Dubai Airports confirmed that partial resumption of flight operations on Saturday following disruption caused by drone strike near terminal building, according to Newsweek report.

“Dubai Airports confirms partial resumption of operations from today, 7th March, with some flights operating out of Dubai International and Dubai World Central, Al Maktoum International”, official statement confirmed. Announcement came after hours of complete suspension that left thousands of passengers stranded globally.

Verified footage showed explosion followed by large smoke plume rising from strike site close to terminal building, BBC confirmed. Video appears to show blast near Concourse A, though precise impact location remains unconfirmed. Man in footage refers to ‘another drone’ while whirring sound is audible moments before explosion.

Dubai International Airport handles approximately 9 crore 23 lakh passengers annually, making disruptions significant for global aviation network. Any suspension affects long-haul connections, cargo movements and airline schedules far beyond Gulf region.

Dubai Airports had temporarily suspended all operations as safety precaution following incident. Emirates, airport's largest carrier, announced immediate suspension stating ‘All flights to and from Dubai have been suspended until further notice’ in customer update on X, later deleted.

Emirates also confirmed limited-service restoration. “Emirates has resumed operations. Passengers who have confirmed bookings for this afternoon’s flights may proceed to the airport. This includes customers transiting in Dubai, if their connecting flight is also operating”, airline updated on X.

However, airline warned schedules remained subject to change with little notice depending on airspace access and security conditions. Passengers were urged to check confirmed bookings before heading to terminals rather than relying on social media information.

Incident unfolded amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing airspace restrictions that have strained airline operations for days. President Donald Trump commented that US military was performing 'phenomenally' against Iran while demanding Tehran's 'unconditional surrender', suggesting broader regional context, Newsweek reported.

Airport and airline officials confirmed flight schedules could continue changing based on evolving security situation. Dubai Airports pledged further updates as conditions develop, while airlines urged passengers to rely on official notifications only.

Partial resumption brought relief to thousands affected by cancellations and delays, though uncertainty continues regarding full operational capacity restoration timeline.

Source: Newsweek