Dubai International Airport has finished installing large mesh cages around its fuel storage tanks to deter drone strikes. The move follows a March 2026 attack that caused major flight disruptions and fires. While ineffective against missiles, the barriers aim to blunt cheaper drone threats.
The protective cages surround ten fuel tanks near Terminal A and the Royal Air Wing at DXB, built after an Iranian drone hit one tank in March 2026. The attack triggered airspace closures and diverted flights; officials reopened operations by 11 am despite lingering smoke. A passenger video confirms the cages’ location at Dubai, not Abu Dhabi as some outlets claimed.
Though no further drone attacks have targeted DXB since March, UAE authorities reported recent missile strikes on offshore assets. Emirates now flies at pre-conflict capacity, but inbound tourism remains below prior levels. The government continues offering incentives to rebuild visitor numbers while maintaining enhanced infrastructure defenses.