Two further rounds of Gulf cancellations were confirmed on 5 August, extending disruption well into the autumn for travellers flying to and from the UAE.
KLM Pushes Dubai Restart to 24 October
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has extended its full suspension of flights to Dubai β along with its already-paused Riyadh and Dammam services β to 24 October 2026, moving the previous 6 September restart back by nearly seven weeks. KLM cited the collapse of the US-Iran interim ceasefire and continued airspace risk over the Gulf as the basis for the extension.
Travellers with KLM bookings to or from Dubai between now and 24 October should expect automatic cancellation notifications. KLM joins a growing list of European carriers β including Singapore Airlines, Air France, and Lufthansa β that have now pushed Gulf restarts into late autumn. If you have not received a rebooking offer, contact KLM directly or check its app; most affected passengers are entitled to a full refund or rerouting via an alternative hub.
Emirates and Etihad Delay Bahrain and Kuwait for Third Consecutive Week
Separately, both Emirates and Etihad extended cancellations on their Bahrain and Kuwait routes for a third consecutive week on 5 August. Emirates cancelled seven daily flights serving those destinations; Etihad has tentatively listed an 8 August restart for its services, though this has not been confirmed as we publish.
The disruption is most relevant to travellers using UAE-based carriers for onward connections through Bahrain or Kuwait, or those travelling between the Emirates and those countries for business or transit purposes. Alternative connections via Istanbul, Cairo, or Nairobi continue to operate normally.
What to Do if Your Flight Is Affected
- Check your airlineβs app or email for a cancellation or rebooking notification
- Contact the airline directly if no rebooking offer has arrived within 24 hours
- Review your travel insurance cover β most comprehensive policies include carrier-initiated cancellations caused by airspace closures
- For operating carriers currently serving Dubai via non-Gulf routing, see our flights to Dubai guide
We are monitoring the situation daily. For the broader picture on travel conditions, see our Dubai city guide and Abu Dhabi guide.