Dubai, Abu Dhabi Begin Limited Flight Operations After Iran Conflict Disrupts Air Travel

Last Updated:March 02, 2026, 21:29 IST

United Arab Emirates resumes limited flights amid Gulf tensions. Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports restart operations.

Amid the ongoing tensions, the United Arab Emirates on Monday resumed some flight operations. Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are preparing to restart a limited number of flights as authorities try to ease the backlog of stranded passengers.

Airlines and officials said selected services would begin operating from Monday evening. The move comes after widespread airspace closures across the Gulf region, which left thousands of travellers unable to continue their journeys.

The Dubai Media Office said Flydubai would start operating a limited schedule. In a post on X, it said: “Flydubai will operate a limited number of flights on the evening of 02 March 2026. Customers are advised to update their contact details via Manage Your Booking and check Flight status at http://flydubai.com

before travelling to the airport."

Emirates airline also announced that it would restart a small number of flights, with priority given to passengers who already have confirmed bookings. The airline said: “We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates. Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified."

However, the airline clarified that most of its services are still not operating. It added: “All other flights remain suspended until further notice. Emirates continues to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly. Updates will be published on http://emirates.com

and our official social media channels. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority."

In Abu Dhabi, flight operations also began to increase on Monday. Within a period of three hours, 15 Etihad Airways passenger aircraft departed from the airport, likely helping to move transit passengers who had been stranded since the conflict began. According to official information from Etihad Airways, all flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Tuesday, 3 March.

Air India Express also announced plans to resume its services from Muscat starting March 3. The airline said flights will operate to Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Tiruchirappalli. The first service from Muscat will depart for Tiruchirappalli at 10:25 local time.

News world Dubai, Abu Dhabi Begin Limited Flight Operations After Iran Conflict Disrupts Air Travel

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