UAE airlines revise flight schedules amid regional tensions and security concerns.
Airlines operating from the UAE are continuing to revise their flight schedules amid renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, security concerns across the Middle East and wider regional disruptions.
Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have issued operational updates affecting services to Saudi Arabia and other international destinations, with cancellations reported on several routes.
At the same time, some European carriers are gradually restoring flights to Dubai ahead of the winter travel season, while others have extended service suspensions into 2027. Here is the latest information on flight cancellations, arrivals, departures, resumptions and travel advisories for passengers travelling from the UAE.
Regional developments
- US strikes near Strait of Hormuz: President Donald Trump said US forces had carried out limited strikes on an Iranian air-defence installation near Qeshm Island. Iranian media reported two explosions, although no casualties were confirmed. Iran warned that the US and Israel would face consequences over the conflict.
- US-Iran talks continue: Trump said Washington was in communication with Tehran following a phone call with Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, called on both sides to reach a peace agreement, adding that mediation efforts were ongoing.
- US warns of regional security risks: The US State Department cautioned American citizens about potential attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi forces, warning that flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions could follow.
- Tanker explosion kills crew member: A sailor was killed in an explosion aboard the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker MT Velos Sapphire while it was travelling towards Bahrain. A missile strike is suspected, although the cause has not been confirmed.
- Violence in Yemen raises shipping concerns: At least 30 people were reportedly killed in an attack in Taiz province. No fresh attack on a commercial vessel near the Bab Al Mandab Strait was confirmed.
Travel advisory: Any further escalation could affect regional airspace and flight operations. Passengers should check directly with their airlines and consult official travel advisories before setting out for the airport.
Europe reports fresh bomb threats
A fresh series of bomb threats targeted passenger flights across Europe on Friday, prompting fighter-jet escorts, diversions and additional security checks. No explosives were discovered and no injuries were reported.
Eurocontrol said it was monitoring developments, while overall disruption to European air traffic remained limited.
Flights affected:
- Brussels–Sofia: Escorted by Hungarian fighter jets following a bomb threat.
- Prague–Cyprus: Escorted by Hungarian fighter jets.
- Prague–Romania: Escorted by Hungarian fighter jets.
- Prague–Bucharest: A flight operated by Romania’s Tarom received a bomb threat.
- Lisbon–Rome: A Ryanair flight was targeted by a threat.
- Prague–Rome: A Wizz Air flight was diverted to Venice, where passengers were evacuated after landing.
- Four flights over French airspace: Received bomb threats and landed safely at Paris Orly Airport.
- Nine flights at Prague Airport: Threats involved arrivals from Denmark, Spain and Britain, as well as departures to the Netherlands, Cyprus, Romania, Italy and Britain.
Conflict-related flight cancellations and delays
UAE-Iran flights remain suspended
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority has suspended services operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE until further notice.
The measure affects direct flights operated by carriers including Iran Airtour, Caspian Airlines and Karun Airlines. Passengers holding bookings with these airlines should contact their travel agents or the carriers directly to discuss rebooking and refund options.
UAE-Israel flight services
Direct services between the UAE and Israel remain subject to security and operational restrictions.
- flydubai: Dubai-Tel Aviv flights remain suspended until at least late November.
- Emirates: Dubai-Tel Aviv services and associated codeshare arrangements remain suspended.
- Etihad Airways: Continues to operate direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.
- Israeli carriers El Al and Arkia: Continue to face delays or suspensions linked to security and landing-permit discussions.
UAE-Saudi Arabia flight updates
Saudi Arabia remains among the markets facing significant disruption for UAE-based travellers. Passengers flying to Riyadh, Dammam and other Saudi destinations should check their bookings carefully, as airlines are operating different schedules and applying separate cancellation arrangements.
Etihad Airways
- Dammam: All passenger and cargo flights between Abu Dhabi and Dammam have been cancelled through November 19.
- Riyadh: All passenger and cargo flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have been cancelled through November 19.
- Jeddah: Flights EY601, EY602, EY603 and EY604 are scheduled to resume from November 6. Other services between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah are scheduled to operate as normal.
Emirates: Saudi flight updates for November 7
Emirates has reported cancellations on some Dubai-Jeddah services. Flights to and from Medina show a combination of completed arrivals, services in progress and scheduled departures. Flight-status information for Dammam and Riyadh was unavailable at the time of the update.
Dubai–Dammam
- No flight-status information was available for November 7. Updates are expected within 24 hours of departure.
Dubai–Riyadh
- No flight-status information was available for November 7. Updates are expected within 24 hours of departure.
Dubai–Jeddah
- Dubai to Jeddah: EK801 cancelled; EK805 and EK803 scheduled.
- Jeddah to Dubai: EK802 cancelled; EK806 and EK804 scheduled.
