Travel across the United Arab Emirates has been thrown into fresh uncertainty as a cluster of airlines including Emirates, KLM, Qatar Airways and Israir cancel or suspend services on key regional and European routes.

A dozen departures from Dubai International, Sharjah and Al Maktoum International have been scrubbed over the past week, affecting links to Tehran, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Doha, Copenhagen, Stockholm and several other cities.

The latest disruptions come against the backdrop of heightened security concerns in the Middle East and new airspace guidance that is forcing carriers to rethink routings across the region.

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Wave of Cancellations Hits Dubai, Sharjah and Al Maktoum

Airport departure boards across the UAE have reflected a choppy operational picture in recent days, with clusters of cancellations rather than blanket shutdowns. According to airport listings and airline advisories, at least 12 flights from the country’s three main commercial hubs have been cancelled in the current disruption window, cutting into both regional and long-haul connectivity.

Dubai International, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, has been particularly affected. Cancellations there have touched services operated by Emirates, KLM and Israir, including flights to Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport. Sharjah International has seen at least one Qatar Airways departure to Doha dropped, while Dubai World Central, also known as Al Maktoum International, has recorded multiple cancellations to Northern and Eastern Europe.

Although the total number of affected flights remains small compared with the hundreds of daily movements through UAE airspace, the selective nature of the cancellations has sown confusion among travelers. Many passengers report that onward connections, rather than initial sectors, are being most heavily impacted as airlines reconfigure their networks around geopolitical flashpoints and newly restricted air corridors.

Emirates Adjusts Network Around Iran, Iraq and Beyond

Emirates, Dubai’s flagship carrier and one of the world’s largest long-haul airlines, has taken a notably cautious stance on routes touching Iran and Iraq since regional tensions escalated in mid 2025. The airline previously extended the suspension of flights to Tehran, Baghdad and Basra through the end of June 2025 amid concerns over airspace safety linked to Israel Iran hostilities and US military activity in the region.

That longer running suspension forms the backdrop to the latest, narrower wave of cancellations. At Dubai International, Emirates has cancelled multiple services previously scheduled to operate as flight FDB1929 to Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran on consecutive evenings at 22:00. While most of the airline’s wider global network continues to operate normally, the continued absence of Iran from its schedule underscores ongoing wariness about flying over or into areas that could be affected by any future military escalation.

Emirates has urged passengers with bookings on affected Middle East routes to monitor communications closely and to expect itinerary changes at short notice. In line with standard practice for operational disruptions, the airline is offering rebooking options on alternative dates or destinations where possible, as well as refunds for flights that are formally cancelled. For many travelers, however, the challenge is less about refunds and more about finding viable rerouting options as multiple carriers simultaneously pare back exposure to high risk airspace.

KLM Cuts UAE and Tel Aviv Services Amid Safety Concerns

Dutch carrier KLM has emerged as one of the most visible European airlines reshaping its Middle East footprint in January 2026. After suspending flights to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel on 24 January, the airline confirmed that services to Dubai would remain cancelled through at least Wednesday 28 January. It now plans a limited resumption of Dubai flights from Friday 30 January, while warning that departure times could change and some flights may still be pulled close to departure.

KLM’s travel alert pages and public statements emphasize that the primary driver is the current security situation and related airspace restrictions over parts of Iran, Iraq and Israel. The airline has already restarted flights to Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia but continues to hold back from Tel Aviv. A planned restart of the Amsterdam Tel Aviv route was reversed at the last minute, with KLM saying it would not resume the service “for the time being” and reiterating that passenger and crew safety remains its overriding priority.

The latest cancellations from Dubai include flight KLM428 from Dubai International to Amsterdam Schiphol, scheduled to depart at 01:55. That overnight service is a key connection for travelers heading into KLM’s extensive European and transatlantic network, magnifying the knock on impact of a single cancellation. Passengers on affected flights are being rebooked automatically where possible, with the airline cautioning that multiple rounds of rebooking may be necessary as the situation evolves.

