Middle East flight cancellations: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia and regional carriers suspend services amid airspace closures. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah airports closed; major airlines issue urgent travel advisories.
WEBDESK – Act Global Media
A wave of airspace closures across the Middle East has triggered widespread flight cancellations and suspensions, disrupting thousands of passengers travelling through key hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Doha.
Authorities have described the situation as “rapidly evolving,” warning that schedules may change at short notice. Travellers are strongly advised not to proceed to airports unless their flights are confirmed.
UAE: Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, Air Arabia
Emirates
The Dubai-based carrier has suspended all operations to and from Dubai until 3 pm UAE time on Sunday, March 1. Passengers scheduled to travel within the next 72 hours may rebook within 10 days of the original date or request a full refund.
flydubai
The low-cost carrier has also suspended operations until 3 pm UAE time. Welfare arrangements are in place for stranded passengers, with rebooking and refunds available.
Etihad Airways
Following an incident near Zayed International Airport, Etihad has suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 2 am UAE time on Monday, March 2. Free rebooking or refunds are being offered.
Air Arabia
All flights to and from the UAE have been temporarily suspended. Sharjah International Airport has halted operations until further notice.
Dubai Airports confirmed minor damage at DXB following an incident, while debris from an aerial interception caused a contained fire at Jebel Ali Port.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Doha due to Qatari airspace closure. No resumption date has been announced. International transit passengers through Doha may face significant disruptions.
Saudia Airlines
Saudia has cancelled multiple international routes, including flights to and from Amman, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Moscow and Peshawar. Hundreds of regional flights have been affected.
Gulf Air
Gulf Air has extended cancellations, affecting flights to Qatar, Israel and Kuwait. Passengers within 72 hours of travel may rebook within 10 days or request refunds.
Oman Air
Oman Air has cancelled services to and from Moscow (SVO), Amman (AMM) and Khasab (KHS) until further notice. Affected passengers should check their booking status directly with the airline.
What global travellers need to know
- Do not travel to the airport without confirmation
- Check official airline websites or apps for live updates
- Ensure contact details are updated in bookings
- Allow extra connection time if transiting through the Gulf
- Consider alternative routes outside the affected airspace
- Contact airlines directly for refunds or rebooking options
With hundreds of flights cancelled across the Middle East, aviation authorities stress that passenger safety remains the top priority. However, further disruptions are likely as regional tensions continue.
Travellers are advised to monitor official airline communication channels closely.
