Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia, flydubai: UAE flight updates today as Gulf conflict triggers delays, cancellations

Dubai: Travellers flying from the UAE on Thursday should expect some disruption as airlines continue to adjust operations amid the escalating conflict in the Gulf.

While UAE airports remain operational and the majority of flights are operating as scheduled, some services to Bahrain and Kuwait have been cancelled, while several other departures and arrivals are facing delays.

Etihad Airways has extended cancellations on selected Kuwait flights until July 26 and has also cancelled Bahrain services until July 25. At Dubai International Airport, a handful of Emirates, flydubai and other international flights were delayed, while Sharjah Airport reported only minor delays and no major cancellations.

The latest changes come as Kuwait said its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones following what it described as an Iranian attack, adding to security concerns across the region.

Latest updates

Etihad extends Kuwait flight cancellations

Etihad Airways has cancelled flights EY653 and EY654 between Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport and Kuwait International Airport until July 26 due to operational reasons.

The airline has also cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain from July 23 to July 25, also citing operational reasons.

Etihad said: "We apologise for this inconvenience, our teams are doing their best to assist with your travel arrangements."

Passengers booked on affected services have been advised to ensure their contact details are up to date so they can receive the latest flight notifications by SMS or email.

Dubai airport: Which flights are affected?

Dubai International Airport remained largely operational on Thursday, although some flights were delayed.

Arrivals

Emirates

• New York - Delayed

• Jeddah - Delayed

• London Heathrow - Delayed

• Manchester - Delayed

flydubai

• Almaty - Delayed

• Lucknow - Delayed

• Dhaka - Delayed

Other disruptions:

• flyadeal from Riyadh - Cancelled

Departures

• flydubai to Bahrain - Delayed

• flydubai to Damascus - Cancelled

• flydubai to Jeddah - Delayed

• flydubai to Erbil - Cancelled

• flyadeal to Riyadh - Cancelled

• SpiceJet to Pune - Delayed

• SpiceJet to Kozhikode - Delayed

• SpiceJet to New Delhi - Delayed

Sharjah Airport

Operations at Sharjah Airport remained largely normal, with only a few delays reported and no major cancellations.

Kuwait reports intercepting hostile drones

Kuwait's military said on Thursday that its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones following what it described as an Iranian attack.

In a statement, the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army said air defences were "confronting attacks by hostile drones" and that explosions heard by residents were the result of interception operations.

Authorities urged residents to remain calm and follow official security instructions.

The announcement comes as tensions continue to rise across the Gulf. Kuwaiti authorities did not immediately provide details on the number of drones intercepted, whether there was any damage or whether there were casualties. Iran has not immediately commented on the allegation.

US issues worldwide travel caution

The US State Department has issued a worldwide caution for American citizens, warning that the security situation in the Middle East could change without notice.

The advisory warned travellers to be prepared for:

• Flight cancellations

• Airspace closures

• Travel disruptions

It also noted that some airlines have postponed resuming services or cancelled routes altogether, urging travellers to check with their airlines before flying.

Passengers with bookings on affected airlines should check directly with carriers for refund, rebooking or travel waiver options.

Why flights are taking longer or being cancelled

Due to airspace restrictions and security concerns in parts of the region, some international flights are being rerouted.

Travellers may experience:

• Longer flight times: Some routes may take an additional 1–3 hours due to detours.

• Flight cancellations: Airlines may adjust schedules based on safety assessments.

• Longer connection times: Increased traffic at alternative airports can affect layovers.

• Possible baggage delays: Route changes may impact baggage transfers.

Advice for passengers

Passengers travelling from the UAE are advised to:

• Check their flight status before leaving for the airport.

• Monitor airline websites, mobile apps and airport departure boards for the latest updates.

• Contact their airline directly if their flight has been cancelled to discuss rebooking, rerouting or refund options.