Limited Flights Resume from Dubai Amid Ongoing Geopolitical Tensions
Resumption of Flights from Dubai Airports
On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that certain flights have begun departing from Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central International Airport. The ministry further indicated that the airspace of the UAE has been partially reopened under restricted corridors, with strict monitoring of movements in place. Although regular flight services remain largely suspended, some inbound and outbound flights were permitted to resume operations starting Monday evening.
Current Flight Operations
The statement revealed that flights are now operating from DXB/OMDB (Dubai International Airport) and DWC/OMDW (Dubai World Central International Airport). While the airports are not completely closed, they are not fully accessible to the public either. Strict monitoring continues, and regular scheduled services are still significantly disrupted. Since the evening of March 2, a limited number of flights have been allowed to operate. The UAE's airspace has been partially reopened under restricted corridors, but much of the surrounding regional airspace remains closed or highly unstable.
Special Flights by SpiceJet and Air Arabia
On Tuesday, SpiceJet announced that it is operating special flights from Fujairah to Delhi, Mumbai, and Kochi to assist Indian citizens returning home, sharing the schedule on social media. Air Arabia also provided travel updates, stating that flights to and from the UAE would be temporarily suspended until 3:00 PM (UAE time) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Flights to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq will remain suspended until March 5, 2026.
Coordination with Authorities
It was further mentioned that, subject to operational and security approvals in coordination with relevant authorities, a limited number of flights may operate. Passengers on these flights will be directly informed. All other travelers are advised not to head to the airport until contacted directly by Air Arabia. Qatar Airways announced that its flight operations are temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatar's airspace. Operations will resume once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of the airspace. An update will be provided by March 4 at 9:00 AM Doha time (06:00 UTC), and all passengers are encouraged to check for the latest flight information via qatarairways.com or the Qatar Airways mobile app.
Advice for Travelers
In a passenger advisory issued at noon Indian time, Indira Gandhi International Airport noted that due to the changing geopolitical situation in West Asia, there may be delays or operational adjustments for some international flights heading west. Travelers are advised to stay updated with the latest information from their airlines. The scope of the conflict is continuously expanding, particularly following the death of Iran's Supreme Commander Ayatollah Khamenei due to attacks carried out by the U.S. and Israel under Operation Epic Fury/Roaring Lion, which has now involved Gulf nations.