The Dubai Media Office said emergency services were dealing with the blaze after what it described as a “drone-related incident” near the airport. In a post on X, the office said authorities were taking necessary steps to secure the area and ensure public safety.

Videos circulating on social media showed a large column of smoke rising from the area near the airport, though officials did not immediately report casualties or provide details on the extent of the damage.

The attack occurred hours after Iran issued warnings calling for the evacuation of three major ports in the United Arab Emirates, signaling an expansion of threats to infrastructure in neighboring Gulf states.

Iranian officials accused the United States of using facilities in the UAE, including ports and docking areas, to launch strikes against Kharg Island, which hosts Iran’s primary oil export terminal.

Tehran did not provide evidence to support the allegation.

The drone strike comes amid an intensifying regional confrontation following the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran on Feb. 28.Officials say Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since the conflict began, targeting U.S. diplomatic facilities, military bases and key civilian infrastructure including oil installations, ports, airports and commercial areas.

The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, has experienced a significant share of the attacks, though governments across the Gulf have reported incidents and have condemned Iran over the strikes.

The airline said the decision followed a temporary clearance issued by the aviation regulator allowing restricted flight operations through designated routes.

“Following temporary authorization from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority allowing limited operating corridors, Qatar Airways plans to operate select flights in the coming days to support passengers affected by the disruption,” the airline said in a statement posted on social media platform X late Tuesday.

The flights will depart from Hamad International Airport in Doha and include services to major international destinations such as London, New York and Madrid.

The limited schedule is intended to help clear passenger backlogs caused by recent airspace disruptions as regional security conditions deteriorate

.Air travel across parts of the Gulf has been affected by the intensifying conflict involving Iran and its adversaries, with several airlines adjusting routes or suspending flights due to security risks and airspace restrictions.

Qatar Airways said the select services were being scheduled to assist travelers impacted by the disruption while complying with the temporary operating corridors authorized by the civil aviation authority.

The Kurdistan region’s counter-terrorism service said late on Monday that it had shot down three drones over Irbil, with debris from one of the aircraft falling near the UAE consulate. Officials said no casualties were reported.

Saudi Arabia issued a statement through its foreign ministry expressing what it described as its strongest condemnation of the attack targeting the Emirati diplomatic mission.

The ministry said the targeting of diplomatic facilities was unacceptable and reaffirmed Riyadh’s support for measures aimed at maintaining security and stability in the region.

Earlier, the UAE’s foreign ministry said the incident represented a “dangerous escalation” and warned that such actions threaten regional stability.

The ministry said attacks on diplomatic missions and premises constitute a violation of international norms and laws governing the protection of diplomatic facilities.

The UAE urged the Kurdistan Regional Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify those responsible and hold them accountable.

Security authorities in Irbil said the drones had been intercepted before causing casualties, though investigations into the origin of the aircraft and the intended targets were ongoing.

Wong said several nations that were not directly involved in the conflict had come under Iranian attack during the widening Middle East confrontation and had sought help from partners including Australia.“We’ve had many countries, which are non participants, (that) have been attacked by Iran through this,” Wong said in televised remarks. “You would anticipate as a consequence that we have been asked for assistance, and we will work through that carefully.”The comments came as fighting intensified across the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli strikes on targets in Iran and retaliatory Iranian attacks against countries hosting U.S. military facilities.Limited military roleWong said Australia would examine requests for assistance in line with its existing position that it would not join offensive military operations against Iran.Asked whether Australia could help defend countries targeted by Iranian missile and drone strikes, Wong responded: “Correct.”She said any support would be considered carefully and would remain consistent with the government’s policy of avoiding direct involvement in combat operations inside Iran.“We will work through that in accordance with the position that I have outlined, which is we are not participating in offensive action against Iran and we have made clear we will not participate in any ground troop deployment,” Wong said.Australia, a longstanding ally of the United States and a member of several regional security partnerships, has previously contributed forces to international missions in the Middle East but has ruled out sending troops in the current conflict.Australian personnel and naval incidentPrime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that three Australian defence personnel had been on board a U.S. submarine that sank an Iranian warship with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean.Albanese stressed that the Australians present during the incident did not take part in the attack itself.The disclosure came as the military confrontation between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli coalition escalated sharply over the past week, drawing in multiple countries across the Gulf region.U.S. and Israeli aircraft have conducted strikes across Iranian territory, while several Gulf cities, including locations in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, have come under Iranian bombardment.Australians stranded in regionThe escalating conflict has also disrupted commercial flights and regional travel, leaving thousands of Australians stranded in parts of the Middle East.Wong said the government was working with airlines and other authorities to assist citizens attempting to leave affected areas.Australia’s foreign ministry has been monitoring the security situation across the region and coordinating efforts to help nationals return home safely as hostilities continue.The crisis has increased pressure on governments globally to respond to the widening conflict while balancing security commitments, diplomatic relations and the safety of their citizens abroad.