Airspace across the Middle East has closed and flights are facing disruption after the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Saturday morning, with President Donald Trump confirming “major combat operations” are underway.
The attack follows a week of failed negotiations in Geneva, prompting governments to urge citizens to leave Iran, Israel, and parts of the wider region, and airlines to adjust routes and services in response to shifting risk assessments.
Following the confirmed attack, several Middle Eastern countries closed their airspace—including the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Bahrain—which is expected to affect flight schedules across the region.
This article was updated with new information on February 28, 2026.
Middle East airspace closures
The United Arab Emirates has temporarily closed its airspace. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said the measure is aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and aircrews and safeguarding UAE territory as the situation unfolds.
Dubai Airports confirmed that all flight operations at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central—Al Maktoum International (DWC) are suspended “until further notice.” Dubai Media Offices advised passengers not to travel to the airport and to contact their airlines for the latest updates.
Iran, Iraq, Israel, Bahrain, and Qatar have also closed their airspaces. Kuwait closed its airspace and reported a drone attack on its airport, causing minor injuries to several employees and limited material damage to Terminal 1.
Saudi Arabia’s airspace is impacted though not all flights have been grounded; King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Jeddah Airports, and Dammam Airports urged passengers to check directly with their airlines for updates.
Which airlines suspended or changed flights?
All carriers with flights into airports in closed airspace are affected, including routes to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, Tehran, and Tel Aviv.
– Emirates: Grounded all flights from Dubai; advising customers to monitor the situation and contact the airline or travel agent.
– Etihad Airways: Cancellations reported; monitoring developments and advising customers to contact the airline or booking agent to rebook.
– Qatar Airways: Temporarily suspended flights to and from Doha due to Qatari airspace closure; anticipates delays once operations resume and has deployed additional ground staff to assist passengers.
– Flydubai: Confirmed a number of affected flights and is adjusting its schedule while contacting impacted passengers.
– British Airways: Cancelled Saturday flights between London Heathrow and Amman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha; grounded flights between London and Bahrain and Tel Aviv until March 3.
– Gulf Air: Flights to and from Bahrain are affected; passengers should check the airline website for updates.
– Lufthansa: Suspending all flights to and from Dubai for Feb 28–Mar 1; services to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Oman suspended until at least March 7.
– Virgin Atlantic: Suspended London Heathrow–Dubai flights on Saturday as a precaution.
– Norwegian: Cancelled flights to and from Dubai until at least Wednesday, March 4, pending further assessment.
– Air India: Suspended all flights to the Middle East, including Dubai, citing the developing situation.
– KLM: Suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam; passengers with cancelled flights are being informed and will be rebooked or offered vouchers/refunds.
Which destinations are affected?
Major hubs and transit corridors impacted include:
– Tel Aviv: Widespread pauses by major Western carriers and airspace closures
– Dubai and Abu Dhabi: UAE airspace closed with all flights affected on Saturday, Feb 28
– Iranian and Iraqi airspace: Avoided entirely by many Western airlines
– Kuwait: Airspace closed; Kuwait International Airport damaged by a drone attack
– Doha: Qatari airspace closed
– Bahrain: Airspace closed; flights diverted or canceled
What are aviation authorities advising?
The UAE’s GCAA described the airspace closures as an “exceptional precautionary measure” to protect flights, crews, and territory.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued an advisory to European carriers, recommending against operating in affected airspaces “at all flight levels and altitudes.” It urged carriers to closely monitor airspace developments and follow aeronautical publications and national authority guidance, including information shared through the European Information Sharing and Cooperation Platform on Conflict Zones.
What does this mean for travelers?
Travelers should expect:
– Technical stops: unscheduled fuel stops, especially for low-cost carriers
– Cancellations: grounded flights while airspace remains closed
– Schedule shifts: knock-on impacts as airlines work to restore services
– Rerouting delays: longer flight durations for services that remain operational
Airlines are offering refunds and flexible rebooking options; policies vary by carrier.
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller Middle East. This story has been updated with new information since its original publication date.
