Air travel remained partially disrupted across the UAE on March 7 as escalating regional conflicts triggered widespread closures of airspace in the Middle East, with airlines operating only limited flights. Major airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia have resumed limited operations, prioritizing stranded passengers while offering flexible rebooking and refund options. As flight schedules are constantly changing, travelers are urged to check flight status before traveling to the airport.
UAE flight updates today
Airports across the UAE, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, are operating with limited flights. Most scheduled flights remain suspended as regional airspace restrictions continue to impact air routes across the Middle East.The disruptions stem from rising tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran, which have led to several countries in the region closing or restricting their airspace. This has forced airlines to cancel or reroute thousands of flights at the Gulf’s major aviation hubs.Dubai, one of the world’s busiest transport hubs, has been particularly affected. While airports remain open, authorities are allowing only a limited number of passenger flights as well as cargo, repatriation and resettlement services. Travelers are advised not to travel to the airport unless the airline confirms that its flight is operating.
| airline | Operational status | Critical updates | Rebooking/Refund Deadline |
| Emirates Airlines | 60% network recovery | There are 106 flights to 83 cities today | Rebook before April 30th |
| Etihad Airways | limited recovery | Serving more than 25 international destinations | Rebook before May 15th |
| flydubai | shorten schedule | Only transfers accepted on operating flights | Rebook before March 31st |
| air arabia | Partial operation | Most flights to Sharjah suspended until March 9 | Free date changes (15 days) |
| indigo | limited rescue | Currently operating to 5 Middle East hubs | Exemption until March 31 |
| SpiceJet | special rotation | 20+ special flights from Fujairah/Dubai | Fully refundable |
passenger agreement
Despite the increased number of flights, access to the airport remains strictly controlled. Authorities have a “zero tolerance” policy on terminal entry to prevent overcrowding and ensure safety.
- Strict Entry: Only passengers with confirmed bookings or official notification from the airline are allowed to enter the airport terminal.
- Transit Note: Airlines will only accept passengers transiting through Dubai if their subsequent connecting flight is confirmed and operational.
- Waiting for calls: Airlines urge passengers not to travel to the airport unless they receive direct communication (email/SMS) confirming that their specific flight is ready to board.
Passenger repatriation flights
To help passengers stranded due to flight disruptions, several airlines have launched special flights. Indian airlines such as Air India and Air India Express have scheduled additional flights on March 7 to bring back passengers from cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.The flights are part of broader efforts by governments and airlines to combat travel disruption caused by regional instability. However, aviation authorities warned that the situation remained fluid and flight schedules could change at short notice based on developments in the Middle East.
