Emirates, Etihad, and flydubai delays affect 172 flights in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Disruption overview

Rolling delays have been affecting passengers flying with Emirates, Etihad Airways, and flydubai through Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport since the start of September 2026, as the airlines reroute around higher-risk airspace during heightened regional security tensions. On 13 September 2026, 172 flights arriving and departing across Dubai and Abu Dhabi were recorded late, and flydubai also canceled 2 Dubai-Bahrain rotations as longer routings put pressure on tight connection banks. Because the disruption is linked to security-related airspace restrictions, compensation under EC 261 is usually unlikely, but airlines should still provide care and assistance during longer waits, and AirHelp's free flight checker can help you understand what may apply to your trip.

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Disruption details

Passengers traveling through Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport have been facing rolling delays and occasional cancellations since the start of September 2026, as Emirates, Etihad Airways, and flydubai reroute flights around higher-risk airspace. For passengers, this has meant longer journeys, tighter connections, and last-minute changes at the airlines' main hub airports in the United Arab Emirates.

On 13 September 2026 alone, 172 flights arriving or departing Dubai and Abu Dhabi were recorded as late, and flydubai canceled 2 rotations on its Dubai-Bahrain route. Most flights are still operating, but even relatively small delays are feeding into later departures and arrivals.

That matters because both hubs are built around tight connection windows. When one inbound flight arrives late after a longer reroute, it can quickly affect gate assignments, onward connections, and the aircraft or crew planned for the next flight. What starts as a modest delay early in the day can keep rolling through later rotations.

So far, the disruption has shown up in a few clear ways:

• 172 flights were recorded as delayed across Dubai and Abu Dhabi on 13 September 2026.

• flydubai canceled 2 Dubai-Bahrain rotations.

• Emirates and Etihad Airways have also seen delays on flights linking their UAE hubs with Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East.

The cause sits outside the airlines' direct control. Emirates, Etihad Airways, and flydubai have been avoiding newly designated higher-risk airspace as regional security tensions continue, and those detours add time to journeys that were planned around shorter routings. UAE aviation authorities have issued coordination guidance to help manage traffic flows, but longer flying times can still lead to holding, revised departure slots, and congestion when several flights reach the arrival banks at once.

flydubai has already warned that transit times through Dubai International Airport can lengthen when temporary reroutes are in force. Emirates generally tries to re-accommodate disrupted passengers on the first available connection, and free changes may also be possible depending on fare rules and the circumstances of the disruption.

If you're traveling through Dubai or Abu Dhabi, it's worth checking your flight status regularly, especially before leaving for the airport and again before a connection. If you booked separate flights yourself, give yourself a bigger buffer than usual. It also helps to make sure your contact details are up to date so you don't miss rebooking messages or gate changes.

The situation is still ongoing in mid-September, and delays remain more likely than usual on some routes until regional conditions stabilize. That doesn't mean every flight will be affected, but it does mean your schedule may have less slack than normal if you're connecting through these hubs.

Because these disruptions are being driven by security-related airspace restrictions rather than something the airlines can directly control, compensation under EC 261 is usually unlikely. Still, you should receive care and assistance during a long delay, including food and refreshments, accommodation if you're delayed overnight, and rerouting or a refund if your flight is canceled and you choose not to travel. If you'd like to understand what may apply to your trip, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple place to start.

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