Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia ground select services connecting Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah to Riyadh, Abha and Yanbu
DUBAI, Oct. 10, 2026 : Airlines across the United Arab Emirates cancelled multiple passenger services to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, following operational disruptions at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that also spilled over into regional routes serving Abha and Yanbu.
Flag carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways, alongside budget operators flydubai and Air Arabia, issued travel alerts confirming flight cancellations on primary routes connecting Dubai International (DXB), Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) to the Saudi capital.
Etihad Airways grounded two round-trip rotations between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh on Saturday, citing operational bottlenecks at Riyadh airport. Affected departures include flights EY551 and EY555 from Abu Dhabi, as well as EY552 and EY556 from Riyadh. The national carrier maintained select operations, confirming that flights EY559 and EY560 remained scheduled to run as planned.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline warned passengers that schedules remain fluid and subject to short-notice changes as ground teams work to stabilize terminal throughput.
Emirates reported disruptions across both Friday and Saturday on its Dubai–Riyadh corridor due to operational reasons. The Dubai carrier cancelled flights EK815 and EK819 to Riyadh, alongside returning services EK816, EK818, and EK820. Ground operations teams are currently assisting ticketed passengers with rebooking options across alternative departures.
Budget carrier flydubai confirmed a wider operational footprint of disruptions, scrubbing flights connecting Dubai to Riyadh, Yanbu, and Abha. Riyadh services FZ847, FZ841, and FZ855, paired with inbound flights FZ848, FZ842, and FZ856, were cancelled on Saturday.
The low-cost airline also suspended Dubai–Yanbu flights FZ817 and FZ818 through Saturday, while cancellations on the Abha route—encompassing services FZ815, FZ811, FZ812, and FZ816—are scheduled to extend through Sunday. Flydubai confirmed its network control team remains in direct coordination with Saudi civil aviation authorities, advising passengers holding direct bookings to manage rerouting or refund claims via its online portal.
In Sharjah, Air Arabia cancelled morning and evening rotations on its Riyadh link, grounding flights G9151 and G9154 outbound, alongside inbound legs G9152 and G9155. The carrier also cancelled flights G9195 and G9196 connecting Sharjah to Abha.
Airport authorities and carriers urged all ticket holders to check real-time flight status boards online before departing for terminals. Passengers holding tickets through third-party agencies have been advised to reach out directly to their booking agents to process ticket modifications.
