Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia Cancel Flights to Saudi Arabian Destinations Amid Travel Disruptions.
Air passengers travelling between the UAE and Saudi Arabia are facing another day of uncertainty on Saturday, October 17, as flight cancellations, suspensions and schedule adjustments continue to disrupt services between the two countries.
Riyadh remains among the destinations most affected, while airlines continue to revise operations to Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and other Saudi cities.
Emirates has cancelled flights connecting Dubai with Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh on October 17 and 18. Etihad Airways has also suspended selected services between Abu Dhabi and three destinations in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Air Arabia has announced cancellations on several routes departing from Sharjah, including services to Riyadh, Dammam, Abha and Taif.
flydubai’s flight updates show a combination of completed arrivals, estimated arrival times and scheduled departures. However, status information remains unavailable for several of its Saudi Arabian routes.
The disruptions coincide with a warning from the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) that seasonal weather conditions and reduced visibility could result in limited flight delays.
The United States and Australia have also issued travel advisories relating to the security situation in Saudi Arabia.
Travellers are being urged to verify the status of their specific flights directly with their airlines before heading to the airport, as schedules and operational arrangements remain subject to last-minute changes.
GCAA cautions passengers over potential flight delays
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority has warned that seasonal weather patterns and reduced horizontal visibility across parts of the country could affect airline operations.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 17, the aviation regulator said airlines and airport authorities were taking precautionary measures in accordance with established operational protocols and aviation safety requirements.
The GCAA advised passengers to monitor official communications from airlines and airports for the latest information on flight timings, possible delays and schedule adjustments.
Saudi airport disruptions: Key information for passengers
Flight operations across Saudi Arabia continue to experience significant disruptions following recent missile and drone attacks.
According to the travel updates provided, the operational situation at Saudi Arabia’s major airports remains mixed, with some facilities experiencing suspensions while others continue to handle flights despite disruptions.
- Riyadh: King Khalid International Airport remains under suspension through October 17, according to the available travel updates.
- Jeddah: King Abdulaziz International Airport continues to operate, although some flights are experiencing delays and cancellations.
- Dammam: King Fahd International Airport remains operational, but several services are still affected.
Passengers are advised to verify the latest airport operating conditions before travelling and should not assume that all scheduled flights will operate simply because an airport remains open.
Saudi flight disruptions: 552 departures cancelled or classified as no-fly
Air travel disruptions across Saudi Arabia remained extensive on October 15, with aviation analytics company Cirium reporting that 552 scheduled departures had been cancelled or designated as “no-fly”.
According to Cirium’s airline and airport breakdowns, 552 of the 1,178 scheduled departures were affected, representing 46.86% of flights.
However, a separate daily breakdown from the same company recorded 558 affected departures, equivalent to 47.37%.
The discrepancy between the two datasets has yet to be verified.
Riyadh emerged as the hardest-hit major airport, with more than four in five scheduled departures affected.
Saudi airport cancellations: Breakdown by destination
| Airport | Affected departures | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | 298 of 366 | 81.42% |
| Jeddah | 87 of 385 | 22.60% |
| Dammam | 60 of 131 | 45.80% |
| Madinah | 24 of 102 | 23.53% |
| Abha | 20 of 44 | 45.45% |
The figures cover scheduled departures on October 15 and include services recorded as either cancelled or no-fly.
They should not be interpreted as cancellation rates across the airlines’ entire international or domestic networks.
Etihad suspends flights between Abu Dhabi and three Saudi destinations
Etihad Airways has announced cancellations affecting selected services connecting Abu Dhabi with Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah amid ongoing regional travel disruptions.
Abu Dhabi–Dammam
All Etihad flights operating between Abu Dhabi and Dammam have been cancelled through Sunday, October 18.
Abu Dhabi–Riyadh
The airline has also cancelled all services between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh through Sunday, October 18.
Abu Dhabi–Jeddah
Etihad has confirmed cancellations affecting the following flights:
- EY601: Abu Dhabi to Jeddah, cancelled from October 12 through October 18.
- EY602: Jeddah to Abu Dhabi, cancelled from October 12 through October 18.
- EY603: Abu Dhabi to Jeddah, cancelled through Monday, October 19.
- EY604: Jeddah to Abu Dhabi, cancelled through Monday, October 19.
The airline has urged passengers to check their flight status through its official website before travelling.
As further schedule changes remain possible, affected customers have also been advised to contact Etihad for assistance with existing reservations and alternative travel arrangements.
