Millions of travellers across the Gulf are navigating an aviation landscape that has changed dramatically since late February 2026. Regional airspace restrictions, triggered by the ongoing military conflict between the United States and Iran, have forced the UAE's biggest carriers to slash their schedules, reroute flights around contested airspace, and introduce emergency rebooking policies on a scale that the country's aviation industry has never seen before. This guide provides a complete, up-to-date breakdown of where things stand as of March 15, 2026 — covering every major airline operating out of the UAE, their current schedules, rebooking options, and what passengers should know before heading to the airport.
The Current State of UAE Aviation
The UAE recorded 7,839 flights and 1.4 million passengers in the first two weeks of March alone, demonstrating that air travel continues even under extraordinary circumstances. However, these numbers represent a significant reduction from normal operations. Dubai International Airport (DXB), which handled over 92 million passengers in 2024, is currently operating well below capacity, with many international routes suspended or running on skeleton schedules.
The restrictions are not the result of damage to airport infrastructure. Both DXB and Abu Dhabi International Airport remain fully operational. The constraints stem from airspace management decisions — with portions of the Gulf's flight corridors either closed or subject to military activity, airlines have been forced to reroute flights along longer paths, extend journey times, and in some cases cancel services entirely where safe routing alternatives do not exist.
Despite the challenges, UAE aviation authorities have emphasised that safety remains the absolute priority. No commercial flight operates until all safety criteria have been met, and airlines are coordinating closely with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and regional air navigation service providers to maintain the highest standards of operational safety.
Emirates: Gradual Return to Full Operations
Emirates, the UAE's flagship carrier and one of the world's largest international airlines, is currently flying to 84 destinations — a significant reduction from its typical network of over 150 cities. The airline is gradually expanding its schedule as airspace conditions permit and has signalled its intention to return to full operations within the coming days, though no firm date has been announced.
Key policies for Emirates passengers include:
- Confirmed bookings required: Passengers must hold a confirmed booking before travelling to the airport. Walk-in passengers and those with unconfirmed tickets will not be accepted for travel
- Transit restrictions: Transit passengers through Dubai are only accepted if their connecting flight is confirmed as operating
- City check-in closed: All Dubai city check-in points remain temporarily suspended
- Rebooking window: Passengers booked between February 28 and March 31, 2026 may rebook to the same destination for travel by April 30, 2026
- Refund option: Full refunds are available for eligible bookings made directly through Emirates or via travel agents
Emirates has also warned passengers about a surge in ticket scams, with fraudulent websites and social media accounts offering fake discounted flights. The airline has urged travellers to book only through emirates.com, the Emirates app, or authorised travel agents.
Etihad Airways: Limited Schedule Through March 16
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is operating a limited flight schedule through at least March 16, serving major international destinations including London, Paris, New York, Riyadh, Tokyo, and Sydney. The airline is conducting strict safety and security assessments before each flight and has warned that schedules may change at short notice.
Notable Etihad policies during this period:
- Online check-in suspended: The airline's online check-in service will remain unavailable until March 21, 2026. Passengers must check in at the airport
- Extended airport time: Etihad is advising passengers to arrive earlier than usual due to limited check-in capacity and enhanced security procedures
- Free rebooking: Tickets issued on or before February 28, 2026, with travel dates up to March 21, may be rebooked without charge onto Etihad-operated flights for travel until May 15, 2026
- Contact centre pressure: The airline has acknowledged high call volumes and is asking passengers to be patient when contacting customer service
Flydubai: Network-Wide Reduced Operations
Dubai's low-cost carrier flydubai is operating a network-wide reduced schedule, maintaining services to multiple destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa. The airline has warned passengers to expect longer flight durations due to rerouted flight paths and extended transit times at connecting airports.
Flydubai's rebooking policy is among the most flexible currently available:
- Free rebooking: Passengers booked between February 28 and March 31 may rebook to the same destination within 30 days of their original travel date at no additional cost
- Transit limitations: Connecting passengers are accepted only if their onward flight is confirmed as operating
- Booking channels: Passengers can manage bookings via flydubai.com, the mobile app, travel shops, or the contact centre at +971 600 54 44 45
Air Arabia: Limited Services from Three UAE Airports
Sharjah-based Air Arabia has resumed limited operations from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah, with flights currently scheduled to operate until March 22. The airline's network during this period covers an impressive geographic spread despite the reduced schedule:
- Middle East (9 destinations): Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Muscat, Salalah, Amman, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Medina
- Asia (10 destinations): Dhaka, Chittagong, Colombo, Bangkok, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kathmandu
- Europe (3 destinations): Vienna, Athens, and Milan-Bergamo
- Africa (3 destinations): Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and Entebbe
- Other (4 destinations): Istanbul, Trabzon, Almaty, and Tashkent
For cancelled flights, Air Arabia is offering passengers three options: one free date change within 30 days, a full credit voucher, or a complete refund to the original payment method.
International Carriers: Mixed Picture
The disruption extends well beyond UAE-based airlines. Several major international carriers have either suspended or significantly reduced their UAE services:
- Lufthansa Group: All scheduled flights to and from Dubai have been cancelled through at least Sunday, March 15, with the situation described as "dynamic" and subject to change
- Air India: Delhi-Dubai services are operating on a limited basis, with several frequencies cancelled
- IndiGo: The Indian low-cost carrier has restricted its Dubai and broader Middle East operations
- Qatar Airways: Running limited flights to and from Doha, which is itself subject to similar regional airspace constraints
Private Aviation Surge
The disruptions to commercial aviation have triggered an unprecedented surge in demand for private jet charters. First-time private jet users have increased sharply as business travellers and high-net-worth individuals seek guaranteed travel options that commercial airlines cannot currently provide. Charter operators are reporting booking volumes several times higher than normal, though fuel costs and routing constraints are putting upward pressure on charter prices.
What Passengers Should Do Right Now
For anyone with travel plans involving the UAE in the coming weeks, here are the essential steps to take:
- Check your flight status before leaving home. Do not travel to the airport without verifying that your flight is confirmed and operating. Use the airline's website or app, not third-party flight trackers
- Update your contact details. Make sure the airline has your current email address and phone number so they can reach you with schedule changes
- Consider rebooking early. If your travel is flexible, take advantage of the free rebooking windows now rather than waiting for last-minute cancellations
- Allow extra time at the airport. Reduced staffing and enhanced security mean longer queues and processing times
- Beware of scams. Book only through official airline channels. Fraudulent websites offering discounted flights have proliferated since the crisis began
- Travel insurance: Check your policy carefully. Many standard policies exclude coverage for events related to military conflicts or government-imposed airspace closures
Looking Ahead
The trajectory of UAE aviation over the coming weeks will depend largely on the broader regional security situation. Emirates has expressed confidence that it can return to full operations relatively quickly once airspace restrictions are eased. The underlying infrastructure — airports, ground handling, air traffic control — remains intact and fully functional.
What is clear is that the UAE's aviation sector, which contributes over 15 percent of Dubai's GDP and employs hundreds of thousands of people across the emirates, will recover. The question is not whether, but when. Until then, travellers should plan carefully, stay informed through official channels, and take advantage of the generous rebooking policies that all major carriers have put in place.
