DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Flight operations across the UAE remained uneven Saturday, Sept. 5, with delays and cancellations affecting some services as airlines continue to monitor regional security conditions and airspace restrictions.
Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia are operating different schedules across key Gulf and international routes. Some flights are running normally, while others have been delayed, cancelled or subject to short-notice changes.
Air France has extended its suspension of Dubai services through Sept. 8. Cathay Pacific has also extended the cancellation of passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh through Nov. 30. The airline said affected passengers can rebook, reroute or seek refunds.
Travellers should check their individual flight status directly with the airline before heading to the airport. Emirates provides real-time flight-status checks by route or flight number, while Etihad and Air Arabia also provide dedicated status tools.
Emirates, Etihad and UAE carriers
Etihad Airways reported mostly normal operations on its Abu Dhabi-Bahrain and Abu Dhabi-Kuwait services, although several other flights were affected by delays or operational issues.
Flights listed as delayed on Sept. 5 included EY299 from Abu Dhabi to Karachi, EY213 to Delhi, EY277 to Peshawar and EY331 to Kochi.
The airline also reported disruption on some services the previous day. A flight from Abu Dhabi to Jeddah was diverted to Medina after an airport closure in Jeddah, while services involving Sochi were cancelled following an airport closure. Flights to Warsaw and Milan were also delayed because of a technical issue.
Etihad passengers should use the airline’s official flight-status page for the latest information before travelling. Etihad flight status
Emirates was scheduled to operate key Dubai services to Bahrain and Kuwait, including EK837 and EK839 to Bahrain and EK857 to Kuwait.
The airline continues to advise passengers to check their flight status before travelling because schedules can change at short notice. Emirates flight status
flydubai’s Kuwait and Bahrain services were operating as scheduled, with passengers departing Dubai advised to arrive at least four hours before departure.
The airline is also encouraging passengers to complete online check-in where available and allow additional time for traffic, security, immigration and other airport procedures. flydubai flight status
Air Arabia, meanwhile, cancelled several services from the UAE.
The affected flights included G9068 and G9124 from Sharjah to Kuwait, G9107 from Sharjah to Bahrain and 3L020 from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait.
Several Air Arabia Abu Dhabi services were also delayed, including flights to Cairo, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Kozhikode, Sialkot and Multan.
Passengers affected by a cancellation should contact Air Arabia for rebooking or refund arrangements. The carrier’s online flight-status system allows passengers to check by route or flight number. Air Arabia flight status
Dubai airport delays
Delays were also reported on services at Dubai International Airport, including some Emirates flights to Brisbane and Kochi.
Flights operated by Ariana Afghan Airlines and SpiceJet were also among those affected by delays, with services to destinations including Kabul, Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Kozhikode and Kochi experiencing disruption.
Dubai Airports provides a dedicated flight-status service covering arrivals and departures. Dubai Airports flight status
The airport situation can change throughout the day, making individual flight checks particularly important for passengers with confirmed bookings.
International airlines maintain mixed schedules
International carriers continue to take different approaches to UAE and wider Middle East operations.
Turkish Airlines has resumed services to Dubai and Abu Dhabi while maintaining restrictions on flights to Iran. Qatar Airways is operating services to Dubai and has restored some flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil, although delays remain possible.
Air India and Air India Express have restored their GCC networks, while IndiGo is operating selected Middle East services.
Other carriers, including flynas and Jazeera Airways, have resumed selected regional connections while continuing to monitor airspace conditions.
The overall picture remains fluid because an airline operating a route does not necessarily mean every scheduled flight on that route will operate normally.
More international carriers extend suspensions
Air France has kept its Dubai services suspended through Sept. 8 as it assesses regional security developments. Its operations to Tel Aviv and Riyadh have resumed, while Beirut services remain suspended through Sept. 13.
Cathay Pacific’s latest notice confirms that Dubai and Riyadh passenger flights have been cancelled through Nov. 30.
British Airways continues to suspend Dubai and Abu Dhabi services, with Dubai operations currently scheduled to resume Oct. 25 at a reduced frequency.
Singapore Airlines, ITA Airways, Finnair and AirBaltic have also extended Dubai suspensions into October. Philippine Airlines has suspended Manila-Dubai services through Oct. 2, while Korean Air’s Incheon-Dubai service remains suspended until further notice.
Pegasus has suspended services involving Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Virgin Atlantic’s London-Dubai operation also remains suspended.
Lufthansa, Eurowings and SWISS have suspended Dubai services through Oct. 24, although Eurowings plans to restart the route from Nov. 1. Air Canada has extended its Dubai suspension into January 2027.
Travel advisories urge passengers to prepare for disruption
The changing airline schedules come as governments continue to warn travellers about the potential effects of regional tensions on commercial aviation.
The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office says travellers should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and sudden changes to travel plans. Its UAE guidance, current as of Sept. 3, advises passengers to monitor airport and airline information and keep departure plans under review.
The U.S. State Department continues to list the UAE at Level 3, or “Reconsider Travel,” citing terrorism and armed conflict risks as well as significant disruption to commercial flights.
Australia also maintains a “Reconsider your need to travel” advisory for the UAE and warns that regional conflict can lead to airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruption.
What UAE passengers should do before travelling
Passengers scheduled to fly from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah should check their flight status as close to departure as possible, even if the booking previously showed a confirmed schedule.
Travellers should complete online check-in where available, keep their airline contact information updated and allow additional time for traffic and airport procedures.
Those flying from Dubai on flydubai should follow the carrier’s four-hour arrival recommendation.
Passengers whose flights are cancelled should contact the airline or travel agent handling their booking rather than travelling to the airport without confirmation.
With airline schedules continuing to change, official airline and airport updates remain the most reliable source for the status of an individual flight. The latest information can change after a passenger has already left for the airport, making a final status check essential.
