UAE flight operations restart in phases; Etihad and Air Arabia extend suspensions

UAE airports are restoring flights in stages after regional airspace disruptions. Limited services resumed on March 2 at Dubai (DXB, DWC) and Abu Dhabi (AUH), with Sharjah also restarting on a limited schedule. Etihad has suspended all scheduled flights until 2:00 p.m. UAE time on March 4, and Air Arabia has paused all UAE flights until 3:00 p.m. the same day, with certain routes halted until March 5. Around 357 flights were canceled on Monday. Travelers are advised to go to airports only if contacted by their airline.

A phased restart of flight operations is underway across the United Arab Emirates following recent regional airspace disruptions. Authorities and airports are asking travelers to avoid going to terminals unless their airline has confirmed a departure, in order to reduce congestion and maintain smooth processing.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) began limited operations on March 2, with Emirates and flydubai operating select flights and prioritizing passengers holding earlier bookings. Rebooked customers are being notified directly by their airlines.

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) has also resumed partial services. However, all scheduled commercial flights operated by Etihad Airways remain suspended until 2:00 p.m. UAE time on Wednesday, March 4. Etihad advises passengers not to travel to the airport unless contacted, to check flight status on etihad.com, and to ensure contact details are current. Tickets issued on or before February 28 for travel up to March 7 can be rebooked free of charge until March 18, and refunds can be requested online or via travel agents.

Sharjah International Airport will see a limited restart beginning tonight. Air Arabia has temporarily suspended all flights to and from the UAE until 3:00 p.m. UAE time on Wednesday, March 4. In addition, Air Arabia services to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq are suspended until March 5. Any limited operations that proceed will require safety and operational approvals, and affected passengers will be contacted directly. Travelers not booked on operating flights are advised not to go to the airport and to check the airline’s website for status updates.

Relief flying is being arranged by Indian carriers to assist stranded passengers. IndiGo is mounting 10 flights from Jeddah to India on Tuesday. SpiceJet is operating four special flights from Fujairah to Delhi, Mumbai (two services), and Kochi, and plans to resume scheduled flights between Fujairah and Delhi/Mumbai from March 4.

Approximately 357 flights were canceled on Monday, with operations beginning to recover that evening. Authorities, airlines, airports, and regulators are coordinating to restore services, and additional capacity is being arranged to help stranded travelers.