Authorities in Dubai said on Sunday that they were responding to an incident near Dubai International Airport after a drone strike caused a fire in the area. In a statement, the Dubai Media Office said the “competent authorities are currently dealing with an incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport resulting from a drone targeting, which caused a fire”. It added that emergency teams had begun taking the necessary measures “in accordance with the highest adopted safety standards”.
Earlier, residents across parts of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, reported hearing loud explosions, with some saying smoke and flames could be seen rising near the airport.
Several locals told the news outlet Faytuks that blasts were heard in the area. One resident said smoke and fire appeared to be coming from near the airport complex.
WATCH: Large fire near Dubai International Airport after Iranian drone strike pic.twitter.com/FDNa04tHqF
— Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) March 16, 2026
The reports come shortly after Iran issued a warning to civilians in parts of Dubai and Doha, urging residents in certain areas to evacuate.
According to Iran’s Media Operations Center, people living in specific districts should leave immediately because those locations could be targeted within hours.
Iran’s state-affiliated broadcaster Press TV said Tehran believes United States military personnel are sheltering in those areas. Iranian officials have said this was the reason for putting civilians on notice that strikes could take place.
Maps published by Press TV identified three areas in the Qatari capital Doha: the Ain Khaled neighbourhood on the city’s outskirts, the Lusail development to the north, and the Al Waab district.
Areas in Dubai were also flagged in the warning, although specific neighbourhoods were not immediately named. The warning followed comments from Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who said Tehran had gathered evidence that US bases in the Middle East had been used to carry out attacks on Iran.
Araghchi alleged that missiles targeting Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, had been launched from the United Arab Emirates. Iran has also accused the UAE of allowing its “ports, docks and shelters” to be used by American forces to carry out attacks, according to a report by Channel NewsAsia. Tehran has not publicly presented verifiable evidence to support those claims.
Earlier on Sunday, Iranian authorities issued a separate warning calling on people to evacuate areas close to the Middle East’s busiest port and two other port facilities in the UAE.
It marked the first time since the conflict began that Tehran had openly threatened infrastructure belonging to a neighbouring country rather than US assets directly.
The war between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition entered its third week on Sunday.
