UAE travel update: Check latest flight cancellations, airline suspensions and travel advisories
Etihad, Air Arabia and others cancel select Gulf routes amid regional tensions
DUBAI – UAE airports continue to operate normally despite ongoing regional tensions, with airlines maintaining largely uninterrupted services while selectively suspending routes to destinations affected by the evolving security situation.
After months of conflict, disruption to shipping through the Gulf and repeated concerns over regional energy infrastructure, the Middle East has entered what officials describe as a fragile diplomatic pause. Although no major US airstrikes have been reported against Iran in recent days, aviation authorities and governments continue to warn that the security situation remains unpredictable and could change at short notice.
For passengers travelling through Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and other UAE airports, operations remain largely unaffected. However, airlines continue to monitor regional airspace closely, adjusting schedules and flight paths where necessary, while some services to neighbouring Gulf countries remain suspended.
Demand on certain regional routes also remains below normal levels as some travellers continue to delay trips following weeks of uncertainty. As a result, several carriers have yet to restore their full schedules, particularly on services to Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Passengers travelling on these routes are advised to confirm their flight status before leaving for the airport and remain in contact with their airline for the latest updates.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways continues to operate most of its international network, although selected regional services remain suspended.
Flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain continue to be cancelled, while services EY653 from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait and EY654 from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi also remain suspended. The airline has not announced when these routes will resume normal operations.
Passengers travelling with Etihad are advised to ensure their contact details are up to date so they can receive the latest travel notifications by SMS or email should there be any changes to their booking.
flydubai
flydubai continues to operate the vast majority of its network while maintaining cancellations on selected Saudi Arabian services.
The airline has cancelled:
- FZ815 from Dubai to Abha
- FZ811 from Dubai to Abha
Passengers booked on affected flights are encouraged to check the latest schedule through the airline's website or mobile application before travelling.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia continues to adjust operations on several regional routes from Sharjah.
The following services remain cancelled:
- G9068 to Kuwait
- G9124 to Kuwait
- G9195 to Abha
- G9160 to Dammam
- G9107 to Bahrain
- G9040 to Doha
- G9138 to Doha
- G9027 to Doha
The airline has advised customers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport as schedules remain subject to change.
Other airlines
Several regional and international airlines have also updated their schedules in response to the continuing security situation.
Saudia said all cancellations and schedule changes have now been incorporated into its booking system through the end of October 2026, allowing passengers to book with greater certainty. Even so, the airline continues to advise customers to confirm their flight status before travelling.
Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended passenger services to Bahrain, Erbil and Kuwait until and including July 31, 2026.
Meanwhile, flyadeal has cancelled flight F3506 between Dubai and Riyadh.
International carriers
Operational changes continue to affect numerous international airlines serving the Middle East.
Among the latest updates:
- Aegean Airlines has cancelled Dubai flights until August 31.
- Air Astana has suspended Dubai services from Almaty and Astana until August 31, while offering refunds and rebooking options.
- Air Canada has suspended Toronto-Dubai flights until October 24.
- Air France expects Dubai services to resume from July 27, while maintaining suspensions on selected regional routes.
- airBaltic continues to suspend Riga-Dubai flights.
- British Airways has suspended services to Dubai, Bahrain, Amman and Tel Aviv until October 31, while reducing Doha and Riyadh operations and permanently withdrawing its Jeddah route.
- Cathay Pacific has suspended Dubai flights until October 24 and Riyadh services until October 25.
- Finnair has extended the suspension of Dubai flights until October 24, with Doha winter services also affected.
- ITA Airways has suspended Dubai operations until October 24.
- KLM continues to suspend flights to Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam until August 23.
- Lufthansa Group, including Lufthansa and Swiss, has suspended Dubai flights until September 13, while several other Middle East services remain suspended until October 24.
- Philippine Airlines has resumed Manila-Doha services, although Dubai flights remain suspended until October 2.
- Scoot has suspended Singapore-Jeddah services until August 8.
- Singapore Airlines has suspended Dubai flights until October 24, while delaying the launch of Riyadh services until December 1.
- Turkish Airlines has resumed services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Damascus, Beirut and Amman, although flights to Iran remain suspended.
- Wizz Air continues to suspend services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman, with operations expected to resume during September.
Passengers travelling with any of these airlines are advised to contact their carrier directly regarding refunds, rebooking options and available travel waivers.
Travel advisories
Although airport operations across the UAE remain stable, international authorities continue to advise caution.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its conflict-zone advisory covering the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and parts of the Gulf of Oman until August 31, citing ongoing security risks linked to military activity.
The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to advise British nationals travelling in the region to remain alert for possible flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and travel disruption, while encouraging travellers to monitor airline updates and local guidance.
The US Department of State has maintained its worldwide advisory urging Americans to exercise increased caution, warning that the regional security environment remains complex despite the recent diplomatic understanding between Washington and Tehran.
Similar travel advisories also remain in place for citizens of Canada and Australia.
Why delays continue
Although UAE airports are operating normally, security-related airspace restrictions in parts of the region continue to affect some international flight operations.
Airlines are rerouting selected services to avoid restricted airspace, resulting in longer journey times on certain routes.
Passengers may experience flight durations extended by one to three hours, longer connection times at transit airports, schedule adjustments and occasional baggage delays because of revised routing.
Airlines continue to stress that these operational decisions are being taken primarily for safety reasons and remain subject to ongoing review.
What passengers need to know
Travellers departing from the UAE are encouraged to take several precautions before heading to the airport.
Passengers should confirm their flight status through their airline's official website or mobile application, ensure the airline has their latest contact details, and allow additional time for travel to and through the airport.
Those travelling internationally are also advised to monitor official travel guidance issued by their home country and remain prepared for schedule adjustments if the regional security situation changes.
For now, however, the picture across the UAE remains largely unchanged: airports continue to operate normally, most flights are departing as scheduled, and disruptions remain confined to selected regional routes rather than widespread cancellations.