Travellers Reroute Through Bahrain and Other Saudi Cities Before Continuing by Road, While Some in Dubai Await the Resumption of Regular Flights.
Travellers commuting between the UAE and Riyadh are facing longer journeys and more complicated travel arrangements as disruptions to direct flights force them to explore alternative routes.
With regular air services to the Saudi capital temporarily suspended, some passengers are choosing to fly to other destinations before completing their journeys by road.
Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Manama in Bahrain have emerged as alternative transit points for travellers seeking to reach Riyadh despite the ongoing aviation disruptions.
The changes follow recent attacks targeting Saudi airports and energy infrastructure, which have affected flight operations, including services at Riyadh’s airport.
As a result, passengers are having to carefully coordinate available flights, ground transportation and connecting journeys to travel between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
For professionals with urgent work commitments in Riyadh, these alternative arrangements have become necessary despite the additional travel time.
Meanwhile, some residents currently in Dubai are choosing to postpone their return journeys and remain flexible until normal flight services resume.
Travellers Choose Alternative Routes Through Bahrain and Dammam
A 59-year-old British professional based in Riyadh is among those taking a longer route back to Saudi Arabia following a family visit to the United Kingdom.
The woman, who requested anonymity, travelled to Dubai after discovering that airport closures had disrupted her original plans.
She now intends to fly from Dubai to Manama, Bahrain, before continuing to Riyadh by road.
The final leg of her journey is expected to take approximately five to six hours.
She explained that she had travelled to the UK to spend time with her family but was forced to reconsider her return arrangements because of the airport closures.
With professional responsibilities awaiting her in Riyadh, she decided to travel through Dubai and Bahrain rather than wait for direct flights to resume.
Although the revised journey involves considerably more travel time, she said it was the available option that would allow her to return to work.
Another traveller, 46-year-old marketing professional Vijayan R., also had to make alternative arrangements because of a work-related commitment in Saudi Arabia.
Vijayan flew from Dubai to Dammam on Sunday to attend the World Petroleum Congress 2026 before continuing his journey to Riyadh by road.
His experience reflects the additional planning required by business travellers who must reach the Saudi capital despite disruptions to normal air services.
Vijayan explained that attending the event in Riyadh was an important professional commitment, leaving him with little choice but to arrange an alternative travel route.
He flew from Dubai to Dammam in Saudi Arabia before completing the approximately four-hour journey to Riyadh by road.
With the conference now concluded, Vijayan is preparing for another extended journey as he makes his way back to the UAE.
His return plans involve travelling by road from Riyadh to Dammam, followed by a further drive to Bahrain, which he estimates will take around one hour from Dammam.
From Bahrain, he intends to board a flight back to the UAE.
Although the arrangement involves multiple transfers, it provides him with a practical alternative while direct flight services remain disrupted.
Some Travellers Remain in Dubai Awaiting Flight Resumption
While several passengers are choosing longer journeys through neighbouring destinations, others prefer to remain in Dubai until more convenient air travel options become available.
For these travellers, avoiding additional road transfers and uncertain connections is a priority.
Rishi Joshi, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, holds residency in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
He arrived in Dubai on Friday to spend time with his family but is now considering how best to return to Riyadh following the temporary closure of airports in Saudi Arabia.
Rather than immediately arranging a complicated alternative journey, Joshi has decided to keep his travel plans flexible while monitoring developments.
He said he hopes the airport closures will be lifted soon, allowing him to fly from the UAE to Riyadh or another operational airport in Saudi Arabia.
For now, Joshi plans to remain in Dubai and assess the situation as new information becomes available.
His experience reflects the uncertainty facing travellers who must choose between taking longer routes through neighbouring destinations and waiting for regular flight connections to resume.
