Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and months of disruption from the Iran war have exposed how vulnerable airports are to modern warfare, industry leaders told the Dubai Airport Show, The National reported. They said airports are investing in technology and contingency planning, but no facility can ever be completely secure. Speakers also pointed to cyber risk, citing a recent attack on check-in software that disrupted airports including London and Brussels.
The UAE Ministry of Defence has reported 2,265 drone attacks on the country since the war began on February 28, and Dubai International Airport has handled 111 aerial threat alerts. Gulf airports have added perimeter screening, police patrols and terminal entry checks, and are linking site security with anti-drone and air defence systems. Vendors such as D-Fend Solutions promoted systems that take control of rogue drones and land them instead of jamming signals.
New projects, including the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion, will include blast-proof designs and hardened concrete shells, the publication said.
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The National — insurance ↗This is an original summary of the linked report, selected by Axxion’s GCC market monitor. Facts are attributed to the publication.