Travellers faced a chaotic day across the Middle East on 10 December as 1,310 flights were delayed and seven cancelled, according to data compiled by FlightAware and reported by Travel & Tour World. Dubai International Airport bore the brunt with 310 delayed departures and two cancellations, followed by Jeddah, Cairo and Kuwait City.
FlyDubai, Emirates and Saudia were among the hardest-hit carriers, with knock-on effects rippling through connecting hubs such as Doha and Bahrain. Ground-handling bottlenecks, inbound delays from Europe and winter fog were cited as key factors.
With schedules in flux, travellers also need their paperwork in perfect order. VisaHQ’s digital service (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) can secure UAE visas in as little as 48 hours, track application status in real time and update itineraries when flights are rescheduled, giving both leisure and corporate passengers one less headache during unpredictable travel days.
![Dubai Tops List as 1,310 Flight Delays Hit Middle-East Hubs in a Single Day]()
For corporates running tight meeting schedules in Dubai, the disruption translated into missed connections and extended layovers. Travel managers were forced to rebook staff via Sharjah or Abu Dhabi, while some companies activated virtual-meeting contingencies. Hotels near DXB reported a 15 % spike in last-minute bookings as passengers opted to stay overnight rather than risk onward flights.
Airlines responded by waiving rebooking fees and advising passengers to use mobile apps for real-time updates. Aviation analysts say the episode underscores the strains on Gulf hubs heading into the year-end peak; DXB alone expects more than 10 million passengers this December. Businesses are advised to schedule buffer time and consider travel-risk insurance that covers weather-related delays.
Looking forward, Dubai Airports plans additional self-service kiosks and biometric gates to speed throughput, but industry insiders warn that crew-scheduling and air-traffic-control constraints will continue to pose challenges during regional weather events.
FlyDubai, Emirates and Saudia were among the hardest-hit carriers, with knock-on effects rippling through connecting hubs such as Doha and Bahrain. Ground-handling bottlenecks, inbound delays from Europe and winter fog were cited as key factors.
With schedules in flux, travellers also need their paperwork in perfect order. VisaHQ’s digital service (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) can secure UAE visas in as little as 48 hours, track application status in real time and update itineraries when flights are rescheduled, giving both leisure and corporate passengers one less headache during unpredictable travel days.
For corporates running tight meeting schedules in Dubai, the disruption translated into missed connections and extended layovers. Travel managers were forced to rebook staff via Sharjah or Abu Dhabi, while some companies activated virtual-meeting contingencies. Hotels near DXB reported a 15 % spike in last-minute bookings as passengers opted to stay overnight rather than risk onward flights.
Airlines responded by waiving rebooking fees and advising passengers to use mobile apps for real-time updates. Aviation analysts say the episode underscores the strains on Gulf hubs heading into the year-end peak; DXB alone expects more than 10 million passengers this December. Businesses are advised to schedule buffer time and consider travel-risk insurance that covers weather-related delays.
Looking forward, Dubai Airports plans additional self-service kiosks and biometric gates to speed throughput, but industry insiders warn that crew-scheduling and air-traffic-control constraints will continue to pose challenges during regional weather events.
