Fresh explosions rocked key Gulf cities early Sunday as Iran expanded its retaliatory campaign following US and Israeli strikes on its territory, sharply escalating tensions across the region. AFP confirmed blasts in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Doha in Qatar and Manama in Bahrain, all countries that host US military bases.According to CNN, at least three loud explosions were heard in Dubai on Sunday morning, followed by another series of blasts minutes later. There were no immediate reports of injuries, and it remains unclear whether any sites were directly hit by incoming fire.The fresh explosions came a day after deadly Iranian strikes targeted the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi, as well as military bases and civilian infrastructure across several Gulf states with mediator Oman the only country spared.The escalation comes after US and Israeli strikes that began Saturday battered Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Panic at Dubai International Airport
Passengers rushed to evacuate Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs after a reported Iranian strike overnight.Videos showed panicked passengers running along airport concourses as smoke spread through parts of the terminal. Water triggered by smoke alarms collected on the floor as people fled.The footage also captured people escaping a smoke-filled passageway from earlier overnight strikes.Airport authorities did not specify the cause of the evacuation. However, aviation sources told Reuters that an overnight Iranian attack damaged one of the terminals.Dubai Airports later said a concourse sustained “minor damage” and that emergency response teams were “immediately deployed” during Sunday’s evacuation.Eyewitnesses told CNN that ambulances rushed toward the airport following the incident. Dubai Airports confirmed that all flights in and out of the city’s two main airports have been suspended until further notice.“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,” the Dubai Media Office said.In Dubai’s upscale Palm Jumeirah district, an explosion struck the Fairmont Hotel, leaving parts of the property in flames.
Missiles over Doha, drone damage in Bahrain
In Qatar, missiles were intercepted over the capital Doha on Saturday.In Bahrain, officials said a drone strike damaged Bahrain International Airport. The interior ministry confirmed the attack caused “material damage without loss of life,” adding that authorities were securing the site.Videos geolocated showed a large fire at a residential high-rise building in Manama.
Regional airspace shut down
A wide corridor of Middle Eastern airspace was closed over the weekend as tensions soared.Airlines suspended flights across the region on Saturday, including to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Flight-tracking maps showed large stretches of airspace nearly empty, with multiple airports temporarily shutting operations.International carriers also announced cancellations and disruptions to Middle East routes. The strikes mark a dramatic expansion of the conflict, directly hitting major Gulf travel hubs long viewed as stable and secure gateways in a volatile region.
Drone strike hits Kuwait International Airport
A drone strike hit Kuwait International Airport (KWI) on February 28, 2026, damaging Terminal 1 (T1) and injuring several employees, according to Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).Kuwaiti civil aviation officials said the drone caused limited material damage to Terminal 1 and resulted in minor injuries to airport workers. Authorities immediately activated emergency procedures following the strike.Officials said the situation was brought under control, with response teams deployed to assess the damage and ensure safety at the airport.