Dubai could put Al Maktoum airport’s fuel tanks underground after DXB strikes

Dubai Airports is considering putting fuel tanks underground and hardening other critical infrastructure at Al Maktoum International Airport after above-ground facilities at Dubai International Airport were struck during the 2026 conflict involving Iran.

Dubai plans to transfer operations from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to an expanded Al Maktoum International Airport (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 proposals follow a conflict that severely disrupted regional airspace, reduced passenger traffic at DXB and forced the airport to halt operations temporarily after its above-ground fuel tanks were struck.

Iran conflict exposes vulnerabilities at Dubai airport

Following the outbreak of fighting on 28 February 2026, airspace across the region was disrupted, resulting in widespread flight cancellations, delays and rerouting.

Dubai International Airport’s passenger traffic fell sharply. In the first half of 2026, the airport handled 31.5 million passengers, compared with approximately 46 million during the same period in 2025, a decline of 31.3%. Aircraft movements also fell by 32.1%.

The airport itself faced direct security threats. Above-ground fuel tanks were struck during the conflict, forcing DXB to halt operations temporarily. However, Griffiths said the airport was able to resume flights rapidly after the incident.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Griffiths explained that close coordination with UAE authorities and the military allowed airport staff to respond quickly to threats and move passengers to safer areas when necessary.

According to Griffiths, there were 111 alerts during the conflict, of which 17 resulted in strikes, with most causing only superficial damage.

Al Maktoum Airport could place fuel tanks underground

The experience is now influencing the design of Dubai’s next-generation airport, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Rather than focusing only on building larger facilities, Dubai Airports is considering how critical infrastructure could be made more resistant to attack.

Griffiths confirmed that important facilities, including fuel tanks, could be located underground. Other infrastructure may also require additional reinforcement or “hardening” to protect it from potential future drone and missile attacks.

Griffiths described the approach as a balance between the likelihood of an attack and its potential consequences.

He said: “Certain bits of the infrastructure may need to be a bit hardened against possible future activity, to make them more resilient.”

He also explained that storing fuel underground was among the ideas being considered during the design process, adding: “It’s about likelihood [of an attack] versus consequence and the proper risk.”

Could underground fuel storage protect airport operations?

Underground fuel storage could provide significant protection because fuel facilities are essential to airport operations but can be vulnerable when located in exposed areas.

If fuel tanks are damaged, fires or fuel shortages can quickly affect aircraft operations even when runways and terminals remain usable.

Moving these facilities underground, combined with stronger structures and alternative systems, could reduce the risk of a single strike causing widespread disruption.

Dubai Airports is also relying on operational resilience. During the conflict, communication with military and civil-defence authorities allowed the airport to receive rapid warnings and move passengers temporarily to protected areas.

Griffiths said the response eventually became so efficient that, following some incidents, the airport could receive an “all clear” within about ten minutes.

Dubai airport recovery gathers pace

Despite the disruption, Griffiths remains confident about Dubai’s recovery. Dubai Airports now expects approximately 70 million passengers in 2026, considerably below the nearly 100 million originally forecast before the conflict.

However, Griffiths believes the airport can recover its previous growth trajectory during 2027.

“We anticipate full recovery during the early parts of next year,” he said.

He also reported that “78% of our travellers” had already returned to Dubai International Airport, suggesting confidence is recovering as airlines restore services.

The recovery is already visible in passenger figures. Traffic increased from 2.5 million passengers in March to 3.5 million in April, 4.5 million in May, five million in June and 6.3 million in July.

More than 50 airlines had returned to the airport, with additional international carriers expected to resume services.

The conflict has forced Dubai Airports to rethink resilience as well as capacity. Underground fuel storage, hardened infrastructure, rapid-warning systems and stronger contingency planning could now become important features of the expanded Al Maktoum International Airport.

Dubai’s long-term aviation strategy remains unchanged, but the infrastructure supporting it may look very different. As operations eventually transfer from DXB to Al Maktoum, the new airport is being planned not only for greater capacity, but for the ability to withstand and recover from future periods of regional conflict.