel.

The ongoing conflict has also impacted a vital oil-export route, leading to a surge in jet fuel prices, which is pushing up fares on some routes. There are growing concerns about how this will affect broader travel demand and further strain the aviation industry.

In Bahrain specifically, several Gulf Air flights without passengers and cargo planes were repositioned to alternative airports. This move was aimed at ensuring the continuity of air operations during the crisis. The authorities did not provide more detailed information about these movements but confirmed that Dubai’s airport remained operational despite the drones falling near it earlier in the week.

Dubai’s media office reported two drones had fallen near the airport, stating that air traffic was operating normally and no visible damage to the airport had been observed by Reuters witnesses. This incident marked a renewed threat following early conflict-related damage to Dubai International Airport on the first day of hostilities, alongside Abu Dhabi and Kuwait’s international airports.

Several regional airlines like Emirates, Etihad from Abu Dhabi, and Qatar Airways have resumed limited flight operations, but these are far below full capacity. Authorities reported four people had been injured in this latest attack.