Travel advisory: Dubai Airports brace for flight disruptions amid airspace closures

Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports warn of delays, issue travel advisories

Last updated:
Lekshmy Pavithran, Assistant Online Editor
2 MIN READ
Authorities urge travellers to check flight updates with airlines before arriving at the airport.
Authorities urge travellers to check flight updates with airlines before arriving at the airport.
Dubai Airports

Dubai Airports confirmed on Monday that both Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) may experience significant delays and cancellations on June 16.

The disruptions are caused by ongoing airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria, linked to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Authorities have urged travellers to check with their airlines for the latest flight updates before heading to the airport.

Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) has issued a similar warning, noting that delays are expected to continue through June 15 and 16.

Sharjah Airport has also released a passenger advisory amid continued rerouting and delays.

UAE travel advisory issued

On Saturday, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) released an urgent travel advisory urging Emirati citizens, residents, and travelers to remain in close contact with their airlines as the regional situation evolves.

Major flight suspensions by UAE airlines

Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia have all suspended multiple regional routes due to ongoing airspace restrictions across Iran, Iraq, Israel, and surrounding areas.

Emirates Airline

  • Jordan (Amman) and Lebanon (Beirut): Suspended until Sunday, June 22

  • Iran (Tehran) and Iraq (Baghdad, Basra): Suspended until Monday, June 30

Passengers with connecting flydubai flights to these destinations will not be accepted for travel at their departure points. Emirates has advised affected travelers to contact their booking agents or use the “Manage Your Booking” tool for updates and rebooking.

flydubai updates

Dubai-based airline flydubai has announced it will resume daytime flights to Jordan and Lebanon starting Tuesday, June 17. However, suspensions to several conflict-affected destinations remain in place. The airline continues to monitor the situation and urges passengers to check for updates due to ongoing delays, rerouting, and cancellations.

  • Daytime flights to Jordan and Lebanon will resume on Tuesday, June 17.

  • Flights to Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Syria remain suspended until June 20.

  • Flights to Minsk and St. Petersburg remain suspended through June 17.

Regional airspace and border closures

  • Israel: Ben Gurion International Airport remains closed for a third consecutive day. All flights are suspended. El Al Airlines has halted operations until at least Thursday, with some cancellations extended to June 23.

  • Iran: Airspace remains closed "until further notice" as a safety measure amid counterattacks.

  • Jordan: After a precautionary closure, Jordan reopened its airspace on Saturday morning following a risk assessment. Officials stressed the kingdom will not allow its airspace to be used in any conflict.

  • Pakistan: All border crossings with Iran have been closed indefinitely due to the escalating crisis.

  • Syria and Lebanon: Both countries initially suspended air travel but have since reopened their airspace.

  • Israel-Jordan land borders: The Jordan River, King Hussein (Allenby), and Yitzhak Rabin crossings remain open.

The widespread disruptions follow a wave of military strikes exchanged between Israel and Iran, triggering a ripple effect across civil aviation in the region. Authorities continue efforts to support stranded passengers and ensure safety.

Travellers heading to or through the Middle East are strongly advised to verify their flight status and consider alternative plans amid continued uncertainty.

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