UAE travel update: Check latest Etihad and Air Arabia flight cancellations today
Emirates and flydubai continue operating scheduled services
DUBAI – Travellers flying to and from the UAE on Friday are being urged to check their flight status before leaving for the airport after Etihad Airways and Air Arabia announced cancellations on selected regional routes, while Emirates and flydubai continue operating their scheduled services.
Although tensions across the Middle East remain elevated, commercial aviation across the UAE continues to function largely as normal. Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and other airports across the country remain operational, with airlines continuing to monitor the regional security situation and make operational adjustments where necessary.
The latest changes are mainly affecting flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, while several international carriers also continue to suspend or reduce Middle East services because of ongoing security concerns.
Passengers travelling on affected routes are advised to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport, as schedules may continue to change at short notice.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways has maintained cancellations on selected Gulf routes because of operational reasons.
The affected services include all scheduled flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, along with:
- EY653: Abu Dhabi to Kuwait
- EY654: Kuwait to Abu Dhabi
The airline said it apologises for the disruption and is assisting affected passengers with alternative travel arrangements.
Customers are encouraged to ensure their contact information is up to date so they can receive the latest notifications by SMS or email.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia has also cancelled several services operating from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
The affected flights are:
- G9068: Sharjah to Kuwait
- G9124: Sharjah to Kuwait
- G9107: Sharjah to Bahrain
- G9195: Sharjah to Abha
- 3L020: Abu Dhabi to Kuwait
Passengers travelling with the airline are advised to check the latest flight status online or contact customer service before leaving for the airport.
Emirates
As of Friday morning, Emirates has not announced any significant operational changes or cancellations linked to the current regional situation.
The airline continues to operate scheduled services across its network while closely monitoring developments.
Passengers are nevertheless encouraged to check their booking status before travelling, particularly if connecting through destinations affected by regional airspace restrictions.
flydubai
flydubai is also continuing normal operations.
The airline has not announced any major cancellations or schedule revisions for Friday, with flights operating according to schedule.
Customers are advised to monitor the airline's website or mobile application for the latest updates before travelling.
Other airlines
Saudia said all cancellations and schedule changes have now been incorporated into its reservation system through the end of October 2026, allowing passengers to view the latest flight information before making travel plans.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways continues to suspend passenger services to Bahrain, Erbil and Kuwait until and including July 31, while monitoring the evolving regional security situation.
International airlines
Several international airlines continue to suspend or reduce services to destinations across the Gulf.
Among the latest operational changes:
- British Airways has suspended flights to Dubai, Bahrain, Amman and Tel Aviv until October 31.
- Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Finnair and ITA Airways continue to suspend Dubai services until October 24.
- Lufthansa and Swiss have suspended Dubai flights until September 13, while several other Middle East routes remain suspended until late October.
- Aegean Airlines and Air Astana have extended Dubai flight suspensions until August 31.
- KLM has suspended Dubai services until August 23.
- Philippine Airlines continues to suspend Dubai flights until October 2, although Manila-Doha services have resumed.
- Turkish Airlines has resumed services to Dubai and Abu Dhabi but continues to suspend flights to Iran.
- Wizz Air expects to resume Dubai and Abu Dhabi services during September.
Passengers booked with affected airlines are advised to contact their carrier regarding refunds, travel waivers or alternative flight options.
Longer flight times
Although the majority of flights continue to operate, airlines are still avoiding parts of regional airspace because of ongoing security concerns.
As a result, some passengers may experience flight times extended by one to three hours, longer connection times, last-minute schedule adjustments and occasional baggage delays.
Airlines continue to review flight paths based on operational and safety assessments.
Travel advisories
Governments and aviation authorities continue to advise travellers to remain alert.
The US Department of State has warned of possible flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and wider travel disruptions across the region.
The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office says the security situation remains unpredictable and recommends monitoring official updates before travelling.
Canada continues to advise against non-essential travel to the UAE because renewed missile or drone activity could affect aviation operations.
Australia has advised its citizens in the region to consider leaving while commercial flights remain available, where it is safe to do so.
Meanwhile, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its Gulf conflict-zone advisory until August 31, urging airlines to exercise extreme caution because of the risks posed by missile and drone activity, military operations and falling debris.
What passengers should do
Travellers flying from the UAE today should check their flight status before leaving for the airport, monitor airline websites and mobile applications for updates, ensure their airline has their latest contact information and allow extra time for their journey.