Dubai Flights: dubai flights cancelled and diverted after US-Israeli strikes
dubai flights have been suspended and rerouted across the region after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran, prompting airlines to cancel services and authorities to issue travel warnings. The disruptions follow retaliatory attacks and widespread airspace closures that left passengers stranded and airports reporting casualties.
Flights cancelled across the region
Airlines serving the Middle East cancelled and diverted flights on Saturday after the US and Israel launched deadly strikes against Iran. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic were among carriers to have grounded flights, and carriers across Europe, Asia and the Middle East have cancelled or rerouted services to avoid closed or restricted airspace.
Dubai Flights suspended by Emirates
Emirates has suspended all its operations in and out of Dubai, leaving passengers round the world stranded. The carrier said it had halted operations in and out of Dubai until 15: 00 local time (13: 00 GMT) on Monday because of airspace closures across the region. Flights in and out of Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airport in Dubai were suspended.
Airspace closures and flight radar
Flight radar showed the moment airspace shut across the Middle East amid the strikes. Airspace over Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria and the UAE remained closed on Sunday morning, while there was a partial closure in Saudi Arabia. Jordanian and Lebanese airspace remained open but with limited flight activity.
Casualties and injuries at airports
One person has been killed and 11 others were injured at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Four of those injured were members of staff at Dubai International.
Travel warnings and stranded passengers
The Foreign Office is warning British citizens against all but essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE); those already there have been advised to shelter. Long-haul travel is being affected more widely and Heathrow has urged travellers to check with their airlines.
Richard and Hannah from London, who had been en route to Oman, are now stuck in Bahrain. Hannah said: "In the early hours of this morning a drone attacked the airport so we can't reach Oman this evening as planned, " and described an "uneasy 24 hours". Given the situation in the region could escalate, they are now looking to return home, Richard said.
Other carrier actions and wider impacts
Etihad suspended flights out of Abu Dhabi until 02: 00 local time. British Airways cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday and warned that services between Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai or Tel Aviv could be affected for several days. Virgin Atlantic said it was suspending services between Heathrow and Riyadh on Sunday, after earlier cancelling flights from Heathrow to Dubai on Saturday and Sunday. Virgin also warned that flights to India, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives may take longer because aircraft are being rerouted around the affected region.
The sequence of events in the region has involved US and Israeli strikes on Iran and, separately noted, retaliatory attacks launched by Iran on Gulf states. The combined effect has been the closure and restriction of airspace, the suspension of multiple services and official travel warnings for several Gulf countries.
Authorities and airlines continue to adjust schedules as the situation develops and the impact on dubai flights and wider long-haul services persists.
