The UAE Guides

13 Airlines Suspend Dubai Flights Amid Regional Tensions

· 2 min read News
Aircraft on the apron at Dubai International Airport

Contents

  1. Which Airlines Are Affected
  2. What This Means for Travellers
  3. Emirates and Other Home Carriers
  4. Looking Ahead

Thirteen international airlines have suspended or significantly reduced their flight services to and from Dubai International Airport following the escalation of regional tensions, with suspension periods extending through October 2026 for several carriers. The suspensions represent the most significant single-event reduction in airline capacity at Dubai Airport in recent years.

Which Airlines Are Affected

The 13 carriers cited in published reports include European, Asian, and Middle Eastern operators who have paused services citing operational safety assessments of airspace in the broader Gulf region. Emirates and flydubai — the two home carriers — continue to operate full schedules as of 21 July, as does Etihad from Abu Dhabi.

Airlines that have suspended services include carriers from Europe and Asia that operate long-haul rotations through Dubai as a connecting point. Several have indicated they are reviewing their positions on a rolling basis and may resume service earlier than October if the situation changes.

What This Means for Travellers

If you have a confirmed booking with one of the suspended carriers, your airline should be contacting you directly to offer a refund or rebooking. If you have not received communication and your departure is within the next 30 days, contact your airline immediately.

Passengers connecting through Dubai to onward destinations should check carefully: if the first leg is operated by a suspended airline, the whole itinerary may be affected even if the second leg carrier is still flying.

Key actions to take now:

  • Log into your airline account and check booking status
  • If your flight has been cancelled, request a full refund or alternative routing
  • Consider travel insurance claims if you have coverage for airline-initiated cancellations

Emirates and Other Home Carriers

Emirates has confirmed it is operating normally and has seen increased demand as passengers reroute to its services. If you need to reach Dubai and your original carrier has suspended, rebooking onto Emirates or a partner airline is the most straightforward option.

For comprehensive information on reaching Dubai, including current airline options and airport procedures, see our guide to flights to Dubai. Our Dubai Airport guide covers terminal navigation, connections, and ground transport.

Looking Ahead

Several aviation analysts expect the suspension period to shorten if regional tensions ease. We will update this article as airlines announce reinstatements or extend their suspension windows.