Two major UAE airports hit in unprecedented attack, 1 dead, 11 injured

The United Arab Emirates, the Middle East's premier hub for tourism and commerce, came under unprecedented assault Saturday as both Dubai International Airport -- one of the world's busiest aviation centers -- and Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport were struck in coordinated attacks, leaving one person dead and 11 injured. The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that the country endured 137 missile strikes and 209 drone attacks beginning early Saturday morning, marking an intensity and frequency of bombardment never before seen in the Gulf nation's history.

Frequent explosions were heard in both Abu Dhabi, the capital, and Dubai since Saturday afternoon, with most blasts attributed to air defense systems intercepting incoming projectiles. Fighter jets were repeatedly spotted streaking across the skies.

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier in the day, the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority announced a complete closure of national airspace at 13:00. All major airports immediately suspended operations indefinitely, with authorities advising travelers to avoid airports and contact airlines directly for updates.

Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport sustained direct drone strikes from Iran, killing one Asian national and wounding seven others.

Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport, which holds the title of the world's busiest airport for international passenger traffic, was rocked by massive explosions Saturday night when a terminal building took a direct hit, injuring four people. Video footage from the scene shows the terminal interior devastated by the blast, with panicked travelers and airport staff fleeing the building for safety.

Twenty-four hours after the initial attacks, UAE airspace remains closed, and all three major airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are still shuttered. Some stranded travelers have already rescheduled flights for March 3 or 4, waiting to assess the security situation before finalizing plans.

"I don't know what to do. I'm afraid of going to malls or to the beach. I want to stay in hotel. I don't want to think about this, I want to go home very quickly," said a traveler.

In an emergency measure announced Saturday, the UAE's civil aviation authority declared that the government will cover all accommodation and living expenses for affected and stranded passengers. Airports and airlines are coordinating closely to monitor conditions and reschedule flights for the earliest safe resumption of operations.

Iranian strikes also targeted some of Dubai's most iconic hospitality venues. On Saturday evening, the Fairmont Hotel on Palm Jumeirah saw its courtyard engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke visible for kilometers after being hit. Four people were injured in the attack. Later at night, Dubai's landmark luxury hotel Burj Al Arab also caught fire following a drone strike, though no casualties were reported.

Amid heightened security concerns, Dubai's hotels advised guests to remain in their rooms and avoid open or crowded areas, and traffic across the city was noticeably lighter on Sunday.

Two major UAE airports hit in unprecedented attack, 1 dead, 11 injured

The 6th China Media Group (CMG) Chinese Language Video Festival held at Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday to mark the 2026 United Nations Chinese Language Day.

Co-hosted by CMG, China's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, and the UN Office at Geneva, the event brought together over 350 guests from more than 30 countries.

At the event, Tatiana Valovaya, director-general of the United Nations Office at Geneva, said as one of the six official languages of the United Nations, the Chinese language is an important link between China and the world, and between Chinese civilization and other civilizations, which not only reflects its great value to human society, but also highlights the significance of the Chinese language in multilateral diplomacy.

Addressing the event via video link, Shen Haixiong, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and CMG president, said that as a world-class mainstream media outlet, CMG has always been committed to spreading Chinese culture and promoting civilizational exchanges. It has carefully produced a large number of cultural programs that make China's fine traditional culture shine with new brilliance in the new era.

Shen said CMG will continue to advance "5G plus 4K/8K plus AI" innovation and build more pragmatic cultural exchange platforms.

Jia Guide, China's permanent representative and ambassador to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said that the establishment of UN Chinese Language Day not only protects linguistic diversity, but also promotes the exchange of ideas and the mutual understanding of concepts.

He expressed the hope to take this event as an opportunity to integrate historical experience, institutional advantages and innovative vitality of countries, show their strategic vision and political wisdom, and jointly inject positive energy into building a more just and rational global governance system and a better future.

During the event, many Chinese and international youths were invited to share their understanding of Chinese characters. Through this activity, young people from different cultural backgrounds can intuitively feel the emotional resonance and civilizational connection behind the language.

Many cultural television programs produced by CMG, including "The Chinese Calligraphy Conference" and "Crafted in China," were screened during the event. CMG also specially set up a creative products booth and an interactive experience area, allowing guests to experience traditional Chinese culture — such as calligraphy, embroidery, and paper-cutting — and try out intelligent interactive devices.

Chinese Language Day, established by the United Nations in 2010, is celebrated annually on Guyu, or Grain Rain, the sixth of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, to highlight the global significance of the Chinese language.

CMG Video Festival held in Geneva to mark 2026 UN Chinese Language Day