Flight-tracking data show that between 15 and 17 December, 14 services at Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC) were cancelled, affecting connections to Asia, North America and the Middle East. Carriers hit include Emirates, Qatar Airways, Air Canada, Flydubai and several regional operators.
Industry sources cite knock-on effects from Asian winter storms and crew-rostering constraints as airlines grapple with holiday-season demand. Hundreds of business travellers have been forced to re-route or overnight in Dubai, with many downstream flights already near capacity.
![Fourteen flights cancelled at Dubai airports as winter disruptions ripple across networks]()
To ease the added visa burden these disruptions can create, VisaHQ’s digital platform can fast-track UAE visa applications and extensions. Its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets travellers and mobility managers check requirements in real time, upload documents securely and track approvals, reducing the scramble when itineraries change at short notice.
Global-mobility teams should monitor GDS alerts, leverage airline waivers for free rebooking and consider alternate routings via Abu Dhabi, Muscat or Doha. Visa specialists warn that emergency stopovers may trigger additional UAE or transit-visa requirements, adding to administrative load.
The episode exposes the fragility of end-year schedules and reinforces the value of real-time risk-management tools for companies with mission-critical travel. With DXB still forecasting record peaks later this month, further volatility cannot be ruled out.
Industry sources cite knock-on effects from Asian winter storms and crew-rostering constraints as airlines grapple with holiday-season demand. Hundreds of business travellers have been forced to re-route or overnight in Dubai, with many downstream flights already near capacity.
To ease the added visa burden these disruptions can create, VisaHQ’s digital platform can fast-track UAE visa applications and extensions. Its dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets travellers and mobility managers check requirements in real time, upload documents securely and track approvals, reducing the scramble when itineraries change at short notice.
Global-mobility teams should monitor GDS alerts, leverage airline waivers for free rebooking and consider alternate routings via Abu Dhabi, Muscat or Doha. Visa specialists warn that emergency stopovers may trigger additional UAE or transit-visa requirements, adding to administrative load.
The episode exposes the fragility of end-year schedules and reinforces the value of real-time risk-management tools for companies with mission-critical travel. With DXB still forecasting record peaks later this month, further volatility cannot be ruled out.