Israeli carrier Israir has also featured among the latest cancellations out of Dubai. A scheduled Israir service operating as flight ISR664 from Dubai International to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport at 17:10 was cancelled, further constraining already limited travel options between the Gulf and Israel. International services to Tel Aviv have been repeatedly thinned out or suspended outright by a range of carriers since late 2025 amid security concerns, drone risks and shifting government advisories.

Qatar Airways, meanwhile, has cancelled at least one service from the UAE, with flight QTR1039 from Sharjah International to Doha dropped from the schedule. Although Qatar Airways’ main operations are centered on its Doha hub rather than UAE airports, the Sharjah cancellation is emblematic of the careful recalibration now underway across Gulf carriers tapping secondary markets and regional feeder routes.

At Al Maktoum International, several lesser known or charter oriented operators have also cancelled departures on routes that connect the UAE to Northern and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. Listed cancellations include flight NSZ3797 to Copenhagen, UTA734 to Grozny in Russia’s North Caucasus region, NSZ3997 to Oslo Gardermoen and NSZ3999 to Stockholm Arlanda. The aircraft types assigned to these routes range from Boeing 737 variants to Boeing 787 Dreamliners, suggesting a mix of scheduled and possibly ad hoc charter operations affected by the current risk environment and changing demand patterns.

Security Advisories and Airspace Warnings Shape Airline Decisions

The immediate triggers for this latest round of disruptions are a cocktail of factors that extend beyond the UAE’s borders. Aviation authorities, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, have issued updated conflict zone information bulletins advising airlines to avoid Iranian airspace at all altitudes in light of increased military activity and the perceived risk of misidentification of civil aircraft. These recommendations, while not outright bans, exert significant pressure on carriers to reroute or suspend flights that would ordinarily transit the affected skies.

At the geopolitical level, tensions between the United States and Iran have risen sharply, with a substantial US naval deployment reported in the Gulf and elevated rhetoric from both sides. Regional security has also been strained by recent Israeli operations against Iranian targets, as well as previous incidents that prompted Iran to temporarily close its airspace and led to mass cancellations of services to cities such as Tehran, Shiraz, Lar, Kish Island and Bandar Abbas.

Airlines have grown increasingly wary of the operational and reputational risks associated with flying near active or potential conflict zones, particularly during night hours when the risk of misidentification is considered higher. Some European carriers, for example, have shifted overnight services to Tel Aviv and Amman into daylight slots to mitigate exposure. Others have added lengthy detours to avoid contested airspace, accepting higher fuel burn and extended block times as the cost of maintaining service.

Knock-on Effects for Passengers and Regional Connectivity

For passengers, the most immediate impact of the cancellations is uncertainty. Travelers with imminent departures from Dubai, Sharjah or Al Maktoum are being advised to check flight status repeatedly in the 24 hours before departure and to ensure that airlines have accurate contact details for last minute notifications. Even where flights operate as scheduled, reroutings around closed or restricted airspace can lead to extended flight times, missed connections and late arrivals.

Airlines across the region are generally offering flexible rebooking and refund policies for customers on affected flights. KLM, for instance, allows passengers booked between 23 and 31 January on Middle East routes that have been cancelled to rebook for later dates or to request a full refund. Emirates and other Gulf carriers have implemented similar measures on suspended destinations such as Tehran, Baghdad and Basra, as well as previously affected points including Israel and Syria.

The disruptions also highlight the vulnerability of key regional hubs like Dubai to external shocks. While the total number of cancelled flights is still a small fraction of daily schedules, the concentration of disruptions on politically sensitive routes risks creating “thin spots” in connectivity to certain countries and regions. Over time, if heightened risk advisories persist, airlines may opt to permanently redeploy capacity away from these markets toward more stable corridors, reshaping the map of Middle East air travel.

How Long Could the Disruptions Last?

