Dubai Airport Loses Rp15.7 Billion Per Minute as War Hits Global Aviation Hub

Dubai — For decades, Dubai International Airport (DXB) has been a symbol of global connectivity that never sleeps. The 24-hour operation of this airport had to stop as war erupted in the Middle East after the United States-Israel attack on Iran last week. The mighty backbone of the world economy was forced to pause from 28 February to 3 March 2026. The planet’s busiest flight hub became a quiet, unsettling zone.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Dubai revealed alarming figures: the total closure of the airport’s operations triggered economic losses of US$1 million per minute (approximately Rp15.7 billion). By the fifth day of the war, total economic damage had surpassed US$5 billion ( Rp78.5 trillion ), according to Al Mayadeen.

For the UAE, aviation is not merely a services sector. The industry has been the backbone of economic sovereignty. In Dubai, the aviation sector accounts for about 27% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The sector has been affected since the war broke out last Saturday. More than 12,300 flight schedules were cancelled.

Thousands of passengers from around the world were stranded in the luxurious terminals which have now become temporary camps. Not only DXB, but Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport have also suspended all cargo and commercial activities. They are severing the trade flows that connect East and West.