Dubai–Medina
- Dubai to Medina: EK807 arrived; EK2537 in flight; EK809 scheduled.
- Medina to Dubai: EK808 arrived; EK2538 and EK810 scheduled.
Other Emirates travel updates
- US travel requirement: Passengers travelling to or transiting through the US must complete an attestation confirming they have not visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the preceding 21 days, unless exempt. A printed copy must be presented before check-in.
- Tel Aviv: Emirates-flydubai codeshare services remain suspended until further notice.
- Ebola-related restrictions: The UAE restricts entry for travellers who have recently been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan, unless they have spent more than 21 days outside these countries.
- Dubai airport lounge: Emirates’ First Class Lounge at Terminal 3, Concourse C, is temporarily closed. Passengers can use the lounge at Concourse B instead.
flydubai gradually restores Saudi services
flydubai has resumed flights to several Saudi destinations, including Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim, Ha’il and Tabuk.
Services to Dammam are available from November 10, while flights to Riyadh and Abha remain suspended through November 16, inclusive.
The airline’s booking platform lists flights to Riyadh and Abha from November 17. However, passengers are advised to confirm their flight status directly with flydubai before travelling to the airport.
Which Saudi flights are operating?
The following flight-status updates are for November 7, 2026.
1. Dubai–Jeddah
- FZ909: Dubai 9.35am – Jeddah 11.45am (estimated).
- FZ829: Dubai 2.50pm – Jeddah 5.10pm (scheduled).
- FZ832: Jeddah 10.51am – Dubai 2.45pm (estimated).
- FZ910: Jeddah 12.51pm – Dubai 4.47pm (estimated).
- FZ830: Jeddah 6.10pm – Dubai 9.55pm (scheduled).
2. Dubai–Madinah
- FZ831: Departed Dubai at 4.11am, was diverted from Jeddah to Madinah and landed at 7.41am.
- FZ897: Dubai 12.55pm – Madinah 3pm (estimated).
- FZ8387: Dubai 1.55pm – Madinah 3.50pm (scheduled).
- FZ827: Dubai 10.10pm – Madinah 12.15am on November 8 (scheduled).
- FZ828: Madinah 1.12am – Dubai 4.51am (arrived).
- FZ898: Madinah 4.04pm – Dubai 7.45pm (estimated).
- FZ8388: Madinah 4.50pm – Dubai 8.20pm (scheduled).
3. Dubai–Tabuk
- FZ881: Dubai 3.05pm – Tabuk 5.45pm (scheduled).
- FZ882: Tabuk 6.45pm – Dubai 10.25pm (scheduled).
4. Dubai–Ha’il
- FZ925 and FZ926: Services scheduled in both directions.
5. Dubai–Gassim
- FZ871: Dubai–Gassim service scheduled.
- FZ872: Return service arrived.
Saudi routes without available flight-status information
No flight-status updates are currently available for the following destinations:
- Abha
- AlUla
- Dammam
- Hofuf
- Taif
- Gizan
- Riyadh
- Jouf
- Nejran
- Neom
- Qaisumah
- The Red Sea
- Yanbu
Air Arabia: Saudi flight updates
Air Arabia has cancelled flights between Sharjah and Abha, as well as Sharjah and Riyadh. Services to several other Saudi destinations continue to operate.
Cancelled flights
- Sharjah–Abha: G9195 cancelled.
- Abha–Sharjah: G9196 cancelled.
- Sharjah–Riyadh: G9151 and G9154 cancelled.
- Riyadh–Sharjah: G9152 and G9155 cancelled.
Saudi destinations with operating flights
Services continue to the following destinations:
- Dammam
- Gassim
- Ha’il
- Jeddah
- Madinah
- Tabuk
Routes without available flight information
- Al Jouf
- Jizan
Air Arabia: Other international flight cancellations
Abu Dhabi services
- Dhaka: 3L063 and 3L064 cancelled.
- Cairo (Sphinx): 3L383 and 3L384 cancelled.
- Kuwait: 3L020 and 3L021 cancelled.
- Tashkent: 3L763 and 3L764 cancelled.
Sharjah services
- Chattogram: G9520 and G9521 cancelled.
- Dhaka: G9514 and G9515 cancelled.
- Cairo (Sphinx): G9343 cancelled.
- Nairobi: G9708 and G9709 cancelled.
- Kuwait: G9068, G9124, G9069 and G9125 cancelled.
- Beirut: G9385, G9387, G9386 and G9388 cancelled.
- Malé: G9091 and G9092 cancelled.
- Doha: G9040, G9132, G9027, G9041, G9133 and G9028 cancelled.
- Moscow Domodedovo: G9950, G9956, G9958, G9957, G9959 and G9951 cancelled.
