The UAE has restarted a limited number of flights after days of travel disruption across the Middle East, as shifting airspace restrictions and security concerns continue to strand passengers and scramble airline schedules.
Dubai authorises only a small number of departures
Dubai’s airport authority said it has approved a small number of flights to operate from Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central. The message to travellers remained blunt: do not make travel plans unless the airline has contacted you directly with a confirmed departure time.
Emirates restarts limited services while Etihad keeps most flights paused
Dubai-based Emirates said it would resume a limited set of services, with passengers holding earlier bookings expected to be prioritised as operations gradually rebuild.
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways said its commercial schedule would remain suspended until Wednesday, while allowing that repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights could take place if operational and safety approvals are secured.
Flight tracking shows departures and diversions as conditions stay volatile
Even as select flights began moving, the air picture remained unstable. Some aircraft departed for international destinations, while others were forced to divert mid-journey or turn back as routing changed in real time. Flight tracking platforms continued to show a mix of departures, delays and diversions as airlines navigated closures and corridor restrictions.
Airspace shutdowns across the region deepen the backlog
Multiple countries across the Middle East have closed airspace at various points amid the escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran, and retaliatory strikes impacting regional security. The result has been a widespread halt to normal traffic flows across major east–west corridors, with knock-on effects spreading far beyond the region.
Thousands of cancellations leave governments weighing evacuation plans
Aviation data has indicated that more than 11,000 flights in and out of the region have been cancelled since the conflict began, pushing governments to consider repatriation plans for citizens unable to get home through normal commercial routes.
Germany, for example, has discussed deploying charter flights via nearby countries to evacuate particularly vulnerable people who remain stranded.
Analysts warn of longer-term route changes if the crisis drags on
Aviation specialists say a prolonged conflict can do more than create short-term delays. If elevated risk persists for weeks, insurers and regulators may increase operating costs and airlines may be forced to redraw route maps, suspend services for longer periods and shift traffic to alternative routings or hubs viewed as lower-risk.
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