UAE Airports Warn of Flight Delays Amid Middle East Airspace Closures

Travellers flying in or out of the UAE on June 15 and 16 should brace for delays and potential cancellations. Dubai Airports has confirmed that Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) are experiencing flight disruptions due to airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria.

The closures come amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, severely affecting air traffic across the region.

Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Also Affected

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) has also issued a travel advisory warning of continued delays through June 15 and 16. Similarly, Sharjah Airport is experiencing flight rerouting and delays, urging travellers to stay updated with their respective airlines.

UAE Issues Official Travel Advisory

On Saturday, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a travel alert, advising Emirati citizens, residents, and travellers to stay in close contact with airlines. Travellers are urged to monitor flight status closely and avoid non-essential travel to high-risk regions.

Flight Suspensions: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia

Leading UAE carriers, including Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia, have announced the suspension of numerous regional routes. These suspensions are a direct consequence of ongoing airspace restrictions across Iran, Iraq, Israel, and surrounding areas, aiming to ensure passenger safety.

Emirates Airline

Emirates Airlines has announced the following route suspensions:

• Amman (Jordan) & Beirut (Lebanon): Suspended until June 22
• Tehran (Iran), Baghdad & Basra (Iraq): Suspended until June 30

Emirates has advised travellers to check the “Manage Your Booking” tool or contact travel agents for rebooking options. Connecting passengers using flydubai on these routes will not be allowed to board from the departure airports.

flydubai Updates

Dubai-based flydubai has confirmed the resumption of daytime flights to Jordan and Lebanon starting Tuesday, June 17. However, suspensions to several conflict-affected destinations are still in place.

• Resuming June 17: Daytime flights to Jordan and Lebanon
• Still Suspended until June 20: Flights to Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Syria
• Suspended through June 17: Flights to Minsk and St. Petersburg

flydubai continues to monitor the situation and encourages all travellers to check for real-time updates.

Regional Overview: Closed Skies and Borders

The ripple effects of the conflict have reached far beyond the immediate zone. Here’s how the situation stands:

Advice for Travellers Heading to the Middle East

Given the fluid security situation and the ongoing airspace restrictions, travellers are strongly advised to:

• Check flight status regularly with their airline
• Rebook or reroute if flying to Iran, Iraq, Syria, or Israel
• Stay in contact with airports and embassies if stranded
• Consider alternate travel routes or dates

For updated flight schedules and rerouting assistance, visit:

• Emirates Flight Status
• flydubai Travel Alerts

Final Thoughts

The Middle East aviation landscape remains highly unpredictable due to escalating geopolitical tensions. UAE authorities and airlines are working around the clock to minimise passenger disruption, but travellers should remain flexible and cautious in the coming days.