Regional tensions put airline schedules under pressure as some UAE flights are cancelled.
Dubai: UAE travellers are facing another day of flight disruptions, with several services cancelled at Dubai International Airport and delays affecting some flights arriving in Abu Dhabi.
Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have reported cancellations on a number of regional routes, while Etihad services to Bahrain and Kuwait are largely operating as scheduled.
With the regional security situation remaining fluid, passengers are advised to check the latest status of their individual flights before heading to the airport, as schedules may change at short notice.
War status
Regional tensions remain high, with Saudi Arabia saying it intercepted a Houthi drone that was heading towards Mecca. The Houthis have denied the Saudi account.
The US has maintained a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory for Saudi Arabia, citing risks including Iranian drone and missile attacks, armed conflict and terrorism. Areas along the Yemen border remain under a “Do Not Travel” warning.
Travel conditions in the UAE also remain subject to change. Australia’s Smartraveller continues to advise travellers to reconsider their need to travel to the UAE, warning that the ongoing regional conflict could lead to airspace closures, flight cancellations and last-minute schedule changes.
Dubai International Airport
Several flight cancellations have been reported at Dubai International Airport, affecting services to destinations across the region and beyond.
Cancelled flights:
- flydubai FZ815 — Abha
- flydubai FZ8500 — Kuwait
- Emirates EK855 — Kuwait
- Emirates EK901 — Amman
- Emirates EK660 — Male
- flydubai FZ833 — Gizan
Delayed flight:
- Emirates EK338 — Cebu
Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi
At Zayed International Airport, no delays or cancellations were listed on the departure schedule in the supplied update. However, several arriving flights were reported as delayed.
Delayed arrivals
Several inbound flights to Zayed International Airport were reported as delayed, including:
- Air Arabia Abu Dhabi EY265 — Thiruvananthapuram to Abu Dhabi
- Etihad EY299 — Karachi to Abu Dhabi
- Air Arabia Abu Dhabi 3L312 — Sialkot to Abu Dhabi
- Air Arabia Abu Dhabi 3L044 — Kathmandu to Abu Dhabi
- Etihad EY213 — Delhi to Abu Dhabi
Cancelled arrival
- Air Arabia Abu Dhabi 3L731 — Baku to Abu Dhabi
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways services to Bahrain and Kuwait were largely operating as scheduled, although one Kuwait-bound flight departed late.
- Abu Dhabi-Bahrain EY641 — Departed
- Abu Dhabi-Bahrain EY645 — Scheduled
- Abu Dhabi-Kuwait EY653 — Departed late
Overall, Etihad’s flights to Bahrain and Kuwait were mostly operating normally in the latest update.
Emirates
Emirates services to Bahrain and Kuwait were operating in the latest update, with one Bahrain-bound flight having arrived and other services remaining scheduled.
- Dubai-Bahrain EK837 — Arrived
- Dubai-Bahrain EK839 — Scheduled
- Dubai-Kuwait EK857 — Scheduled
flydubai
flydubai’s services to Bahrain were largely operating in the latest update, while its Abha service FZ815 was cancelled.
- FZ029 and FZ023 to Bahrain — Arrived
- FZ021 and FZ027 to Bahrain — Scheduled
- FZ815 to Abha — Cancelled
- FZ811 — Estimated
flydubai is advising passengers departing from Dubai to arrive at least four hours before their scheduled departure, complete online check-in where available and verify their latest flight status before heading to the airport.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia’s latest flight updates show a mix of cancellations and services awaiting departure on routes connecting the UAE with Kuwait and Bahrain.
Air Arabia reported several cancellations on services connecting Sharjah and Abu Dhabi with Kuwait and Bahrain, while some flights remained scheduled.
- G9068 — Sharjah-Kuwait: Cancelled
- G9124 — Sharjah-Kuwait: Cancelled
- G9121 — Not yet departed
- G9107 — Sharjah-Bahrain: Cancelled
- G9101 — Sharjah-Bahrain: Arrived late
- G9103 and G9105 — Sharjah-Bahrain: Scheduled
- 3L020 — Abu Dhabi-Kuwait: Cancelled
Check your flight before leaving
With flight schedules subject to change throughout the day, passengers are advised to verify their flight number and latest status directly with the operating airline before heading to Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport or Sharjah International Airport.
Travellers should continue monitoring airline updates, as further delays, cancellations or last-minute schedule changes may be announced at short notice.
Travel advice is changing
UK: The FCDO has lifted its broad “against all but essential travel” advice for the UAE. However, it continues to warn that regional tensions remain unpredictable and that travellers should be prepared for flight cancellations and potential airspace disruption.
US: The UAE remains under a Level 3 — Reconsider Travel advisory, with US authorities citing risks related to terrorism, armed conflict and significant disruption to commercial flights. Saudi Arabia is also at Level 3.
Australia: Smartraveller continues to advise Australians to reconsider their need to travel to the UAE, citing the unpredictable regional security situation and the possibility of airspace closures and flight cancellations.
Canada: According to the supplied guidance, Canadian travellers are advised to exercise a high degree of caution in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Travellers are also encouraged to keep their documents up to date and maintain essential supplies in case they are required to shelter in place.
Which airlines are flying?
Several international airlines have resumed or are restoring services to the UAE, although some carriers continue to keep routes suspended amid ongoing regional uncertainty.
Operating or restoring services:
- Turkish Airlines: Dubai and Abu Dhabi services have resumed, while flights to Iran remain suspended.
- Qatar Airways: Multiple daily services to Dubai are operating, while flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil have resumed. Delays may still occur.
- Air India/Air India Express: Full GCC networks have been restored, with around 780 weekly flights connecting India with the region.
- IndiGo: Selected Middle East routes are operating.
- flynas: Daily services are operating to Dubai, Doha and Bahrain.
- Jazeera Airways: Selected flights to Dubai are operating.
UAE routes still suspended
Several international carriers continue to suspend UAE services, with different dates announced for potential resumptions:
- Air Canada: Dubai services suspended until mid-January 2027
- Air France: Dubai flights suspended through September 19
- British Airways: Dubai and Abu Dhabi services suspended; Dubai flights are due to resume on October 25 at a reduced frequency
- Cathay Pacific: Dubai and Riyadh services suspended through November 30
- Singapore Airlines: Dubai flights suspended until October 24
- ITA Airways: Dubai services suspended until October 24
- Finnair: Helsinki-Dubai flights suspended until October 24
- Philippine Airlines: Manila-Dubai services suspended until October 2
- airBaltic: Dubai flights suspended until October 24
- Korean Air: Incheon-Dubai services suspended until further notice
- Pegasus: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah services suspended
- Virgin Atlantic: London-Dubai services suspended for the foreseeable future
- Lufthansa, Eurowings and SWISS: Dubai services suspended through October 24, while Eurowings plans to resume Dubai flights from November 1
Before you fly
Passengers should check their individual flight status before leaving home, even if their booking has already been confirmed, and continue monitoring their airline’s official channels for last-minute updates.
Travellers should allow at least three hours at the airport, or longer when advised by their airline. flydubai passengers departing from Dubai are advised to allow at least four hours.
Where available, passengers should complete online check-in and ensure their phone number and other contact details are up to date with the airline. With regional conditions remaining fluid, travellers should also be prepared for last-minute delays, cancellations or schedule changes.
