Dubai Airports is considering placing aviation fuel tanks underground and hardening other critical infrastructure at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) after above‑ground facilities at Dubai International Airport (DXB) were struck during the 2026 conflict involving Iran.
Dubai plans to transfer operations from DXB to an expanded DWC, creating an opportunity to incorporate lessons from the conflict into the design of its next‑generation aviation hub. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said planners were examining whether vulnerable infrastructure, including aviation fuel storage, should be placed underground or reinforced against future drone and missile attacks.
The conflict, which began on 28 February 2026, severely disrupted regional airspace. In the first half of 2026 DXB handled 31.5 million passengers, down 31.3% from roughly 46 million in the same period of 2025, while aircraft movements fell 32.1%. Above‑ground fuel tanks were struck, forcing DXB to halt operations temporarily, though Griffiths said the airport resumed flights rapidly.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Griffiths disclosed that there were 111 alerts during the conflict, of which 17 resulted in strikes, with most causing only superficial damage. He said close coordination with UAE authorities and the military allowed airport staff to respond quickly to threats and move passengers to safer areas when necessary.
The experience is now shaping DWC’s design. Griffiths confirmed that important facilities, including fuel tanks, could be located underground, and other infrastructure may require additional reinforcement. He described the approach as a balance between the likelihood of an attack and its potential consequences: “Certain bits of the infrastructure may need to be a bit hardened against possible future activity, to make them more resilient.” Underground fuel storage is among the ideas under consideration, with Griffiths adding: “It’s about likelihood [of an attack] versus consequence and the proper risk.”
