Limited Flights Resume From UAE as Iran Strikes Disrupt Air Travel
Dubai and Abu Dhabi allowed a small number of flights after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, leaving between roughly 9,500 and more than 11,000 cancellations and hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.
CBS NewsAir travel chaos intensifies as airports remain closed, flights canceled amid Iran war
CNBCFirst flights take off from Dubai after Iran strikes, but service is 'limited'
BBC NewsLimited flights leave UAE while disruption continues amid Iran strikes
The GuardianThousands of flights cancelled as world faces worst travel chaos since Covid crisis
Overview
Dubai Airports allowed a limited resumption of flights from Dubai International and Dubai World Central on Monday evening, and Emirates flight EK500 departed at 9:12 p.m. local time to Mumbai, Flightradar24 said.
U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran's retaliatory missile and drone fire closed airspace and shut major hubs, grounding flights and stranding travelers, according to flight-tracking sites and government agencies.
El Al said it is considering hiring KlasJet to repatriate Israelis, U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain was establishing support systems, and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said military evacuation was not possible.
Flight-tracking services reported between roughly 9,500 and more than 11,000 cancellations across the region, with Cirium saying 79% of global flights to Qatar and 71% to the United Arab Emirates were canceled.
Airlines said limited operations will be phased in, with Etihad suspending regular services until Wednesday afternoon and Qatar Airways awaiting the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority's clearance, while hundreds of thousands of passengers remain affected.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story around disruption and traveler impact by foregrounding vivid imagery such as smoke-filled hallways, large cancellation tallies from Flightradar24, and traveler testimony from Kristy Ellmer. They prioritize airlines and flight-trackers for authority and downplay regional voices or Iran’s perspective, emphasizing operational chaos over geopolitical context.
FAQ
Emirates (e.g., EK500 to Mumbai) and Etihad (e.g., to London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Delhi) have resumed some flights, including passenger, cargo, and repatriation services, while most scheduled commercial flights remain suspended.
Etihad has suspended scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 2 pm local time on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Flight-tracking services report between 9,500 and more than 11,000 cancellations across the region, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Airspace closures or restrictions include Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan (at night), Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, UAE, and parts of Saudi Arabia.
UK is establishing support systems; Germany notes military evacuation not possible; Abu Dhabi government covers hotel extensions; airlines like El Al consider charter repatriation; waivers issued by US carriers for rescheduling.
