In the midst of US-Israel and Iran conflicts, the United Arab Emirates has suspended all flight operations across airports. Airspaces across the Middle East have closed and flights are facing cancellations since the attack on Iran on Saturday morning, with President Donald Trump confirming that “major combat operations” are underway. Following this, on Saturday, the Middle Eastern countries closed their airspaces, leading to flight disruptions in UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran, Israel, and Iraq.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) reportedly said that the decision followed a thorough assessment of security risks. National and international authorities were also involved in taking this decision that involves flight disruptions.
UAE airports with suspended operations
Latest update: All airports have started working partially and the UAE airspace has started working partially too. Please wait for confirmation calls from the airlines for your seats before you head to the airport.
Official authorities have confirmed that the following airports will be temporarily suspended, due to operational hazards and safety risks.
Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi has suspended all operations and urged travellers to check with airlines before heading to the airport. Dubai International Airport (or DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) are suspended until “further notice”. Sharjah Airport Authority has confirmed that Sharjah International Airport will have a full suspension of flights.
The GCAA are working closely with airports and airlines to ensure that they activate emergency response plans and return back to normal operations soon. Airports are coordinating together to manage flight disruptions, tackle passenger flow, minimise disruption, and terminal congestion.
Airlines with flight disruptions
The Dubai Media Offices posted a statement asking passengers to “not to travel to the airport at this time and to contact their respective airlines directly for the latest updates regarding their flights.”
Emirates Airways
As per latest news updates, Emirates has suspended flights to and from Dubai until 3PM UAE time on March 3, 2026. Passengers can rebook travel up to March 20 or request for refunds.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways has suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 2PM on March 3, UAE time. Travellers holding tickets that are on or before February 28 can rebook free of charge for travel up to March 18. Alternatively, they can also seek refunds for flights that are scheduled until March 3.
flydubai
flydubai has temporarily stopped all operations for flights to and from Dubai until 3PM UAE time on March 2, 2026. Passengers scheduled to travel within 72 hours can either rebook to the same destination within 20 days or apply for refunds through official booking channels.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia has suspended all UAE flights until 3PM on March 2 and extended cancellations to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq until March 3.
Finnair
Finnair also temporarily suspended flights to and from Doha and Dubai between February 28 and March 6. They also suspended flights to Iraq, Syria, Iran and Israel for the time-being.
Air India, Air India Express, Indigo, Pakistan International Airlines have announced flight suspensions and cancellations in the wider Gulf region. The number of flights that are re-routing to avoid the Gulf region is increasing in number with the airspaces closing. Qatar Airways has also temporarily suspended all flights after the Qatari airspace was closed.
British Airways cancelled flights between London, Heathrow and Amman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Tel Aviv and Doha. It has also grounded all flights to Bahrain and Tel Aviv until March 3, 2026. Gulf Air has advised all passengers that flights to and from Bahrain are affected, and fliers should check the official website for updates.
Lufthansa Airlines had suspended all flights to and from Dubai over the weekend. Recent updates are still incoming. However, they have confirmed all services to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman would be suspended till March 7 at least. Virgin Atlantic suspended all services between London, Riyadh and Dubai over the weekend.
What you can do as a stranded passenger
If you are stranded at the airport or nearby, it is advised to head indoors and take shelter. Avoid travelling to the airport if you know that the UAE airspace is still confirmed as closed. All operations at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi are suspended “until further notice”.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority is providing accommodation to stranded transit passengers. Over 20,000 passengers have been placed in hotels and temporary accommodation, with meals and refreshments on Saturday night alone.
Reddit and Twitter users are advising passengers with flight disruptions to contact hotels or Airbnb hosts to extend stays and negotiate better rates. Community groups, WhatsApp forwards and social media accounts are extending free or discounted accommodation options to stranded passengers. Some Abu Dhabi residents are going the extra mile and opening their homes to those in need.
A list of emergency numbers in the UAE that you can use:
- 999 for Police
- 998 for Ambulance
- 997 for Fire Department (Civil Defence)
- 996 for Coastguard
- 995 for Find and Rescue
- 991 for Electricity Failure
While private work sectors are being urged to let employees work from home, schools and universities are set to stay closed till Wednesday March 4, 2026.
Amidst all this uncertainty, officials have urged residents and tourists to stay indoors and stay safe. Their proactive approach is bringing relief to thousands of people in the UAE. The Ministry of Defence stresses that it remains “fully prepared and ready to address any threats and is taking all necessary measures to decisively confront anything that seeks to undermine the country’s security and stability.”