Emirates cancels Dubai flights to Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh
Emirates has announced cancellations on routes connecting Dubai with Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh for Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18.
According to the supplied airline update, Medina is the only Saudi destination listed with flights either operating or scheduled during the affected period.
Dubai–Dammam
The following Emirates services have been cancelled:
- Dubai to Dammam: EK823, EK827 and EK821.
- Dammam to Dubai: EK824, EK828 and EK822.
Dubai–Jeddah
Emirates has cancelled the following flights:
- Dubai to Jeddah: EK801, EK805 and EK803.
- Jeddah to Dubai: EK802, EK806 and EK804.
Dubai–Riyadh
Emirates has also confirmed cancellations on its Dubai–Riyadh route for both dates, with the affected flight numbers to be detailed in subsequent updates.
The following Emirates flights between Dubai and Riyadh have been cancelled for Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18:
- Dubai to Riyadh: EK815, EK819 and EK817.
- Riyadh to Dubai: EK816, EK820 and EK818.
Dubai–Medina flight status
Emirates has listed the following services as operating or scheduled:
- Dubai to Medina: EK807 is listed as operating, while EK809 remains scheduled.
- Medina to Dubai: EK808 and EK810 are scheduled.
Passengers are advised to monitor the Emirates website or mobile application for the latest updates on individual flights, particularly those listed as scheduled rather than confirmed as operating.
flydubai updates: Flight status for Jeddah, Medina, Gassim and Taif
flydubai’s flight information for Saturday, October 17, shows varying operational statuses across several routes connecting Dubai with Saudi Arabia.
Some services have already arrived, while others are listed as in flight, estimated or scheduled.
However, the supplied updates do not include flight status details for several additional destinations, including Riyadh and Dammam. Travellers should note that the absence of flight information does not automatically indicate cancellation.
Dubai–Jeddah flights
- Dubai to Jeddah: FZ919 and FZ831 have arrived. FZ909 and FZ829 have estimated timings, while FZ807 remains scheduled.
- Jeddah to Dubai: FZ920 has arrived. FZ832 is in flight, with arrival in Dubai estimated at 12.52pm. FZ910 and FZ830 have estimated timings, while FZ808 is scheduled.
Dubai–Medina flights
- Dubai to Medina: FZ897 and FZ8387 are listed with estimated timings, while FZ827 remains scheduled.
- Medina to Dubai: FZ828 appears twice in the supplied records, once as arrived and once as estimated. FZ8388 is also listed as estimated.
Passengers booked on FZ828 should verify the conflicting entries directly with flydubai.
Dubai–Gassim flights
- Dubai to Gassim: FZ8443 has an estimated flight time, while FZ871 is scheduled.
- Gassim to Dubai: FZ872 has arrived, while FZ8444 is listed as estimated.
- FZ8443 and FZ8444: Both services are listed as scheduled.
Dubai–Taif flights
- Dubai to Taif: FZ873 is listed with an estimated flight time.
- Taif to Dubai: FZ874 is also listed as estimated.
Other flydubai destinations
The supplied flight updates do not provide status information for the following Saudi Arabian destinations on October 17 and 18:
- Riyadh
- Dammam
- The Red Sea
- Yanbu
- Al Jouf
- Neom
- Nejran
- Abha
- AlUla
- Gizan
- Hail
- Hofuf
Passengers travelling on these routes should contact flydubai or consult its official flight status service before heading to the airport.
flydubai check-in reminder: Airport check-in counters close 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time unless passengers receive an SMS or email from the airline advising otherwise.
Air Arabia cancels several Sharjah–Saudi Arabia flights
Air Arabia has announced cancellations affecting multiple services between Sharjah and Saudi Arabian destinations on Saturday, October 17.
Other flights remain listed as awaiting departure, approaching arrival or operating with revised schedules.
Sharjah–Dammam
The following flights have been cancelled:
- Sharjah to Dammam: G9160, G9163 and G9167.
- Dammam to Sharjah: G9161, G9164 and G9168.
Sharjah–Riyadh
Cancelled services include:
- Sharjah to Riyadh: G9151 and G9154.
- Riyadh to Sharjah: G9152 and G9155.
Sharjah–Abha
The airline has cancelled:
- Sharjah to Abha: G9195.
- Abha to Sharjah: G9196.
Sharjah–Taif
The following services are cancelled:
- Sharjah to Taif: G9187.
- Taif to Sharjah: G9188.
