▲ King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following an airstrike (file photo)
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 5th (local time) that the dreams of Gulf region airports to emerge as aviation hubs by leveraging their geographical advantage between Asia and Europe are being shaken by the war with Iran.
While their locations were advantageous enough for one-third of the global population to reach them within a four-hour flight, it is precisely that location that has put them within range of Iran and pro-Iranian militant groups in the region, making them targets of attacks.
According to the conflict monitoring group ACLED, airports in all Gulf countries except Oman have been targets of attacks during this war.
There have been at least 28 instances of projectiles landing in or near airports.
Some airports have seen their air traffic volume drop by one-third this year.
Recently, attacks have escalated as the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen launched offensives, hitting Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport with at least 20 projectiles.
With Iran also threatening to attack economic and civilian infrastructure in the Gulf region if the United States and Israel launch additional strikes, it is difficult to guarantee the safety of the airports.
At Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an Iranian drone collided with a fuel storage tank and exploded early in the war.
Several parked aircraft also sustained damage.
Emirates, based in Dubai, stated in its earnings report for the first half of the 2026–2027 fiscal year (April–September) released on this day that passenger numbers dropped 22% to 21.8 million, while the passenger load factor fell from 79.5% to 72.0%.
The return of international airlines is also being delayed.
Virgin Atlantic has targeted the resumption of its Dubai route for late 2027, taking safety assessments and demand into consideration.
United Airlines, which suspended flights last February, said it would return in March of next year, while the Lufthansa Group postponed its originally planned flight resumption from October to at least late November.
As a result, the lucrative winter tourism peak season in the Gulf region is also taking a hit.
Various international conferences and exhibitions supporting business travel are likewise being postponed to next year.
"You cannot operate flights in a situation where news of drones flying in and airfields being attacked is reported every day," said Andy Blackwell, a former corporate security director at Virgin Atlantic.
A more serious problem is that airports and airlines are not merely air transport businesses, but the foundation supporting the economic diversification strategies of Gulf countries.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar envision a future of leaping into centers of tourism, entertainment, technology, and finance by attracting tourists, businesses, capital, and logistics through their aviation networks.
The image of being a wealthy and modern safe haven, insulated from past Middle East conflicts, has underpinned this strategy.
Uncertainties persist as the war has not ended.
Regarding the King Salman International Airport project pursued by Saudi Arabia, sources familiar with the matter reported that it will be delayed.
This is because some construction was halted due to attacks by Houthi rebels, and some terminals at the existing King Khalid International Airport were damaged to the extent that restoration requires months.
Dubai International Airport has carried out reinforcement work to prepare against drone attacks, such as installing protective steel structures around fuel storage tanks.
The UAE has also reviewed plans to move some core infrastructure underground.
However, experts point out that it is difficult to completely prevent large-scale simultaneous missile and drone attacks.
The WSJ pointed out that while Gulf nations possess massive financial resources and world-class airlines, recovering returns on new investments may take a longer time.
In the long run, even the image of being a global transportation hub could be damaged by these attacks.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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