Flights across the Middle East continue to be disrupted as the conflict involving Iran escalates, impacting major international travel hubs and prompting warnings for citizens to abandon the region. The disruptions began following strikes by the U.S. And Israel on Iran, and subsequent retaliatory attacks by Iran, creating significant aviation chaos.
Several countries have closed their airspace, including the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan, according to reports on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Flightradar24 shows a “yawning gap” where a normally busy network of air traffic should be, illustrating the extent of the closures. This situation is reshaping global aviation patterns.
Major airlines have suspended services in the region. Emirates has halted operations in and out of Dubai until 3:00 PM local time on Monday, March 3, 2026, even as Etihad has suspended flights from Abu Dhabi until 2:00 AM local time on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. British Airways has cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday, March 5, 2026, and warned that services to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv could be affected for several days.
The U.S. Government is advising its citizens to depart the region “using available commercial travel.” The UK Foreign Office has issued warnings against all but essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and is advising those already in the region to shelter in place. British officials are formulating plans for potential evacuations of UK nationals, though the timing remains uncertain.
Fresh strikes by Iran on Saudi Arabia late Monday, March 2, 2026, have further complicated the situation for travelers stranded in the region. At least one person has been killed and eleven others injured at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi since the strikes began, including four airport staff members in Dubai.
Morocco has reaffirmed its solidarity with Gulf countries targeted by Iranian attacks, according to medi1tv and Jeune Afrique. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the potential for wider instability.
While some flights have departed from cities in the UAE, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the situation remains fluid, and travelers are urged to monitor government alerts and check with their airlines for updates. The impact extends beyond scheduled flights, as seen with reports of stranded influencers in Dubai responding to criticism amid the travel disruptions, as reported by parismatch.com.
France 24 reports that Iran is transforming “the oasis of prosperity and stability” Dubai into “a zone of war,” highlighting the severity of the situation. Travelers awaiting their return flights in Dubai are sheltering as missiles pose a threat, according to Medias24.
