Dubai: UAE travellers are facing a mixed picture on Sunday, with Emirates, Etihad and flydubai operating key regional services while delays and cancellations continue across Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports.
Air Arabia has cancelled several Kuwait and Bahrain flights, while a number of international airlines continue to suspend UAE services amid the evolving security situation.
Air France has also suspended flights to and from Dubai through September 8, while disruptions are also being reported on some routes because of operational issues and volcanic activity in Indonesia.
This update includes flight cancellations, delays and schedule changes reported by airlines and airports. Not all of these disruptions are related to the conflict or regional security situation; some may be due to operational, technical or other reasons.
War status
The latest escalation comes after the United States said it destroyed three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday in response to attempted missile attacks on naval vessels. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted US-linked ships in response.
The clashes follow US raids last week and come amid a deadlock in the six-month war. Iran continues to maintain its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, while Washington is pressing its counter-blockade of Iranian ports and has announced further sanctions on entities with financial links to Iran.
The disruption is also being felt in energy markets. Middle East crude oil exports in August were 39 per cent below the January-February pre-war baseline of 18.5 million barrels per day, according to TankerTrackers.
What UAE airlines are doing
Etihad Airways
Services between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain are mostly operating normally.
Services between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait are also mostly operating normally.
No major cancellations have been reported on the routes listed.
Several flights from Zayed International Airport have been delayed.
Delayed services include flights to Tel Aviv, Charlotte, Kathmandu, Doha, Boston, Jeddah, Tashkent, Tbilisi, Atlanta, Lisbon, Nairobi and Manchester.
Flight EY474 from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta on September 5 was delayed for operational reasons linked to the volcanic eruption at Krakatau.
The return flight, EY475 from Jakarta to Abu Dhabi on September 6, is also expected to be delayed.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi
Some Air Arabia Abu Dhabi flights from Abu Dhabi were delayed in the morning.
Affected destinations included:
3L044 — Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu
3L764 — Abu Dhabi to Tashkent
3L715 — Abu Dhabi to Tbilisi
Passengers should confirm their flight status directly with Air Arabia before departure.
Emirates
Emirates services on key Gulf routes were scheduled to operate:
EK837: Dubai to Bahrain
EK839: Dubai to Bahrain
EK857: Dubai to Kuwait
Passengers have been advised to check Emirates’ official website and other airline channels for the latest updates, as schedules may change at short notice.
flydubai
flydubai flights to Kuwait and Bahrain are operating as scheduled.
The airline is advising passengers departing from Dubai to:
Arrive at least four hours before departure.
Complete online check-in where available.
Check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
Allow extra time for traffic, check-in, security and immigration.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia has cancelled the following flights:
G9068: Sharjah to Kuwait
G9124: Sharjah to Kuwait
G9107: Sharjah to Bahrain
3L020: Abu Dhabi to Kuwait
Passengers affected by cancellations should contact Air Arabia for rebooking and refund information.
Delays at Dubai International Airport
Delays were also recorded on several services at Dubai International Airport, including:
Delayed Emirates services include flights to Jeddah, London Heathrow, Washington, Bali, Osaka and Jakarta.
flydubai’s Dubai-Chittagong service is also delayed.
Turkish Airlines’ flight to Istanbul is delayed.
IndiGo’s service to Kozhikode is delayed.
Pegasus’ flight to Istanbul Sabiha is delayed.
Ethiopian Airlines’ service to Addis Ababa is delayed.
SpiceJet services to Pune and New Delhi are delayed.
Emirates flight EK356 from Dubai to Jakarta is listed as cancelled.
Passengers should check with their airline before travelling to the airport, even if their flight was previously confirmed.
Note: The cancellations and delays listed above may have different causes. Some may be linked to the wider regional situation, while others may be due to operational or technical reasons.
Indonesia-related disruption
Travellers flying to Indonesia should expect possible delays.
Volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau has disrupted operations at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Operations have also been affected at Lampung’s Radin Inten II airport.
The closure at Jakarta airport affected 209 flights and 22,798 passengers.
International cancellations and delays have also been reported.
Regional situation
Across the wider region, several international carriers are restoring services while continuing to monitor airspace and security conditions.
Turkish Airlines has resumed Dubai and Abu Dhabi services but continues to suspend flights to Iran. Qatar Airways is operating multiple daily Dubai flights and has resumed services to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil, although delays remain possible.
Air India and Air India Express have restored their full GCC networks, while IndiGo is operating selected Middle East services. flynas is operating daily flights to Dubai, Doha and Bahrain, and Jazeera Airways is operating selected services including Dubai.
What international travel advisories are saying
UK: The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has lifted its broad “against all but essential travel” warning for major regional hubs including the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. However, it continues to warn that the situation is unpredictable, with possible flight delays and sudden airspace changes.
US: The US has placed the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Oman at Level 3 — “Reconsider Travel” — citing risks linked to armed conflict, drone and missile interceptions and significant commercial flight disruption. Non-emergency US government staff and their families were ordered to leave the UAE.
Canada: Canada continues to advise travellers to exercise a “high degree of caution” in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. It also advises travellers to keep documents up to date and maintain sufficient supplies in case they need to shelter in place if commercial flights are suspended.
What international carriers are saying
Turkish Airlines: Dubai and Abu Dhabi services have resumed. Flights to Iran remain suspended, with further cancellations possible as the airline monitors regional airspace.
Qatar Airways: Multiple daily Dubai flights are operating, while services to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil have also resumed. Delays remain possible. The airline says its network has recovered to more than 160 destinations, around 85 per cent of its pre-war network.
Air India and Air India Express: Both carriers have restored their full GCC networks, with around 780 weekly flights between India and the region. Regional airspace closures could still affect operations.
IndiGo: Selected Middle East services are operating as the airline continues to monitor the regional situation and regulatory guidance.
flynas: Daily services to Dubai, Doha and Bahrain are operating, alongside flights to destinations including Germany, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.
Jazeera Airways: Selected services, including flights to Dubai, are operating, although intermittent closures of Kuwait International Airport and its airspace could still cause disruption.
UAE routes still suspended
Air France: Flights to and from Dubai are suspended through September 8, inclusive, as the airline monitors the evolving security situation. The carrier has resumed services to Tel Aviv and Riyadh, while Beirut flights remain suspended through September 13.
Cathay Pacific: All passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh have been suspended through November 30 because of regional security developments.
British Airways: Dubai and Abu Dhabi services remain suspended. Dubai flights are scheduled to resume on October 25 at reduced frequency.
Singapore Airlines: Singapore-Dubai flights remain suspended until October 24.
ITA Airways: Dubai services are suspended until October 24.
Finnair: Helsinki-Dubai flights are suspended until October 24.
Philippine Airlines: Manila-Dubai flights are suspended until October 2.
AirBaltic: Dubai flights are suspended until October 24.
Korean Air: Incheon-Dubai flights remain suspended until further notice.
Pegasus: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah services are suspended.
Virgin Atlantic: London-Dubai flights remain suspended for the foreseeable future.
Lufthansa, Eurowings and SWISS: Dubai services remain suspended through October 24 for operational reasons. Eurowings plans to resume Dubai flights from November 1.
Air Canada: Suspended Dubai services until mid-January 2027.
What can travellers keep in mind
Travellers should:
Arrive at least three hours before departure, or earlier if advised by the airline.
Allow four hours when flying from Dubai with flydubai, in line with the airline's guidance.
Complete online check-in where available.
Allow extra time for traffic, check-in, security and immigration.
Keep contact details updated with the airline to receive disruption alerts.
Be prepared for last-minute delays, cancellations or schedule changes.
Follow official airline and airport channels for the latest information.
Flight status alert: Check your airline’s official website or app for the latest updates before travelling.
