Flying from UAE today? Check latest Emirates, Etihad and Air Arabia cancellations and schedule changes
Airlines monitor security developments as regional aviation gradually restores services
DUBAI – Travellers flying from the UAE on Saturday are being advised to check their flight status before leaving for the airport, as airlines continue to adjust selected services across the Gulf.
Most flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are operating normally, but some routes to Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia remain affected by cancellations, delays or changing schedules.
The latest changes come as the UAE enters one of the busiest periods of the summer travel season, with high passenger volumes expected at the country's major airports. Airlines and airport authorities are urging passengers to plan ahead, while carriers continue monitoring regional security developments and temporary airspace restrictions.
Regional situation
Security developments across the Gulf remain an important factor for airlines operating regional routes. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have signed a mutual defence pact, under which an attack against one country would be considered an attack against all three.
Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are discussing a framework for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media has reported that an agreement has been reached, subject to final approval.
Regional security concerns remain despite signs of diplomatic activity. Saudi Arabia has blamed the Houthis for an attack that injured at least 11 civilians in Najran, while Yemeni forces have reported intercepting multiple drones.
For airlines, the changing security environment means flight paths and schedules can continue to be reviewed at short notice.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways continues to monitor regional developments, with selected Kuwait and Bahrain services appearing in its booking system.
According to flight status information provided by the airline, scheduled services include:
- EY653: Abu Dhabi to Kuwait
- EY654: Kuwait to Abu Dhabi
- EY643: Abu Dhabi to Bahrain
- EY644: Bahrain to Abu Dhabi
The appearance of these services in the booking system does not necessarily mean that all affected routes have fully returned to normal operations. Passengers are advised to confirm their individual flight status directly with Etihad before travelling.
The airline continues to update passengers as operational conditions evolve.
Emirates
Emirates continues to operate its wider international network, although some Gulf services remain affected.
Current flight status information shows status information unavailable for:
- Dubai to Bahrain
- Dubai to Kuwait
Passengers travelling on these routes should check their booking and the Emirates flight tracker before leaving for Dubai International Airport.
The airline's wider network continues to operate, but passengers should remain alert to any last-minute changes affecting their individual flights.
flydubai
flydubai continues to operate its network, with no major schedule changes announced in the latest update.
Passengers travelling on flydubai are nevertheless advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Travellers should also complete online check-in where available and allow additional time because of increased passenger traffic during the summer travel period.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia continues to report cancellations and changes across selected services from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
The latest affected services include routes linking the UAE with Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
From Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, flight 3L020 is cancelled, while 3L022 has not departed. In the opposite direction, 3L021 is cancelled and 3L023 has not departed.
For Abu Dhabi to Bahrain, flights 3L015 and 3L017 have not departed. In the reverse direction, 3L016 and 3L018 have also not departed.
On the Sharjah-Kuwait route, G9068 and G9124 are cancelled, while G9121 has not departed. From Kuwait to Sharjah, G9069 and G9125 are cancelled and G9122 has not departed.
For Sharjah-Bahrain, G9107 is cancelled, while G9101, G9103 and G9105 have not departed. In the opposite direction, G9108 is cancelled and G9102, G9104 and G9106 have not departed.
The Sharjah-Abha service G9195 has not departed.
Passengers booked on any affected Air Arabia service should confirm the latest status with the airline before travelling to the airport.
Regional airlines
There are also signs that regional aviation is gradually recovering as some carriers restore services.
- Qatar Airways is resuming passenger flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil from August 8, marking a further step towards restoring parts of its regional network.
- Jazeera Airways has restarted flights to and from Kuwait. Passengers have been advised to arrive at the airport no more than three hours before their revised departure time.
- Oman Air continues to face operational challenges linked to technical issues and temporary airspace restrictions. The airline has warned that delays and cancellations remain possible on parts of its network.
The gradual resumption of services does not mean all routes have returned to normal. Airlines continue to assess individual routes based on security conditions, available airspace and operational requirements.
International airlines
Several international carriers continue to suspend or reduce services to Dubai and other destinations in the region.
- British Airways continues to suspend services to Dubai, Bahrain, Amman and Tel Aviv until October 31.
- Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair and ITA Airways have suspended Dubai services until October 24.
- Lufthansa and Swiss are not scheduled to resume Dubai services until September 13.
- Aegean Airlines and Air Astana have extended Dubai suspensions until August 31, while KLM has suspended Dubai services until August 23.
- Philippine Airlines continues to suspend Dubai flights until October 2.
- Turkish Airlines has resumed services to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, although flights to Iran remain suspended.
- Air Canada has also extended the suspension of its Dubai and Tel Aviv services, delaying the resumption of Dubai flights until mid-January 2027.
Passengers affected by Air Canada's changes can rebook for a later date, change their destination or cancel their booking for travel credit under the airline's flexible booking policy.
Why flights change
Airlines continue to operate cautiously because of temporary airspace restrictions, changing security assessments and operational requirements across the region.
These factors can result in flights being rerouted, delayed or cancelled at short notice. Alternative routes can also increase journey times, while changes to aircraft and crew rotations may affect connecting flights.
Passengers travelling through regional hubs could also experience longer connection times or baggage delays if flight schedules are altered.
What travellers need to know
Passengers flying from the UAE should take a few precautions before setting out for the airport.
- Check flight status before leaving home and again before travelling.
- Monitor airline websites and apps for the latest schedule changes.
- Keep contact details updated so airlines can send SMS, email or other notifications.
- Arrive early, particularly during the busy summer travel period.
- Allow extra time for traffic, check-in, security and immigration procedures.
- Use online check-in where available to reduce time spent at the airport.
- Follow official travel advisories when travelling internationally.
Dubai International Airport and other UAE airports are experiencing high passenger volumes during the summer rush, making early arrival particularly important.