UAE February 28th, 2026: The rising tensions within the region due to the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran greatly affected the flight operations in the major airports of United Arab Emirates airports. Not only the airspace has been closed but the flights have even been halted. On 28 February 2026, the officials of the Dubai international airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum international airport (DWC) cancelled flights indefinitely until further notice and urged passengers not to visit the airports and always consult with airlines about the new developments.
Meanwhile, the UAE national airline, Etihad Airways, also suspended all the outbound flights via Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) as well as inbound flights till March 1. This is after a series of airspace shutdowns and cancellation of flight operations in the Middle East because of the increased geopolitical tension between the regional forces.
Dubai Airport Suspends Flight Operations
The government of Dubai has confirmed that flight operations in DXB and DWC are currently permanently suspended because of the airspace that is closed down in the area. It is strongly recommended that passengers are not supposed to go to the airports and use the official airline routes to receive updated information and rebooking or refund services. The airline of Dubai, Emirates, has already declared that it has suspended flights in and out of Dubai including flydubai that is rearranging its scheduled flights at the time. The question on when the flight operations will resume is yet to be answered, and once again the authorities have reminded that the situation is dynamic.
Etihad Airways Suspends Flights In Abu Dhabi
The Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi had announced that it is halting all departures out of Zayed International Airport indefinitely by 2 pm UAE time on March 1. Any flights that are to be received before this deadline will be cancelled. The airline has said that the aircrafts, which already had their destinations towards Abu Dhabi, can be returned to the place of origin airports. The customers are being contacted and given rebooking and accommodation. It strongly advised travellers to check the status of their flight prior to travelling to the airport.
Etihad underlined the importance of the safety of its passengers, as well as the crew, within the framework of the disruption of the normal flight operations.
International Effect And Expanded Closure Of Airspace
The aviation fragmentation in the region post-recent military tensions is a continuation of the larger trend on the flight disruptions in the UAE. Airspace of some of the Middle East states, including Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, has been reduced or closed, forcing flight operations to cancel, suspend, or reroute.
The international airlines have responded slowly. Other major airlines in the world have either cancelled or diverted flights as an effort to avoid the Iranian and Iraqi airspace as well as other neighbouring areas. Thousands of passengers have been left on the runway or delayed their schedules due to the fact that they are extremely unsure.
Passengers Need To Know For Travel Advisory
Since it has impacted the flight activities of major hubs in the Gulf, the authorities and airline operators are advising travellers to:
- Confirm the status of the check flight with airline companies before visiting the airport.
- Record any cancellations and resumption of official airline and airport communications.
- Be prepared to accept changes in the schedule, serious delays and even rerouting.
Rebooking and refunding options are also being offered by airlines as the situation continues to change at a very high pace.
The Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports have suspended flights, which speaks of the level of anarchy that is looming over the civil aviation in the Gulf with escalating geopolitical tension. In order to stay updated, the people who have been affected by the closures are advised to do so through the official channels and be prepared to accept more changes as the authorities attempt to rectify the situation.
Also read: UAE Safety Advisory Alert Warns People To Avoid Any Falling Debris Or Suspicious Objects
