Iranian ballistic missiles and drones struck several high-profile sites in Dubai on February 28, 2026, damaging the landmark Burj Al Arab hotel, the Fairmont The Palm hotel on Palm Jumeirah, Dubai International Airport and other locations, as Tehran unleashed widespread retaliation following joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
The attacks marked an unprecedented escalation, spreading the conflict beyond military targets to civilian and economic hubs in the United Arab Emirates, one of the Gulf's most stable and tourism-dependent economies. UAE authorities confirmed minor structural damage at Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world's busiest for international passengers, with four people injured in a concourse incident quickly contained. A drone interception caused debris to spark a minor fire on the Burj Al Arab's outer facade, the sail-shaped ultra-luxury hotel often called the world's only "seven-star" property.