- Yekaterinburg: G9960 cancelled.
- Damascus: G9363 and G9364 cancelled.
- Bangkok: G9845 and G9846 cancelled.
- Entebbe: G9691 and G9692 cancelled.
- London Gatwick: G9267 and G9268 cancelled.
Travel advisories: What passengers need to know
International governments and aviation authorities continue to flag security risks and the possibility of travel disruption across the Middle East.
- US: Advises American citizens to reconsider travel to the UAE, citing terrorism and armed-conflict risks.
- UK: Warns of possible military escalation, airspace closures and flight disruptions.
- Canada and Australia: Urge travellers to exercise a high degree of caution because of regional security concerns and potential transport disruption.
- EASA: Conflict-zone advisories covering Iran and several Gulf countries, including the UAE, remain in force until November 16.
International airlines: Resumptions and suspensions
Dubai’s winter flight schedule is gradually expanding, with several international airlines restoring services or preparing to resume operations in November and December. However, a number of major carriers have extended their suspensions.
Airlines resuming UAE services
- British Airways: Resumed daily flights between London Heathrow and Dubai on November 3.
- Lufthansa: Plans to restart five weekly flights each from Frankfurt and Munich on November 25.
- SWISS: Daily Zurich-Dubai services are scheduled to resume on November 25.
- Eurowings: Daily Berlin-Dubai flights are scheduled to restart on November 25.
- Austrian Airlines: Vienna-Dubai services are scheduled to return on December 12, with five flights a week.
- Philippine Airlines: Resumed Dubai services on October 21, joining Cebu Pacific on the Dubai-Manila route. Both airlines operate four weekly flights.
- Air Astana: Restored Dubai connections with Kazakhstan, including Almaty.
- Aegean Airlines: Resumed flights between Athens and Dubai.
Dubai is expected to receive up to 36 additional weekly flights linking the emirate with European destinations as carriers restore services between late October and December.
Airlines extending Dubai suspensions
- Singapore Airlines: Flights SQ494 and SQ495 suspended until February 28, 2027.
- Cathay Pacific: Dubai services suspended until January 31, 2027.
- Air Canada: Dubai flights suspended until the end of March 2027.
- Finnair: Dubai services suspended for the 2026/27 winter season.
- KLM: Dubai flights suspended until March 27, 2027.
- Korean Air: Dubai services suspended until further notice.
- Virgin Atlantic: No return to Dubai is planned before 2027.
- ITA Airways: Dubai services suspended until November 30. Passengers should check the airline’s December schedule for updates.
- Luxair: Its return to Dubai has been postponed until February 2027 at the earliest.
UAE airport operations: DXB, AUH and Sharjah
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
- Friday’s departure information showed cancellations affecting flydubai, SpiceJet, Middle East Airlines and Emirates. Delays were also reported on Air India Express, Air Astana, SpiceJet, US-Bangla Airlines and airblue flights.
Zayed International Airport (AUH), Abu Dhabi
- Etihad and partner services to destinations including Tel Aviv and Jeddah appeared on the arrivals board. Passengers should check live flight information for any changes.
Sharjah International Airport
- Air Arabia cancellations included services to Yerevan, Chattogram, Kuwait, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Colombo and Bangkok.
What UAE travellers should keep in mind
With airlines continuing to revise their schedules, passengers are advised to take the following precautions:
- Check flight status before leaving home: A confirmed booking does not guarantee that a flight will operate as originally scheduled. Check the airline’s website and airport departure boards for updates.
- Arrive early: Allow at least three hours before departure, or more if instructed by the airline.
- flydubai passengers: Travellers departing from Dubai should arrive four hours before departure, in line with the airline’s guidance.
- Complete online check-in: Use online check-in where available and keep your boarding pass accessible.
- Allow extra time for the airport journey: Account for road traffic, check-in queues, security screening and immigration procedures.
- Keep contact details updated: Make sure the airline has your current phone number and email address to receive notifications about schedule changes.
- Check connecting flights: If travelling through another Middle Eastern airport, confirm that your onward service is operating before setting out.
- Understand rebooking options: If a flight is cancelled, contact the airline directly to discuss alternative arrangements, refunds or flexible travel options.
- Monitor official advisories: Follow updates from UAE authorities, airlines and airports for the latest operational information.
UAE flight operations remain mixed, with carriers restoring some international services while maintaining cancellations and suspensions on routes affected by regional security concerns. Saudi Arabia remains a key area of disruption, particularly for flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha.
Meanwhile, the return of European airlines is expected to expand Dubai’s winter flight network.
Passengers should verify their flight status directly with their airline and check airport departure boards before travelling, as schedules can change at short notice. Those affected by cancellations should contact their airline or travel agent to confirm rebooking, refund and alternative travel arrangements.
