Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said the operator faced 111 security alerts and 17 ballistic missile strikes during the 2026 regional conflict. Most incidents caused only minor damage, and no fatalities were recorded at the airports. All those injured have since recovered.

Griffiths presented the figures on Thursday, September 10, during an international press briefing hosted by the Dubai Media Office. He said most injuries were minor and occurred during the initial alerts, when people rushed towards shelters. The situation was brought under better control after evacuation procedures and guidance for passengers and employees were revised.

The Dubai Airports CEO also said continuous coordination with government authorities and timely warnings enabled the operator to act more quickly to protect employees and passengers. He also praised the performance of the UAE’s air defence systems. His remarks followed US and Israeli military action against Iran and subsequent Iranian missile and drone attacks on countries across the region, including the UAE.

Passengers Gradually Return to Dubai Airport

According to Griffiths, passenger numbers fell to 2.5 million in March following war-related disruptions, before rising to 5 million in June and 6.3 million in July. The July figure represented a 26 per cent increase from the previous month.

Dubai Airports handled a total of 31.5 million passengers in the first half of 2026. Griffiths forecast that the figure would reach around 70 million by the end of the year, compared with 95.2 million passengers last year. He said the airport operator remained focused on returning to its long-term target of 100 million passengers annually.