UAE travel updates: Fresh cancellations hit Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia flights
Multiple services affected at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports
DUBAI – UAE travellers are facing further changes to flight schedules, with cancellations reported at Dubai International Airport and an arrival delay affecting Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.
Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have cancelled selected services, while Etihad's Bahrain and Kuwait flights are largely continuing.
The latest disruption comes as regional security conditions remain unsettled, prompting airlines to continue monitoring operations and airspace. Travellers flying through Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah are being urged to check their individual flight status directly with the operating airline before leaving for the airport.
Dubai disruptions
Dubai International Airport has listed several cancelled services, including flydubai flights FZ815 to Abha and FZ8500 to Kuwait. Emirates cancellations include EK855 to Kuwait, EK901 to Amman and EK660 to Male.
flydubai flight FZ833 to Gizan was also cancelled, while Emirates EK338 to Cebu was delayed.
At Zayed International Airport, no departure delays or cancellations were listed in the supplied update. However, several arriving flights were delayed, including Air Arabia Abu Dhabi EY265 from Thiruvananthapuram, Etihad EY299 from Karachi, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi 3L312 from Sialkot, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi 3L044 from Kathmandu and Etihad EY213 from Delhi.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi flight 3L731 from Baku to Abu Dhabi was cancelled.
The reported disruptions can have different causes. While some may be associated with the wider regional situation, others can result from operational or technical issues.
UAE airlines
Etihad said services between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and Kuwait were mostly operating normally. Bahrain flight EY641 had departed, while EY645 was scheduled, and Abu Dhabi-Kuwait flight EY653 had departed late.
The airline also advised passengers to verify their individual flight status before travelling.
Emirates reported that Dubai-Bahrain EK837 had arrived, with EK839 scheduled, while Dubai-Kuwait EK857 was also scheduled.
flydubai reported that FZ029 and FZ023 to Bahrain had arrived, while FZ021 and FZ027 were scheduled. FZ815 to Abha was cancelled and FZ811 was estimated.
The airline advises passengers departing Dubai to allow at least four hours before departure, complete online check-in where available and check their flight status before travelling.
Air Arabia continues to report a mixture of cancellations and scheduled or pending services on UAE-Kuwait and UAE-Bahrain routes.
Sharjah-Kuwait flights G9068 and G9124 were cancelled, while G9121 had not departed. Sharjah-Bahrain G9107 was cancelled, G9101 arrived late and G9103 and G9105 were scheduled.
Abu Dhabi-Kuwait flight 3L020 was also cancelled.
Regional tensions
Regional tensions remain elevated, with Saudi Arabia saying it intercepted a Houthi drone heading towards Mecca, a claim the Houthis have dismissed.
The US has placed Saudi Arabia at Level 3, or "Reconsider Travel", citing risks including Iranian drone and missile attacks, armed conflict and terrorism. Its advisory also maintains a "Do Not Travel" warning for the Yemen border.
Australia's Smartraveller continues to advise travellers to reconsider their need to travel to the UAE, warning that regional conflict could lead to airspace closures, cancellations and short-notice changes.
The UK has removed its broad "against all but essential travel" warning for the UAE but continues to warn about unpredictable regional conditions and possible aviation disruption. The US continues to classify the UAE at Level 3, while Canada advises a high degree of caution for the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
International services
International airlines continue to take different approaches to UAE operations.
Turkish Airlines has resumed Dubai and Abu Dhabi services, while Iran flights remain suspended. Qatar Airways is operating multiple daily Dubai flights and has resumed Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil services, although delays remain possible.
Air India and Air India Express have restored their full GCC networks, with around 780 weekly flights between India and the region. IndiGo is operating selected Middle East services, while flynas continues daily services to Dubai, Doha and Bahrain. Jazeera Airways has also resumed selected Dubai services.
However, several carriers continue to suspend UAE routes.
Air Canada has suspended Dubai flights until mid-January 2027, while Air France has suspended Dubai services through September 19. British Airways flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain suspended, with Dubai services due to resume on October 25 at reduced frequency.
Cathay Pacific has suspended Dubai and Riyadh passenger services through November 30. Singapore Airlines and ITA Airways have suspended Dubai services until October 24, while Finnair's Helsinki-Dubai and AirBaltic's Dubai services are also suspended until that date.
Philippine Airlines has suspended Manila-Dubai services until October 2, while Korean Air's Incheon-Dubai flights remain suspended until further notice.
Pegasus continues to suspend Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah services. Virgin Atlantic's London-Dubai service remains suspended for the foreseeable future.
Lufthansa, Eurowings and SWISS have suspended Dubai services through October 24. Eurowings plans to resume Dubai flights from November 1.
What travellers should do
Passengers should check their individual flight status immediately before leaving home, even when a booking has already been confirmed.
Travellers should monitor official airline and airport channels for last-minute changes, allow at least three hours at the airport and complete online check-in where available.
Passengers flying from Dubai with flydubai should allow at least four hours before departure. With regional conditions continuing to evolve, further delays, cancellations or schedule changes may be announced at short notice.