Explosions rock Dubai's Fairmont The Palm, Burj Al Arab & airports

Regions in the Middle East are facing a volatile crisis after coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation, on Saturday (Feb. 28) forced many countries to close their airspaces.

As previously reported, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that “major combat operations” in Iran are underway, with the most significant development being the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran. 

Iranian retaliatory strikes yesterday reached some tourism-related infrastructure.

A missile reportedly hit a luxury Fairmont hotel, The Palm on Palm Jumeirah island, igniting a fire near the hotel entrance.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as smoke rose from the five-star hotel, one of Dubai’s premier tourist destinations.

Video obtained and verified by CNN shows the moment the projectile, reported to be rogue missile debris, hits the ground and sets the hotel on fire.

The government of Dubai’s Media Office later confirmed that an “incident occurred in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area" and four people were injured.

Debris from intercepted aerial threats also caused fires at the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab, one of the emirate’s most recognizable landmarks, and damaged parts of Dubai International Airport.

“Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and are managing the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities,” wrote Dubai’s Media Office on X about the airport incident. “Four staff sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention. Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers."

Dubai Airports confirms that all flight operations at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) are 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," Dubai's Media Office wrote on X. 

Meanwhile, falling debris triggered a fire at a berth in Jebel Ali Port, one of the world’s busiest shipping facilities, raising concerns about global supply chain disruptions.

And in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, an incident at Zayed International Airport, resulting from the interception of a drone, left one person dead and seven injured, according to a statement posted by the airport on X.

Disrupted flight routes

The attacks on aviation hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha have disrupted global routes that connect Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Etihad says its flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 02:00 UAE time on March 2; Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, also up until March 2.

Additionally, Qatar Airways says it flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

On its X account, the airline said it will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of its airspace, noting that an update will be posted on March 2.

Air Canada suspends service

Air Canada shared its own update yesterday (Feb. 28), confirming that all flights to and from Dubai (DXB) and Tel Aviv (TLV) are currently suspended.

“If you are in either of these regions, please do not head to the airport. Your safety is our top priority,” the airline wrote on its website.

Air Canada’s latest update states that flights from Canada to Israel are cancelled until March 8, while flights to Dubai are cancelled until March 3 (although these dates may change depending on how the situation develops).

The airline has revised its ticketing policy to make it easier for impacted customers to make changes to their booking without penalty (space permitting).

If your client’s flight is affected, they can retrieve the booking to change their itinerary free of charge.

Customers who purchased a ticket with Air Canada Vacations are being advised to contact them directly at 1-800-296-3408.

“Airlines are adjusting routes & schedules"

The shutdown of airspace across key transit corridors brings economic consequences for international aviation and tourism.

Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were among the nations that announced at least partial closures of their skies, forcing flight cancellations and diversions that left tens of thousands of passengers stranded in various parts around the world.

The conflict has led to the cancellation of more than 1,800 flights by major Middle Eastern airlines, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.

Additionally, flight tracking website FlightAware says more than 19,000 flights have been delayed globally.

“Airlines are adjusting routes and schedules in response, which may lead to delays or cancellations,” wrote Toronto Pearson airport on its X account on Saturday. “Passengers are advised to check their flight status directly with their airline before coming to the airport.”

Cruise lines on high alert

The conflict doesn’t just impact air travel – cruise ships are also on high alert.

Reports indicate that MSC Euribia has called off a seven-day Arabian Gulf sailing and will remain docked in Dubai, for now, instead of continuing its planned itinerary to other ports in the region.

The vessel arrived in Dubai on Friday morning, and had originally been scheduled to depart the following day.

Passengers on board were notified of the change and given guidance on how to make the most of their additional time in the city.

“We regret to inform you that we need to change our itinerary due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East,” a letter delivered to guests’ staterooms explained, as shared by CruiseHive. “In alignment with the national authorities, it has been decided to remain in the port of Dubai until further notice.”

Passengers are reportedly allowed to disembark but are encouraged to remain within the cruise terminal area. All shore excursions have been cancelled, and guests will receive full refunds credited to their onboard accounts.

At this time, there are no reports of disruptions to onboard programming, and ship operations continue as normal.

MSC Euribia is currently docked at Cruise Terminal 3 at Port Rashid in Dubai, which is about 20 minutes from Dubai International Airport.

MSC's decision comes after other major cruise lines made similar moves earlier this season.

Both AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises—brands owned by Carnival Corporation—withdrew from the Middle East for the 2025-26 winter season in July of last year.

Celestyal Cruises also has ships in the Middle East this weekend. According to a Feb. 28 update posted to its Instagram account, Celestyal Journey is currently in Doha while Celestyal Discovery is docked in Dubai.

“Both ships will remain in port for 24 hours while the situation is assessed,” the cruise line wrote yesterday.

For guests booked on upcoming sailings, Celestyal says it will “continue to monitor developments closely,” saying it will provide updates should any changes occur.

Updates from Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada has issued a notice to travellers, saying “the security situation in the Middle East could deteriorate significantly without notice.”

“There is ongoing military activity in the region,” the department wrote. “Be prepared to shelter in place if instructed by local authorities and monitor media to stay informed.”

Canadian citizens and permanent residents in the Middle east needing emergency assistance can are being advised to contact me-mo.sos@international.gc.ca.

The Canadian government is currently advising citizens to void all travel to Israel, Lebanon, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Iraq, and to avoid all non-essential travel to Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Canada backs U.S. actions

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Saturday that Canada supports the United States taking action to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, describing Iran as “the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East” and pointing to its human rights record.

Speaking in Mumbai, where he is leading a trade delegation, Carney also urged Canadians in Iran to shelter in place.

“Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security,” he said, as reported by Politico.

Carney said he does not expect Canada to become involved in the escalating situation.

“We have not been party to the military buildup to this, or the military planning of this. So it is not envisioned that we would be part of it moving forward,” he said.

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