Sharjah–Al Jouf
- Sharjah to Al Jouf: G9221 is listed as not yet departed.
- Al Jouf to Sharjah: G9222 is also awaiting departure.
Sharjah–Gassim
- Sharjah to Gassim: G9070 is expected to arrive at 9.25am, while G9181 has not yet departed.
- Gassim to Sharjah: G9071 has a revised flight time, while G9182 remains listed as not yet departed.
Sharjah–Jeddah
- Sharjah to Jeddah: G9145 is expected to arrive at 10.15am. G9219 and G9147 have not yet departed.
Sharjah–Medina
- Sharjah to Medina: G9177 is expected to arrive at 10.10am, while G9175 is awaiting departure.
- Medina to Sharjah: G9178 has an updated flight time, while G9176 has not yet departed.
Sharjah–Hail
- Sharjah to Hail: G9197 has not yet departed.
- Hail to Sharjah: G9198 has not yet departed.
Sharjah–Tabuk
- Sharjah to Tabuk: G9191 is awaiting departure.
- Tabuk to Sharjah: G9192 has not yet departed.
Travellers should remember that a flight listed as not yet departed is not necessarily cancelled.
Air Arabia passengers are encouraged to confirm the latest status of their specific services before travelling to Sharjah International Airport.
Indian carriers extend suspensions on Saudi Arabia routes
Four Indian airlines have prolonged flight suspensions affecting Saudi Arabian destinations amid ongoing regional security concerns.
The latest suspension periods are as follows:
- Air India: Services to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah remain suspended until October 20.
- Air India Express: Flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah are suspended until October 20.
- IndiGo: Operations to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah remain suspended until October 24.
- Akasa Air: Riyadh services are suspended until October 24, while Jeddah flights remain suspended until October 21.
Affected travellers should contact their respective airlines to check whether they qualify for refunds, complimentary rescheduling or other alternative arrangements.
SriLankan Airlines suspends Riyadh and Dammam services until October 24
SriLankan Airlines has extended its suspension of flights connecting Colombo with Riyadh and Dammam until October 24, 2026.
The carrier attributed the decision to the prevailing regional security situation and said operations would resume once conditions were considered appropriate for commercial aviation.
Passengers requiring assistance can contact SriLankan Airlines through its official website, Global Contact Centre or their travel agents.
US issues warning over airport security and possible airspace closures
The United States has cautioned its citizens in Saudi Arabia about the risk of further airport attacks, potential airspace closures and additional flight disruptions following recent missile and drone incidents.
The US Mission has advised travellers to take several precautions:
- Verify flight arrangements: Check directly with airlines and airports for the latest operational information.
- Monitor security announcements: Follow alerts and guidance issued by Saudi authorities.
- Consider alternative travel: Explore other transportation options when appropriate.
- Avoid recording attack-related incidents: Do not film or share footage of missile interceptions or impact locations, as doing so could have legal consequences under Saudi law.
Australia urges travellers to consider alternatives to Riyadh airport
Australian authorities have advised citizens to avoid King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and explore alternative travel arrangements amid continued aviation disruptions.
In a travel advisory issued on October 16, Australia warned of ongoing threats to Saudi airports and the possibility of further flight cancellations and delays.
Travellers were encouraged to consider road or rail connections to alternative aviation hubs in the UAE and Qatar, where suitable.
Passengers planning to change their itineraries should first confirm the availability of connecting flights and review the relevant visa, entry and transit requirements.
UAE-Saudi flights: What passengers should do before travelling
With flight operations remaining unpredictable, passengers travelling between the UAE and Saudi Arabia are advised to take the following steps:
- Verify flight status before departure: Check the operating airline’s official website or mobile application before leaving home.
- Confirm the exact flight number: Cancellations and suspensions may affect specific services rather than every flight on a route.
- Check airport operations: Make sure the departure and arrival airports are operating and review any changes to terminal or flight arrangements.
- Contact the airline for assistance: Ask about refunds, rebooking options or alternative travel arrangements if your flight is affected.
- Keep contact information updated: Ensure the airline has your current mobile number and email address so you can receive schedule notifications.
- Follow official travel advisories: Monitor announcements from aviation authorities, airports and relevant government agencies.
As regional security developments continue to affect aviation, passengers should rely on the latest flight-specific information rather than assume that all services to an operational airport are running as planned.
Travellers should also remain prepared for additional schedule adjustments caused by seasonal weather conditions and reduced visibility across parts of the UAE.
