Dubai, Doha, Manama Hit By Blasts; Major Airports Shut As Regional Conflict Escalates

The Gulf region faces significant travel disruption as Iran's latest attacks, in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, hit airports and airspace. Dubai, Doha and Manama report damage and evacuations, while other hubs monitor safety. The incident underlines the region's exposure to wider geopolitical conflict and its impact on international travel.

Commercial aviation across the Gulf largely halted as new blasts hit several cities following Iran’s expanding retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, with explosions reported in Dubai, Doha and Manama and multiple major airports suspending operations while officials assessed damage and tried to restore basic safety at key regional transport hubs.

AFP confirmed fresh blasts in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Doha in Qatar and Manama in Bahrain, all of which host US military facilities. The detonations followed earlier Iranian attacks on Abu Dhabi and other locations, with mediator Oman the only Gulf state not struck during the latest wave.

Iran attacks Gulf: regional escalation and military targets

According to CNN, at least three loud explosions were heard in Dubai on Sunday morning, with more blasts minutes later. The incidents came after deadly Iranian strikes a day earlier against the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi, as well as military bases and civilian infrastructure across several Gulf countries.

The wider confrontation escalated after US and Israeli strikes that began on Saturday hit Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran then launched Operation “Truthful Promise 4”, attacking US military bases across the Middle East, including sites in Gulf states already tense over previous clashes.

Iran attacks Gulf: US navy site, missiles and drones

Regional media reported that missiles hit the US navy headquarters in Bahrain while other projectiles were fired towards Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. In Doha, officials said missiles were intercepted over the capital on Saturday, while residents reported hearing explosions and seeing smoke in parts of the city.

In Bahrain, the interior ministry said a drone strike damaged Bahrain International Airport. Authorities confirmed the attack caused "material damage without loss of life," and stated that security teams moved in to secure the area. Videos geolocated from Manama showed a large blaze at a residential high-rise building.

Iran attacks Gulf: panic at Dubai International Airport

Passengers at Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs, rushed to evacuate after a reported Iranian strike overnight. Footage showed people running through concourses as smoke spread in parts of the terminal, with water from sprinklers triggered by smoke alarms pooling on the floors as travellers tried to escape.

Videos also captured people moving through a smoke-filled passageway after an earlier overnight blast. Airport authorities did not publicly confirm the exact cause of the evacuation, but aviation sources told Reuters that an Iranian attack overnight damaged one of the terminals, prompting emergency procedures and disruption to flight schedules.

Iran attacks Gulf: airport damage in Dubai and Kuwait

Dubai Airports later stated that a concourse had sustained "minor damage" and that emergency response teams were "immediately deployed" during Sunday’s evacuation. Eyewitnesses told CNN that ambulances headed toward the airport after the incident, as authorities suspended all flights in and out of Dubai’s two main airports until further notice.

Elsewhere, Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation reported that a drone strike hit Kuwait International Airport on 28 February 2026, damaging Terminal 1 and injuring several employees. Officials said the drone caused limited material damage and minor injuries, with emergency plans activated and response teams working to secure the airport.

Iran attacks Gulf: wider travel disruption and local damage

Authorities in Kuwait said the situation at Kuwait International Airport was brought under control after the strike, with teams deployed to assess structural impact and maintain safety. Operations at the affected terminal were reviewed as investigators examined debris and checked whether any additional unmanned aircraft were still in the area.

Dubai Media Office said, "Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time and to contact their respective airlines directly for the latest updates regarding their flights," as airlines suspended services across the region, including routes to and from Abu Dhabi. In Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah district, an explosion hit the Fairmont Hotel, leaving parts of the building on fire.

Iran attacks Gulf: airspace closures and regional impact

A wide airspace corridor across the Middle East closed over the weekend as tensions rose, with flight-tracking maps showing large empty stretches and several airports temporarily halting operations. International airlines announced cancellations and schedule changes on Middle East routes, underlining how the strikes pulled major Gulf travel hubs deeper into the conflict.

Although there were no immediate confirmed reports of casualties from the latest explosions in Dubai, Doha and Manama, officials warned that assessments were still under way. For now, authorities across the Gulf focused on securing airports, checking damaged buildings and keeping airspace restrictions in place while the confrontation between Iran, the US and Israel continued.