UAE Travel Updates: Latest Dubai Flight News & Airline Advisories

Travel news in the Middle East has been shifting quickly in the past few days. Many travellers who were planning to fly through Dubai are now closely watching the latest UAE travel updates. Airlines are issuing new advisories, schedules are being adjusted, and passengers are being asked to stay alert before heading to the airport. At the peak of the crisis, over 3,000 flights were cancelled and more than 90,000 passengers were affected.

The recent situation has led to several operational changes. Because of regional airspace concerns, some airlines have modified routes while others have temporarily paused services. These UAE travel updates have mainly focused on flights connected to Dubai International Airport, also known as DXB.

Below is a breakdown of what different airlines have said in their latest advisories.

Emirates
flydubai
IndiGo
Air India & Air India Express
Lufthansa
KLM
Air France
British Airways
United Airlines
Philippine Airlines
China Southern Airlines
Air Canada
Virgin Atlantic & Qatar Airways
Before You Head to the Airport
Wrap Up
Frequently Asked Questions: UAE Travel Updates
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Emirates

Emirates temporarily suspended all flights from February 28, then began a phased restoration. The carrier has asked travellers not to visit Dubai International Airport unless they hold a confirmed booking or have received direct communication from the airline. Passengers transiting through Dubai will only be accepted if their connecting flight is also operating, so check the full itinerary. All city check-in locations remain temporarily closed, and passengers are advised to arrive earlier than usual as staffing levels remain reduced.

flydubai

flydubai partially resumed operations on March 3, with limited flights from Terminals 2 and 3. Passengers booked between February 28 and March 31 can rebook to the same destination within 30 days without any penalty.

IndiGo

A key UAE travel update for Indian travellers. IndiGo is gradually restoring operations and continues flying to eight regional destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Muscat, and others. The airline restarted European services on March 8. That said, given the dynamic nature of the situation, schedules may change at short notice. Always check before leaving.

Air India & Air India Express

Air India Plane
Image Credit: John McArthur/Unsplash

This is the most important section for Indian travellers. Unlike most international carriers that suspended fully, Air India stepped up. Air India and Air India Express have been operating a combined total of scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region daily, with 80 flights operated on March 14 and 72 planned for March 15. Emirates

However, in view of the latest instructions from airport authorities in the UAE, Air India and Air India Express were compelled to curtail their ad-hoc operations on March 15. Air India operated only one Delhi–Dubai return flight on that day, while four of the five planned Dubai flights were cancelle

Lufthansa

Lufthansa Group has suspended flights to and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Dammam until March 15. Flights to Beirut are suspended until March 28, Tel Aviv until April 2, and Tehran until April 30. Affected passengers can request a full refund or rebook on a later Lufthansa Group flight.

Alos Read: Flight Cancellations 2026 – Travel Advisory for March 2 Issued After Major Carriers Suspend Middle East Routes

KLM

As per the latest UAE travel updates, KLM has cancelled all flights to Dubai up to and including March 28, citing the safety of passengers and crew as the top priority. Affected passengers can rebook free of charge or request a refund through My Trip on KLM’s website.

Air France

Air France cancelled flights to Dubai and Riyadh until March 12. Passengers with upcoming travel are advised to verify booking status through official Air France channels before heading to the airport.

British Airways

British Airways has cancelled flights to and from Dubai, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, and Tel Aviv until later this month, with Abu Dhabi services suspended until later this year. One practical note, British Airways is operating repatriation flights from Muscat to London Heathrow for passengers currently in Oman or the UAE, though seats are limited.

United Airlines

United Airlines cancelled service from the US to Dubai through March 4. The airline issued a travel waiver for passengers who purchased tickets on or before February 27, 2026. For those with travel dates between March 8 and March 31, United is waiving change fees and fare differences if passengers rebook within the same travel period. For trips after March 31, change fees are waived but a fare difference may apply. Passengers who choose to cancel are eligible for a full refund. Travel Tourister

Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines suspended its PR 658/659 Manila-Dubai-Manila route between March 11 and March 16. The suspension has since been extended, with PAL halting flights between Manila and Dubai until March 28, 2026, citing the evolving security situation in the Middle East.

China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines announced on March 7 the resumption of selected routes between China and Dubai, with flights from Guangzhou and Shenzhen to Dubai operating between March 8 and March 11. But no update has been provided on flights beyond those dates. Passengers are advised to check the latest flight information before departure, as schedules, aircraft types, and ticketing details are subject to real-time changes.

Air Canada

Air Canada suspended its Dubai flights, with the Toronto–Dubai route cancelled until at least May 1, 2026, making it one of the longest confirmed pauses among all carriers in these Dubai flight updates. If you have a summer booking, reach out to Air Canada now.

Virgin Atlantic & Qatar Airways

Virgin Atlantic has suspended its Dubai service for the remainder of the winter season until March 28. The seasonal service will not resume until October 2026. Qatar Airways, meanwhile, is dealing with its own separate airspace restrictions and has not yet resumed commercial operations to Dubai.

Before You Head to the Airport

Dubai Frame
Image Credit: Ahmed Aldaie/Unsplash

With the UAE flight updates still evolving, the DXB flyers guidance right now is clear, confirm everything before you leave home.

Do not travel to the airport without direct confirmation from your airline.
Check flight status close to departure, not just the night before.
If transiting, confirm your connecting flight is also operational.
Check in at the airport, city check-in counters remain closed for select airlines.
Confirm your terminal before leaving, as some operations have shifted between DXB terminals Dubai Airports.

Once you have booked your cheap flight tickets, news of flight delays or cancellations can be quite frustrating. The plans for traveling can get affected at any time, but it is good to be updated about such news, which can help you adjust your plans in time. In such cases, having your valid Dubai visa ready can be quite helpful, as it can get processed quickly once the flight resumes.

Wrap Up

The DXB flyers guidance right now is simple, confirm everything before you leave home. Check your flight status close to departure, verify connecting flights are operational, and use only official airline websites for rebooking or refunds. Avoid third-party apps for real-time UAE flight updates, go straight to the source.

Things are still changing. We’ll keep updating this page as new UAE travel updates come in.

Frequently Asked Questions: UAE Travel Updates

Is it safe to travel to Dubai right now?
While day-to-day life in the city continues normally with open attractions and malls, several governments have advised reconsidering non-essential travel due to regional tensions.

Are flights from Dubai operating?
As of March 16, 2026, Emirates and other carriers are operating a limited schedule following a temporary suspension earlier today. You should not head to the airport unless your flight is explicitly confirmed by your airline.

What are the new rules for travel to Dubai?
New visa rules for 2026 include mandatory submission of a passport cover page and expanded visa-on-arrival eligibility for Indian nationals with valid visas from the US, UK, or EU. Additionally, overstay fines have been temporarily waived until March 31, 2026, for those stranded by recent flight disruptions.

Is it safe to fly through the UAE now?
UAE airspace is partially open, but many international airlines have suspended or rerouted flights to avoid the region. Authorities are using precautionary measures, including military escorts for some departing aircraft, to maintain safety.

Is it safe to travel to Dubai from India right now?
Direct flights from India are currently limited, with Air India and IndiGo cancelling several services on March 16 due to the evolving security situation. Travel is possible but highly unpredictable, so it is best to monitor your airline’s status hourly.

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