Real-time guide to Middle East flight chaos for UAE travelers

Weeks of Middle East airspace restrictions and intermittent closures have left passengers flying via the United Arab Emirates facing cancellations, diversions and reduced schedules, even as some services gradually resume.

What is driving the latest disruption?

The latest phase of flight disruption across the Middle East is closely linked to ongoing tensions involving Iran, Israel and Gulf states, which escalated sharply from late February 2026. Missile and drone attacks across the region prompted precautionary airspace closures and restrictions in several countries, including the United Arab Emirates. Publicly available aviation bulletins describe a patchwork of restricted or partially open airspace across Bahrain, Qatar, Israel, Iran, Iraq and the UAE, forcing airlines to reroute or ground flights.

In the UAE, authorities briefly closed national airspace in mid March after incidents involving drones near Dubai International Airport. Operations have since restarted, but on a reduced scale, with airlines adjusting routes to avoid conflict zones and comply with updated safety advisories. Guidance from European and industry aviation bodies continues to advise against using large sections of Middle East airspace, including over the UAE and neighboring states, which limits the number of viable corridors for long haul services.

The result is a rolling pattern of cancellations, delays and extended flight times for passengers traveling to, from or through Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. While full shutdowns are no longer in place, the system remains fragile, and new security incidents can trigger rapid changes to schedules.

How are major UAE hubs and airlines operating now?

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest hub for international traffic, is open but handling fewer flights than before the crisis. Industry data cited in regional coverage indicates that Emirates is operating at a reduced schedule compared with late February, though the carrier has restored a majority of its services and is considered one of the strongest regional performers in the recovery. Passengers report a mix of on time operations, rolling delays and occasional last minute cancellations, particularly on routes that require overflying high risk airspace.

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport is also open with a limited schedule. Etihad Airways is operating a constrained network through at least the end of April, serving around 80 global destinations on a reduced frequency pattern. Some flights to nearby Middle East cities remain suspended, and arrival boards in recent days have shown clusters of cancellations by Etihad and partner airlines as they react to operational and regulatory changes.

Sharjah and secondary UAE airports are experiencing similar pressures. Low cost carrier Air Arabia has resumed a limited number of services to and from the UAE, but certain regional routes remain on hold. Foreign airlines have taken a cautious approach, with some, including carriers from Europe and Asia, extending suspensions of flights to Dubai into late April while they reassess security and routing options.

Travel data platforms tracking disruption estimate that hundreds of flights across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have been cancelled or heavily delayed since the crisis began, leaving many passengers facing missed connections and extended stays in transit hotels as they wait for rebooking options.

Routes most affected for UAE passengers

For travelers starting or connecting in the UAE, the greatest disruption is on short haul routes around the Gulf and the wider Middle East. Publicly available travel advisories and airline updates show that flights to Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar and parts of Saudi Arabia remain limited or suspended on several carriers, including from Abu Dhabi. Some airlines have also paused services to neighboring hubs that are themselves affected by airspace restrictions, such as Doha and Bahrain.

Long haul services between the UAE and Europe, North America and parts of Asia are operating but often on altered routings. To avoid sensitive airspace over Iran, Iraq and surrounding conflict zones, airlines have adopted more southerly or westerly tracks, increasing flight times and fuel burn. Passengers on these routes may notice longer block times, later arrivals and tighter connections, especially when flying onward to secondary cities.

Flights that would normally overfly multiple affected states are particularly vulnerable. Some services from the UAE to Northern Europe, Central Asia and selected African destinations have faced temporary suspensions or significant time adjustments as carriers work around closures. Schedules remain subject to change at short notice when missile activity or military alerts lead to new restrictions.

What this means for bookings, refunds and rebooking

For passengers holding tickets into or out of the UAE, the disruption translates into a complex landscape of special waiver policies. Emirates has introduced options for travelers originally booked during the heaviest period of disruption between late February and mid April, allowing rebooking onto alternative dates or requesting refunds in cases of cancellation. Other Gulf carriers, including Qatar Airways and regional low cost airlines, have also issued temporary rules permitting date changes or route adjustments without standard penalties for affected tickets.

Etihad Airways is maintaining a reduced schedule through at least 30 April, and publicly posted information indicates that routes into certain conflict adjacent markets are paused through late May. Passengers booked on suspended services are being offered refunds or rebooking on alternative destinations within the network, subject to seat availability and fare conditions. Some international airlines that have halted Dubai operations through the end of April are offering full refunds or free changes for all passengers on their cancelled flights.

Travel agents and online booking platforms are publishing rolling updates that aggregate airline policies for the region. These advisories typically recommend that passengers do not attempt to change flights at the airport check in desk unless travel is imminent, but instead rebook via airline apps, call centers, or the original booking channel to avoid long queues and limited agent capacity during disruption peaks.

Practical steps for UAE passengers right now

Passengers due to travel via Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah in the coming days are being urged by airlines and travel intermediaries to treat their plans as flexible. Most guidance recommends checking flight status repeatedly in the 24 hours before departure, rather than assuming a previously issued confirmation will hold. Because schedules can change overnight in response to security developments, a flight that appears on time one day may be retimed or cancelled the next.

Travel experts also advise allowing generous connection times when transiting through UAE hubs, particularly for journeys involving separate tickets. With longer routings and possible air traffic congestion, minimum connection times that were adequate earlier this year may no longer be reliable. Where possible, passengers are encouraged to book through itineraries on a single ticket so that missed connections can be reprotected by the operating carrier.

For those already affected by cancellations, keeping records can be important. Industry guidance suggests saving all emails, boarding passes and receipts for meals or accommodation arranged during disruption, as these may support claims under airline policies or consumer protection frameworks in the passenger’s home jurisdiction. However, compensation rules vary widely by airline and route, and many carriers categorize the current situation as extraordinary circumstances linked to security, which can limit payout obligations.

As tensions in the region continue, the outlook for full normalization of air travel through the UAE remains uncertain. Most forecasts from aviation analysts point to a gradual recovery in capacity if security conditions stabilize, but emphasize that travelers should expect a period of heightened unpredictability on Middle East routes for weeks to come.