Alarm in Dubai: the airport suspends all operations after intercepting an object

The Dubai airport, the busiest in the world for international traffic, has announced that it has suspended operations after an object was intercepted by air defense in the area. "For the safety of passengers, airport staff, and airline crews, operations at Dubai International Airport (Dxb) have been temporarily suspended. All procedures are being managed in accordance with established security protocols," stated the Dubai government press office.

The announcement came shortly after the air interception of an object near the airport, with a witness telling AFP of a loud explosion followed by a cloud of smoke. The tracking website Flightradar24 had previously shown planes circling the airport in an apparent holding pattern.

Flights from Dubai's main airport had partially resumed on Monday, despite daily drone attacks against sites in the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai government stated in a post that a minor incident occurred due to debris falling after an interception, which did not cause any injuries. It also denied "the information circulating on social media regarding incidents at Dubai International Airport," without providing further details. "The UAE air defenses are currently responding to missile and drone threats coming from Iran," said the UAE Ministry of Defense, without specifying the targets of the attacks.

"All flights to and from Dubai are suspended until further notice. Please do not go to the airport," the airline Emirates specifically writes on X. "The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority and will not be compromised," adds the airline, which provides information on how to handle booked flights "between February 28 and March 31 inclusive." "All city check-in points in Dubai are temporarily closed until further notice," Emirates further states.