Dubai Travel Warning 2026: Which Middle East Flights Are Still Being Disrupted?
You’ve booked the ticket, packed the suitcase, and maybe even told your family when you’ll land. Then the airline email arrives: your flight is cancelled.
For thousands of travellers this year, that is what the Dubai travel warning 2026 looks like in real life. Here is where things stand in mid-November.
Why Gulf Flights Keep Getting Disrupted
The trouble began in late February, when strikes involving the US, Israel and Iran set off missile fire across the region. Flights in and out of Dubai were suspended. Flightradar24 counted more than 3,400 cancellations in a single day across seven Middle East airports. Tensions flared again in September. Europe’s aviation safety agency, EASA, has since told airlines to avoid parts of Gulf airspace. Its latest bulletin runs to November 16 unless it is extended.
Latest Updates: What’s Still Affected
Air travel from the UAE is largely running, but some routes remain shaky.
Saudi Arabia is the biggest trouble spot. Etihad has cancelled all Riyadh and Dammam flights through November 19. Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia also cancelled several Saudi services on November 11.
Israel and Iran: Emirates and flydubai have paused Tel Aviv flights, while Etihad still flies the route. Iranian airlines are barred from the UAE until further notice.
Dubai itself: Some carriers are returning. British Airways restarted Heathrow flights on November 3, and Lufthansa, SWISS and Eurowings plan to follow on November 25. But Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, KLM and Air Canada have pushed their return into 2027, and Virgin Atlantic isn’t expected back before then.
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