UAE flight updates today: Latest delays, cancellations and Saudi Arabia travel advisories

Saudi Arabia travel advisories disrupt UAE flights, triggering delays and cancellations.

Dubai: Air passengers across the UAE faced widespread flight delays and cancellations on Monday, October 19, as continuing regional security concerns disrupted airline operations.

Flights connecting the UAE with Saudi Arabia were among the most affected, while cancellations were also reported on routes linking Abu Dhabi and Sharjah with destinations across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Dubai International Airport’s arrivals information showed cancelled flights from India and Saudi Arabia, while Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi reported several delayed arrivals.

Etihad Airways has also extended its suspension of services between Abu Dhabi and three Saudi cities — Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah — until October 24.

Passengers flying from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah are advised to verify their flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport, as schedules may change with little notice.

Saudi Arabia flights continue to face disruption

Air travel across Saudi Arabia remains affected by regional security concerns and reported threats to aviation infrastructure.

According to an Indian Embassy advisory provided for this update, flight operations at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport remain suspended.

Airports in Dammam, Jeddah and Medina continue to operate, although passengers may encounter delays, cancellations and changes to scheduled services.

Travellers should confirm their individual flight arrangements before departure.

UAE restrictions on Iranian airline flights remain in effect

The UAE’s suspension of flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country remains in place until further notice, according to the information provided.

Under the restriction, Iran Airtour is not permitted to operate services to or from Dubai.

Affected passengers should contact their airline or booking agent to explore available refund, rebooking or alternative travel options.

Dubai–Tel Aviv flights remain disrupted

Air services between Dubai and Tel Aviv continue to face disruption following a security incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 on September 30.

Emirates has suspended its codeshare arrangements with flydubai on Tel Aviv routes until further notice.

Passengers booked on these services should check the latest travel information directly with Emirates or flydubai before departure.

Abu Dhabi airport: Latest flight delays

Zayed International Airport reported delays affecting four arrivals on Monday, October 19.

Flights reported delayed

• Kathmandu: Air Arabia Abu Dhabi flights 3L044 and EY1385, originally expected at 1.05pm, were delayed until 2pm.
• Kathmandu: Air Arabia Abu Dhabi flight 3L1611, scheduled to arrive at 5.10pm, was delayed until 5.40pm.
• Manchester: Etihad Airways flight EY078, including codeshare services NZ4286 and GA9051, was delayed from 6.50pm to 7.55pm.
• Malaga: Etihad Airways flight EY108, initially scheduled for 7.25pm, was delayed until 9.10pm.

All timings are in UAE local time. Passengers should check for subsequent schedule changes.

Etihad Airways: Saudi flights cancelled until October 24

Etihad Airways has extended cancellations on routes connecting Abu Dhabi with Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah through Saturday, October 24, citing regional disruption.

Dammam

All Etihad services between Abu Dhabi and Dammam remain cancelled through October 24.

Riyadh

All Etihad flights operating between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are cancelled through October 24.

Jeddah

The following services are cancelled through October 24:

• EY601: Abu Dhabi to Jeddah.
• EY602: Jeddah to Abu Dhabi.
• EY603: Abu Dhabi to Jeddah.
• EY604: Jeddah to Abu Dhabi.

Etihad has urged affected customers to check their bookings through its official website and contact the airline for assistance with alternative arrangements.

Dubai International Airport: Reported flight cancellations

Dubai International Airport’s arrivals information for October 19 showed cancellations involving flights from India and Saudi Arabia.

Cancelled arrivals

• Mumbai: SpiceJet SG5060.
• Gassim: flyadeal F31505.
• Riyadh: flynas XY205.
• Riyadh: flynas XY207.
• Riyadh: flynas XY217.

These cancellations were recorded in the airport arrivals information provided for this update.

Passengers should confirm their booking status directly with the relevant airline.

Emirates: Saudi Arabia flight information

The following Emirates services between Dubai and Saudi Arabia appeared in the flight information supplied for October 19.

Not every listed flight was specifically identified as cancelled, so passengers should verify the status of individual services.

Dubai–Dammam

EK823, EK827 and EK821.

Dammam–Dubai

EK824, EK828 and EK822.

Dubai–Jeddah

EK801, EK805 and EK803.

Jeddah–Dubai

EK802, EK806 and EK804.

