DUBAI, UAE — July 19, 2026:Aviation networks across the Gulf are facing selective disruptions following an escalation in US-Iran geopolitical tensions. While national carriers in the United Arab Emirates maintain the vast majority of their global schedules, commercial traffic to Kuwait and parts of Saudi Arabia has seen direct cancellations. Simultaneously, a growing list of international legacy airlines has extended flight suspensions to Dubai and Abu Dhabi into the final quarter of the year, citing strict safety guidance from global aviation regulators.
The primary disruption centers on Kuwait International Airport, which temporarily suspended operations following regional drone and missile activity intercepted by the Kuwait Armed Forces. The incident caused severe damage to localized utility and industrial infrastructure, prompting immediate closures of commercial airspace. In response, Emirates cancelled all scheduled services between Dubai and Kuwait through July 19, including its core EK857 and return EK858 rotations. Air Arabia similarly halted several flights connecting Sharjah and Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, while Etihad Airways placed its Abu Dhabi-Kuwait operations on alert, listing flights under an “awaiting update” status.
Beyond Kuwait, regional air corridors linking the UAE to southwestern Saudi Arabia remain vulnerable. Flydubai and Air Arabia have entered their fifth consecutive day of cancellations on routes to Abha International Airport. While domestic operations inside Saudi Arabia connecting Abha to Riyadh and Jeddah continue to operate, international links into the Asir province from UAE hubs have been cut due to persistent route instability.
Divergent Safety Responses
The current operational landscape highlights a distinct divide between Gulf-based airlines and their international counterparts. While Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia continue to deploy substantial capacity across their broader networks, foreign carriers are pulling back significantly.
This divergence is heavily driven by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which issued an active security warning covering the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and parts of the Gulf of Oman. Valid until at least July 29, the directive advises carriers to avoid operating within these sectors due to risks associated with missile and drone tracking.
Consequently, several major airlines have restructured their long-haul networks:
- Singapore Airlines extended its Singapore-to-Dubai suspension through October 24, 2026, and pushed its highly anticipated Riyadh launch to December 1.
- British Airways, Air Canada, airBaltic, and ITA Airways have fully paused their Dubai services, with plans to resume operations no earlier than October 25, 2026.
- Lufthansa Group and SWISS have suspended all flights to Dubai until September 13, while their Abu Dhabi and wider regional services are paused through late October.
- Cathay Pacific postponed its standard daily Hong Kong-Dubai returns until late October, shifting its capacity models to minimize regional risk.
Advice for Transiting Passengers
Despite individual route closures and extended foreign airline suspensions, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority confirms that domestic airspace and the country’s primary international airport hubs remain open and secure. However, rerouting around restricted airspace has resulted in longer flight durations and increased transit times for several operating services.
Airlines are urging passengers to verify their flight status directly on official carrier websites rather than relying on third-party aggregators or social media feeds. Due to the fluidity of regional security assessments, schedules are subject to short-notice modifications. Travelers are advised to ensure their direct contact details are updated with their respective airlines and to arrive at airport terminals significantly earlier than standard check-in times to account for summer peak volumes and changing operational demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are flights to Kuwait and Abha specifically affected?
Kuwait International Airport temporarily suspended commercial traffic following drone and missile interceptions that impacted local infrastructure. Routes to Abha in Saudi Arabia are facing short-term cancellations due to operational security risks within those specific air corridors.
Are UAE airports still open?
Yes. Dubai International Airport (DXB), Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah International Airport remain fully functional. Local national carriers continue to operate the vast majority of their global networks.
Why are international airlines suspending flights if the airports are open?
Foreign airlines are acting under advisories from their respective domestic and regional regulators, such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which has flagged safety concerns regarding parts of Gulf airspace. UAE carriers operate under local safety assessments, allowing them to maintain active flight paths.
