What travel advisories are saying

UK: The FCDO has lifted its broad “against all but essential travel” warnings for major regional hubs including the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. However, it continues to warn that the situation is unpredictable and travellers should be prepared for flight delays and sudden airspace changes.

US: The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Oman are at Level 3 – Reconsider Travel, with the US citing risks linked to armed conflict, drone and missile interceptions and commercial flight disruption. Non-emergency US government staff and their families were ordered to leave the UAE.

Australia: Australia has lowered its UAE advice from Level 4, “Do not travel”, to Level 3, “Reconsider your need to travel”.

Canada: Canada continues to advise travellers to exercise a “high degree of caution” in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. It also advises keeping travel documents current and maintaining sufficient supplies in case travellers need to shelter in place if commercial flights are suspended.

What international airlines are saying

Services operating or returning

Turkish Airlines: Dubai and Abu Dhabi services have resumed; Iran flights remain suspended.
Qatar Airways: Multiple daily Dubai flights are operating, with Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil services also resumed. Its network has recovered to more than 160 destinations, around 85% of its pre-war network.
Air India/Air India Express: Full GCC networks have been restored, with around 780 weekly flights between India and the region.
IndiGo: Selected Middle East services are operating while the airline monitors the situation.
flynas: Daily Dubai, Doha and Bahrain services are operating.
Jazeera Airways: Selected services, including Dubai flights, are operating, although Kuwait airspace and airport closures could cause disruption.

UAE services still suspended or reduced

British Airways: Dubai and Abu Dhabi suspended; Dubai flights planned to resume November 4.
Wizz Air: Preparing to return to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in late October.
Air Astana: Dubai services from Kazakhstan planned to restart in early October.
Lufthansa, Eurowings and SWISS: Dubai services suspended through October 24; Eurowings separately plans to restart November 1.
Singapore Airlines: Dubai flights SQ494 and SQ495 cancelled through October 24.
KLM: Dubai flights suspended through October 24.
Air Canada: Dubai suspended until mid-January 2027.
Air France: Dubai flights suspended through October 13; Riyadh flights cancelled through September 22 and Beirut remains suspended through September 24.
Cathay Pacific: Dubai and Riyadh passenger services suspended through November 30.
ITA Airways, Finnair and AirBaltic: Dubai services suspended through October 24.
Philippine Airlines: Manila–Dubai suspended through October 2.
Korean Air: Incheon–Dubai suspended until further notice.
Pegasus: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah suspended.
Virgin Atlantic: London–Dubai suspended for the foreseeable future.

UAE aviation recovery

The UAE aviation sector is rebuilding capacity as airlines gradually restore international services.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said airline capacity at DXB had recovered to about 84 per cent of previous levels, while passenger volumes were at 78 per cent.

Emirates was operating at around 93 per cent of pre-disruption capacity in July and August, while flydubai expects to restore 100 per cent of its network capacity, potentially exceeding it, by the end of 2026.

However, travel advisories and ongoing regional security assessments continue to influence the pace of the international recovery.

International airlines gradually restore UAE services

International airlines are gradually restoring UAE services, but the recovery remains staggered.

British Airways plans to resume Dubai flights from November 4, while Wizz Air is preparing to return to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in late October. Air Astana will restart Dubai services from Kazakhstan in early October.

However, several carriers, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Singapore Airlines, KLM, ITA Airways and AirBaltic, have suspended Dubai flights through October 24, while Air Canada has pushed its return to mid-January 2027 and Virgin Atlantic to October 2027.

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