Limited flights to resume in Dubai after days of Gulf airspace chaos

DUBAI: Dubai Airports on Monday announced a “limited” resumption of flights, three days after operations were suspended due to Iranian strikes targeting sites across the Gulf, including airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Global air travel has remained in severe disarray since Sunday, as sustained air strikes forced the closure of major Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai International Airport — the world’s busiest international transit hub — in one of the most significant aviation disruptions in recent years.

Key transit gateways such as Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates and Hamad International Airport in Qatar were either shut down or operating under heavy restrictions, with large sections of regional airspace closed.

The disruption followed US and Israeli strikes that reportedly killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, pushing the Gulf region into heightened uncertainty.

A fresh wave of attacks extended into a third consecutive day, deepening concerns over regional stability and prolonging the paralysis of air traffic.

“Dubai Airports announces a limited resumption of flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) starting this evening, Monday, March 2, 2026,” the operator said in a statement.

Emirates and flydubai confirmed they would resume selected flights on Monday evening.

In a post on X, Emirates said it would prioritise passengers with existing bookings. Travellers rebooked on the limited services will be contacted directly. All other flights remain suspended until further notice, with passengers advised not to travel to the airport unless formally notified. The airline added that operations would be adjusted in line with developments on the ground.

Etihad Airways, operating from Abu Dhabi, said it would resume flights on Tuesday.

Iran’s unprecedented bombardment across Gulf states has reportedly hit military installations as well as civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, hotels, airports and seaports, rattling a region long considered relatively insulated from wider Middle East conflict.

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Since the launch of Iran’s campaign on Saturday, airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Manama have been targeted. Authorities confirmed one death in the Emirati capital following an incident at the airport facility.

On Saturday, the UAE announced it had temporarily and partially closed its airspace as a precautionary measure.

According to Airports Council International, Dubai’s main airport ranks as the second-busiest in the world after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States.

The airspace closures have dealt a major blow to a key sector, with aviation accounting for nearly one-third of Dubai’s economy.