Etihad grounds capital and eastern province routes through October 18, while global carriers redraw Middle East flight paths following strikes on Riyadh airport
DUBAI, Oct 16 : Aviation hubs across the United Arab Emirates are grappling with widespread flight cancellations and rolling schedule disruptions, centered primarily on routes into Saudi Arabia following a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The fallout from escalating regional hostilities between the United States and Iran has rippled directly into commercial airspace across the Arabian Peninsula. At Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, long queues formed at customer service desks as airlines suspended dozens of departures, altered corridors, and warned travelers that schedules remain subject to abrupt change.
The disruption across the Gulf corridor intensified following confirmation by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was targeted in two separate strikes on October 8. One hit ground facilities, while a second struck a Saudia passenger jet on the tarmac. Three Saudi nationals were killed and several others wounded. The breach immediately forced regional aviation regulators to review airspace risk profiles.
UAE flag carrier Etihad Airways has grounded all scheduled passenger flights from Abu Dhabi to Riyadh and Dammam through at least Sunday, October 18. Services connecting Abu Dhabi with Jeddah have also been cut back, with flights EY601 and EY602 cancelled through October 18, and EY603 and EY604 grounded through Monday, October 19. The airline described the operating environment as highly fluid, signaling that suspensions could extend depending on security reviews.
Dubai-based Emirates has pulled down a string of mainline daily departures into Saudi Arabia. Multiple flights connecting Dubai to Dammam (EK821, EK823, EK825, EK827), Jeddah (EK801, EK803, EK805), and Riyadh (EK815, EK817, EK819) have been removed from departures boards.
Budget carrier flydubai cancelled regional links touching Abha, AlUla, Dammam, Ha’il, Hofuf, Jouf, Neom, Riyadh, and the Red Sea International Airport. The low-cost airline has also maintained schedule curbs on its Tel Aviv service following a security incident involving flight FZ1073 in late September, prompting Emirates to suspend codeshare arrangements on that route.
In Sharjah, Air Arabia cancelled cross-border services linking its home base with Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, and Taif, alongside disruptions to Kuwait. Several services scheduled for Tabuk faced extended delays, with departures held indefinitely pending airspace clearance.
Beyond the immediate Gulf sector, international operations remain uneven. Military activity in the Strait of Hormuz—including US operations targeting an armed dhow and Iranian claims involving a mine strike on a commercial vessel—has heightened navigation risks. EASA conflict-zone bulletins for the airspace above the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait have forced foreign carriers to reroute or halt operations altogether.
British Airways has postponed Dubai resumptions until November 3, while freezing Abu Dhabi operations through the 2027–28 winter season. Cathay Pacific has excised both Dubai and Riyadh from its passenger network through January 31, 2027. Air France has grounded its Dubai and Riyadh runs through October 24.
Low-cost European carrier Wizz Air postponed six planned Abu Dhabi routes from Eastern and Central Europe until January 10, 2027. Company officials cited prolonged Iraqi airspace closures, which necessitate circuitous flight paths and costly technical fuel stops for single-aisle Airbus A321neo aircraft, rendering the routes financially unviable alongside high fuel pricing.
Several major carriers are nonetheless preparing phased returns. Lufthansa plans to restore Munich-Dubai services on October 25 with five weekly flights, adding Frankfurt departures the following day. SWISS will resume daily Zurich-Dubai rotations on October 27, followed by Eurowings entering Dubai from Berlin, Stuttgart, and Cologne in early November, and Austrian Airlines connecting Vienna in December. Philippine Airlines and Air Astana have already restored selected services into Dubai.
Travel advisories from Western governments reflect the volatile climate. The United States continues to classify the UAE under Level 3: Reconsider Travel, pointing to potential regional conflict and terrorism risks. Authorities in the UK, Canada, and Australia have advised citizens to exercise caution and prepare for sudden border, flight, or transit interruptions.
Aviation authorities advise ticket holders not to travel to airports without confirming that their flight is operating. flydubai recommends passengers arrive four hours prior to departure, while Dubai Airports and Zayed International Airport urge travelers to check live flight status portals and verify contact details with their ticketing airlines to receive automated rebooking updates.