Dubai–Medina

• EK807 — in flight.
• EK809 — scheduled.

Medina–Dubai

• EK808 — scheduled.
• EK810 — scheduled.

Dubai–Riyadh

EK815, EK819 and EK817.

Riyadh–Dubai

EK816, EK820 and EK818.

Emirates has separately suspended codeshare services operated with flydubai to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.

Customers should monitor the airline’s official travel updates and ensure their booking contact details are accurate so they can receive schedule notifications.

flydubai: Latest Saudi Arabia flight status

Flight information provided by flydubai for October 19 showed a number of services operating, scheduled or awaiting updated arrival estimates.

However, information was unavailable for several other Saudi destinations.

Dubai–Medina

• FZ897 — scheduled.
• FZ8387 — scheduled.
• FZ827 — scheduled.

Medina–Dubai

• FZ828 — arrived.
• FZ898 — scheduled.
• FZ8388 — scheduled.

Dubai–Jeddah

• FZ919 — arrived.
• FZ831 — arrived.
• FZ909 — in flight.
• FZ829 — scheduled.
• FZ807 — scheduled.

Jeddah–Dubai

• FZ920 — arrived.
• FZ832 — in flight.
• FZ910 — estimated.
• FZ830 — scheduled.
• FZ808 — scheduled.

Dubai–Gassim

• FZ875 — scheduled.
• FZ871 — scheduled.

Gassim–Dubai

• FZ876 — scheduled.

Dubai–Tabuk

• FZ881 — scheduled.

Tabuk–Dubai

• FZ882 — scheduled.

Saudi destinations without available flight-status information

No flight-status information was available in the supplied update for Dubai departures to:

• Abha (AHB)
• AlUla (ULH)
• Dammam (DMM)
• Gizan (GIZ)
• Ha’il (HAS)
• Hofuf (HOF)
• Jouf (AJF)
• Nejran (EAM)
• Neom (NUM)
• Qaisumah (AQI)
• Riyadh (RUH)
• The Red Sea (RSI)
• Yanbu (YNB)

The absence of flight-status information does not necessarily indicate cancellation.

Passengers should check directly with flydubai for confirmation.

The airline also reminds travellers that check-in counters generally close 60 minutes before scheduled departure unless different instructions are communicated by SMS or email.

Air Arabia: Flights cancelled from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah

Air Arabia reported multiple cancellations affecting routes from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah to destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.

Abu Dhabi flight cancellations

Yerevan

• 3L441: Abu Dhabi to Yerevan.
• 3L442: Yerevan to Abu Dhabi.

Dhaka

• 3L063: Abu Dhabi to Dhaka.
• 3L064: Dhaka to Abu Dhabi.

Kuwait

• 3L020: Abu Dhabi to Kuwait.
• 3L021: Kuwait to Abu Dhabi.

Faisalabad

• 3L315: Abu Dhabi to Faisalabad.
• 3L316: Faisalabad to Abu Dhabi.

Multan

• 3L335: Abu Dhabi to Multan.
• 3L336: Multan to Abu Dhabi.

Sialkot

• 3L311: Abu Dhabi to Sialkot.
• 3L312: Sialkot to Abu Dhabi.

Sharjah flight cancellations

Yerevan

• G9244: Sharjah to Yerevan.
• G9245: Yerevan to Sharjah.

Bahrain and Chattogram

• G9107: Sharjah to Bahrain.
• G9341: Bahrain to Sharjah.
• G9520: Bahrain to Sharjah.
• G9342: Chattogram to Sharjah.
• G9521: Chattogram to Sharjah.

Dhaka

• G9514: Sharjah to Dhaka.
• G9571: Sharjah to Dhaka.
• G9515: Dhaka to Sharjah.
• G9572: Dhaka to Sharjah.

Sohag

• G9630: Sharjah to Sohag.
• G9631: Sohag to Sharjah.

Kuwait

• G9068: Sharjah to Kuwait.
• G9124: Sharjah to Kuwait.
• G9069: Kuwait to Sharjah.

Bishkek

• G9332: Sharjah to Bishkek.
• G9333: Bishkek to Sharjah.

Malé

• G9093: Sharjah to Malé.
• G9094: Malé to Sharjah.

Islamabad

• 9P743: Sharjah to Islamabad.
• 9P744: Islamabad to Sharjah.
• 9P742: Islamabad to Sharjah.

