Dubai news highlights: UAE tells Iran ‘your war not with your neighbours’ after blasts in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain

Dubai news live updates: All flight operations at both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International (DWC) have been suspended until further notice following security developments in the Middle East.

The official X account for DXB confirmed on Saturday that arrivals and departures are halted and passengers should avoid travelling to the airports until operations resume.

The statement read, “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. We appreciate the cooperation of our guests. Further updates will be provided as we continue to monitor the situation.”

Airspace above Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iran is still limited, and airlines are still keeping an eye on security situations. While some airlines will wait until March 7, others want to start limited operations on March 1, according to announcements by airlines.

Dubai news live updates: India on Saturday issued an advisory for passengers stranded at airports in UAE amid escalating conflict in the Middle East after US-Israel-Iran strikes.

In an advisory issued late on Saturday, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said the embassy and the consulate are in touch with UAE authorities.

"The Embassy and Consulate are in touch with the UAE authorities and airlines for taking care of the Indian passengers stranded at the airports in UAE due to temporary and precautionary airspace closure," the advisory said.

The embassy said that the UAE government and airline authorities have reassured full support to the Indian government.

Dubai news live updates: “Discussed the evolving situation in the Gulf with UAE DPM & FM Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan this evening. India is concerned with the escalating situation. Appreciate his commitment to the welfare of the Indian community,” Jaishankar wrote on X.

Dubai news live updates: Amid Iranian strikes on Dubai that forced Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central airport to shut, the Burj Khalifa was illuminated at its scheduled time on Saturday night.

Dubai news live updates: In a SMS message, the United Arab Emirates asked its citizens and residents to remain indoors and wait for instructions.

Dubai news live updates: An official briefed on the attacks told Reuters that Qatar has been targeted by 44 missiles and 8 drones so far during Iranian attacks on Saturday.

Dubai news live updates: Kuwait’s ministry of health said on Saturday that 12 injured people were admitted to three hospitals in the country, the Kuwait News Agency reported.

The ministry’s spokesperson Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said in a press statement that Al-Farwaniya Hospital received 9 cases, Al-Jahra Hospital received two cases, and Mubarak Hospital received one case.

Dubai news live updates: Double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu was stranded at Dubal airport on Saturday while on her way to the All England Open badminton tournament after flight services were halted because of rising tensions in the Middle East.

Sindhu shared a video on Instagram showing a packed airport and wrote in the caption: "All flights suspended until further notice."

Thousands of passengers including hundreds of Indians were stranded at Abu Dhabi International Airport on Friday in the wake of tensions in the Middle East as Iran fired missiles apparently targeting US bases in the region after Israel and the United States launched a joint operation aimed at neutralising what they describe as the existential threat posed by Tehran.

The escalating tensions led to the closure of the airspace disupting operations at one of the Middle East's busiest transit hubs.

Here is the full list of key locations in Dubai where explosions were heard or incidents were reported:

1) Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai

The world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, was evacuated as explosions were heard across central Dubai.

Residents in Downtown said they heard a “rumble and then a bang,” with some reporting that high-rise windows shook. The evacuation was described as a precautionary step amid concerns over falling debris from intercepted missiles.

Sirens were reported in parts of the city as UAE air defences intercepted incoming projectiles.

2) Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah was the site of a fire. The Dubai Media Office said emergency response teams were deployed after an explosion was reported in a building on the man-made island. Dubai Civil Defence confirmed that the resulting fire was brought under control.

Four individuals were injured and transferred to medical facilities. Authorities secured the site and urged residents to rely only on official updates.

3) Sheikh Zayed Road area (near Fairmont Dubai)

Residents in the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor reported loud blasts and visible flashes in the sky.

The area near Fairmont Dubai, a prominent high-rise hotel, was among the locations where people said windows rattled as interceptions took place overhead.

There were no confirmed reports of structural damage in this stretch, but witnesses described seeing “fireballs” followed by smoke trails across the sky.

4) Dubai Marina and high-rise clusters

Although no direct impact was confirmed, residents in Marina towers reported hearing the blasts clearly, with some describing vibrations in residential buildings.

Many residents stepped onto balconies to see streaks of light crossing the sky before disappearing.

5) Jebel Ali area

While not confirmed as a strike location, the broader Jebel Ali area - which hosts key port and logistics infrastructure - was among the zones where residents reported hearing distant booms.

Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port is known as a frequent port of call for US naval vessels, heightening anxiety amid reports that Iran was targeting US-linked facilities across the Gulf.

The evacuation of the Burj Khalifa was one of the most visible signs of concern in Dubai.

Given its height and prominence, the tower - which houses residences, offices and observation decks - could be vulnerable to falling debris from intercepted missiles. Authorities moved swiftly to clear the building after blasts were heard and air defence activity intensified.

While there were no confirmed direct hits on the structure, officials prioritised crowd safety in one of the world’s most visited landmarks.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on Saturday that his country “stands in full solidarity with the UAE” amid escalating regional military tensions, local media reported.

Satellite images from tanker trackers showed vessels piling up near major ports, such as Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, rather than moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

Airlines suspended flights across the Middle East on Saturday, including to and from the world's busiest travel hub Dubai after the strikes. "You have crews, planes and passengers stranded all over the world. It's a massive logistical nightmare," a Gulf airline source told Reuters

Dubai Airports said operations at Dubai International — which handled nearly 100 million passengers last year — and the smaller Al Maktoum International Airport have been suspended until further notice, urging passengers not to travel.

"Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended operations to and from Dubai," the Dubai-based carrier said, while its sister airline flydubai, said it had temporarily suspended operations, reported Reuters.

Passengers were left stranded at Abu Dhabi airport after flight operations were disrupted following joint military strikes by the US and Israel on Iran.

Euroleague on Saturday abandoned its Under-18 qualifying tournament in Abu Dhabi for safety reasons as Iranian missiles hit the Gulf states.

The decision follows American and Israeli strikes on Iran and waves of retaliatory attacks some of which targeted US Gulf allies, including the United Arab Emirates.

"In light of the current situation in the region, this decision has been made to guarantee the safety and security of all participants," said a brief statement from Euroleague, which organises Europe's most important club basketball competition.

"After careful evaluation and ongoing consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders, it was determined that cancelling the event is the most responsible course of action at this time."

Roughly 90 percent of the UAE's population consists of foreigners and Dubai is its most populated city, long associated with opulence and glamour.

Dubai news live updates: Leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia spoke by phone in the wake of Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US bases in the Gulf, as security concerns outweighed a feud between the two regional powerhouses.

UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed “regional tensions,” the UAE’s state-run news agency said.

Dubai news live updates: Amid the rising tensions and explosions heard across the city, Dubai media office on Saturday said that they were “closely monitoring developments.”

“Our frontline heroes are taking all necessary measures to protect the public and ensure their safety. May our nation, and all who call it home, remain safe,” it added.

Dubai news live updates: The Amritsar International Airport on Saturday issued an advisory for passengers, saying some flights have been impacted because of airspace closure in the wake of conflict between Iran and Israel.

According to the advisory posted on X, a SpiceJet flight to Dubai was diverted to Ahmedabad, while an Air India Express flight to Dubai International Airport has been cancelled.

An IndiGo flight from the Amritsar airport to Sharjah was diverted to Surat International Airport in Gujarat, as pert detail of impacted flights.

Dubai news live updates: Two witnesses told AFP they heard an explosion and saw a plume of smoke rising from Dubai's famed Fairmont The Palm hotel on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.

One of the witnesses said he saw thick black smoke rising from a hotel on the Palm and heard ambulances rushing towards the scene.

The Dubai media office later confirmed an "incident" in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area that resulted in a fire and four people injured.

"Dubai Civil Defence has confirmed that the resulting fire is now under control. Four individuals sustained injuries and have been transferred to medical facilities," it added.

Dubai news live updates: The Indian embassy on Saturday issued an advisory for its nationals stranded at the airports in the UAE. It said that the Embassy and Consulate are in touch with the “UAE authorities and airlines for taking care of the Indian passengers stranded at the airports in the UAE due to temporary and precautionary airspace closure.”

It further added that the UAE government and airline authorities have reassured full support.

Dubai news live updates: Plume of smoke and fire has been seen outside hotel on Dubai's Palm. Viral videos circulating on social media showed smoke and flames outside the Fairmont, one of the popular hotels frequented by Westerners in Dubai, AFP reported.

Earlier, UAE's Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced that the UAE was subjected to a blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles, noting that UAE air defence systems dealt with the missiles with high efficiency and successfully intercepted a number of missiles.