Dubai: The United Arab Emirates has resumed limited UAE flights after days of severe disruption caused by escalating conflict across the Middle East. The partial restart has come as more than 11,000 flights in and out of the region have been cancelled since February 28, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
Dubai Airports has authorised a small number of departures from Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central. Passengers have been advised not to travel unless directly contacted by airlines with confirmed departure times.
Emirates has announced the return of a limited number of services, prioritising customers with earlier bookings. Etihad Airways has stated that regular commercial operations remain suspended until March 4, though some repositioning, cargo and repatriation services may operate subject to safety approvals. Flight tracking data has shown at least 16 Etihad departures from Abu Dhabi on March 2 to cities including London, Amsterdam, Moscow and Riyadh.
⚠️ We urge you not to come to the airport unless your airline has contacted you with a confirmed departure time.
Please get in touch with your airline directly for the latest updates on flight schedules.
— DXB (@DXB) March 2, 2026
Some Emirates services from Dubai have landed in Mumbai and Chennai, while other inbound UAE flights have faced diversions. Two Etihad aircraft bound for Abu Dhabi were rerouted to Muscat, and an Emirates service returned towards Mumbai after departure.
Airspace closures across Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain have brought much of regional aviation to a halt amid US-Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks. Governments have begun considering evacuation plans, with Germany announcing chartered flights to Saudi Arabia and Oman to assist vulnerable nationals.
Analysts have warned that if the conflict extends beyond several weeks, route networks could be permanently altered. Rising insurance costs, restricted corridors and operational risks may force airlines to suspend certain services indefinitely, potentially reshaping Middle East aviation hubs.
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