A key question for both passengers and industry stakeholders is duration. As of 29 January 2026, most international airlines have resumed the bulk of their Middle East operations following cancellations earlier in the month. However, several routes remain suspended or subject to ad hoc changes, including services to Tel Aviv, selected Iranian destinations and some flights that would ordinarily cross Iranian and Iraqi airspace on their way to or from the Gulf.

Regulators and safety agencies currently project that heightened caution around Iranian skies will extend at least into mid February 2026, when existing conflict zone bulletins come up for review. Industry analysts note that airlines often maintain conservative routing and schedule adjustments longer than formal guidance requires, especially if military deployments in the region remain unchanged or if peace talks fail to ease tensions significantly.

For now, carriers such as Emirates, KLM, Qatar Airways and Israir are monitoring conditions on a day by day basis and signaling that further schedule changes are possible at short notice. Travelers planning trips involving the UAE and nearby hotspots over the next several weeks are therefore being urged to build flexibility into their itineraries, allow extra time for connections and consider travel insurance options that specifically cover geopolitical disruptions and airspace closures.

FAQ

Q1. Which routes from the UAE are currently seeing the most disruptions?
Flights between the UAE and cities such as Tehran, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Doha, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm and Grozny have experienced cancellations or temporary suspensions, with Dubai International, Sharjah and Al Maktoum International all affected to varying degrees.

Q2. Why are airlines cancelling specific flights instead of entire schedules?
Airlines are targeting cancellations at routes and flight paths that intersect with high risk or restricted airspace, particularly over Iran, Iraq and Israel, while trying to preserve broader network connectivity. This results in selective disruptions focused on certain destinations and departure times rather than wholesale shutdowns.

Q3. How are Emirates flights being affected by the current situation?
Emirates continues to operate the majority of its global network but has suspended services to certain destinations including Tehran, Baghdad and Basra and has cancelled select departures from Dubai to Iran in recent days as part of its cautious approach to evolving security risks.

Q4. What is KLM’s position on flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv?
KLM has cancelled its Dubai flights through at least 28 January 2026 and plans a limited resumption from 30 January, subject to change, while its Amsterdam Tel Aviv route remains suspended until the airline deems it safe and operationally feasible to restart.

Q5. Are flights between the UAE and Doha affected?
Yes, at least one Qatar Airways service from Sharjah to Doha has been cancelled, and while most flights between the UAE and Qatar continue to operate, passengers are advised to check schedules frequently due to the fluid situation.

Q6. What options do passengers have if their flight is cancelled?
Most airlines impacted, including Emirates, KLM and Qatar Airways, are offering free rebooking to alternative dates or destinations where capacity allows, along with the option of full refunds for flights that are formally cancelled, and in some cases reimbursement for reasonable out of pocket expenses.

Q7. How do airspace restrictions impact travel times even when flights operate?
When airlines reroute to avoid restricted or high risk airspace, flights often take longer paths, leading to extended flight times, potential technical fuel stops and a higher chance of missed or tight connections, even if the original departure and arrival airports remain the same.

Q8. Are low cost carriers in the region also affected by these disruptions?
Yes, some low cost carriers operating out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi have had to add technical refuelling stops or adjust routings on westbound flights, and in some cases suspend services altogether to destinations in the Caucasus and Central Asia that rely on transiting Iranian or adjacent airspace.

Q9. What should travelers do if they are scheduled to transit through Dubai in the coming weeks?
Travelers should monitor their booking through airline apps or websites, confirm that contact details are up to date, allow generous connection times, consider booking flexible fares and, where possible, avoid tight back to back connections on routes that are more exposed to airspace related delays.

Q10. Could these disruptions spread to more destinations?
While most carriers hope to limit changes to a handful of sensitive routes, further escalation in regional tensions or new regulatory advisories could prompt additional suspensions or reroutings, so a wider impact on schedules across the Middle East and connecting hubs remains a possibility.