Live air traffic space showed an eerily empty airspace over the UAE early on Tuesday, March 17

01:15, Tue, Mar 17, 2026 Updated: 01:19, Tue, Mar 17, 2026

The UAE has closed its airspace

The UAE has closed its airspace (Image: FlightRadar24)

The United Arab Emirates has temporarily closed its airspace amid missile and drone threats from Iran, several news outlets have reported.

It is understood that the UAE's air defences are responding to incoming missile and drone threats from its neighbour.

The Middle East has been in conflict for over two weeks since the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes on key Iranian targets and Iran responded, plunging the region into war, sending shock waves across global oil supplies and disrupting air travel.

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The BBC has reported that the UAE's aviation authority temporarily closed the country's airspace as "an exceptional precautionary measure."

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Live air traffic reporter FlightRadar24 showed an eerily empty airspace over the UAE early on Tuesday, March 17.

On Monday, the Middle East's biggest airline Emirates cancelled some flights after a drone struck an oil tank and caused a fire near Dubai International Airport.