Karachi

• G9542: Sharjah to Karachi.
• G9543: Karachi to Sharjah.

Entebbe

• G9691: Sharjah to Entebbe.
• G9692: Entebbe to Sharjah.

London Gatwick

• G9265D: Sharjah to London Gatwick.

Passengers affected by these cancellations should contact Air Arabia to confirm their travel status and discuss available rebooking arrangements.

Saudi Arabia travel warnings: What UAE passengers need to know

Several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, have issued travel advisories amid security concerns affecting Saudi Arabia’s airports and airspace.

Key points from the advisories supplied for this update include:

• Riyadh: Operations at King Khalid International Airport remain suspended, according to the advisories provided.
• Jeddah and Dammam: Both airports remain operational, although flight delays and cancellations are possible.
• United Kingdom: Advises against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border and against all but essential travel elsewhere in Saudi Arabia.
• United States: Warns of potential threats to airports and possible airspace closures, urging travellers to monitor official security updates.
• Australia: Advises travellers to avoid Riyadh airport and consider alternative travel arrangements.
• Indian airlines: Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo have suspended Saudi Arabia services until October 24, while Akasa Air’s suspension extends until October 27.
• Limited services continue: Some Saudia and flynas flights from Dammam to India remain listed as scheduled, although passengers must verify their bookings.

Travellers should review the latest official advisories before changing their itineraries and check transit visa requirements and entry rules when considering alternative routes.

International airlines: Latest updates affecting UAE travellers

Several international carriers have announced changes to their UAE and regional operations.

• Lufthansa Group: Dubai–Munich services are scheduled to resume October 25, followed by Dubai–Frankfurt flights on October 26, with operations increasing gradually.
• SWISS: Zurich–Dubai flights are expected to restart October 27.
• Eurowings: Dubai services from Berlin and Stuttgart are scheduled to begin November 1, while Cologne/Bonn flights are due to resume November 3.
• Austrian Airlines: Vienna–Dubai services are scheduled to restart December 12.
• Abu Dhabi services: Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Edelweiss flights remain suspended through October 24. Eurowings services are also suspended until that date.
• Philippine Airlines: Dubai–Manila services have resumed.
• Wizz Air: Selected Abu Dhabi routes have been postponed until January 10, 2027, while Jordan services remain suspended through October 25.
• Singapore Airlines: Dubai flights SQ494 and SQ495 are cancelled through December 1.
• British Airways: Dubai flights are scheduled to resume November 3, while Abu Dhabi services remain suspended until the winter 2027–28 season.
• Air France: Dubai and Riyadh flights remain suspended through October 24.
• Cathay Pacific: Passenger services to Dubai and Riyadh are cancelled through January 31, 2027, with rebooking, rerouting and refund options available.

Passengers should confirm the latest restart dates directly with their airlines, as schedules remain subject to change.

International travel advisories for the UAE

Foreign governments have also updated their travel guidance for residents and visitors travelling to the UAE.

• United Kingdom: Has withdrawn its broader advice against all but essential travel to the UAE but continues to warn of potential flight disruption and airspace restrictions.
• United States: Maintains a Level 3 advisory, urging travellers to reconsider travel to the UAE.
• Australia: Advises travellers to reconsider their need to visit the UAE.
• Canada: Recommends exercising a high degree of caution when travelling to the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
• European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA): Has extended its conflict-zone information bulletin until November 16, 2026, covering the UAE and several other Gulf states.

Travellers should consult the latest guidance issued by their respective governments before making international travel plans.

What UAE travellers should do before heading to the airport

With flight schedules continuing to change across the region, passengers are encouraged to take a few precautions before travelling.

1. Verify your flight status: Check both outbound and return flights directly through your airline’s website or mobile application.
2. Follow airport arrival instructions: Allow sufficient time for check-in and security procedures, and follow any revised instructions from your airline.
3. Update your contact information: Make sure your airline has your correct mobile number and email address so you can receive notifications.
4. Explore rebooking and refund options: If your flight is cancelled, contact the airline or travel agent to discuss available alternatives.
5. Check transit and visa rules: Before booking an alternative route, confirm the entry and transit requirements of any countries involved.

Important: The regional aviation situation remains unpredictable, and airlines may revise flight schedules with little warning. Passengers should rely on the latest official airline notifications and airport information rather than assuming previously scheduled flights will operate as planned.