Emirates issued an urgent advisory on 21 December after dense fog over eastern Pakistan grounded or heavily retimed all Dubai–Sialkot flights. Services EK 618/619 were cancelled outright, while EK 620/621 were pushed back more than 24 hours and renumbered. Passengers transiting in Dubai for Sialkot were denied boarding at origin, and ticket holders were told to rebook or reroute.
The disruption is a reminder that weather events outside the UAE can still snarl mobility for Gulf-based staff. Sialkot is a key manufacturing hub for construction fittings, leather goods and sports apparel sourced by UAE firms; postponed inspections could cascade into supply-chain delays just as year-end inventory counts peak.
![Fog and thunderstorms force Emirates to cancel Dubai–Sialkot services; corporates urged to track visa days]()
HR teams should immediately verify the UAE visa status of employees stranded in Dubai: single-entry visit visas could lapse while they await the next available flight. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) allows online extensions at AED 750 and usually issues e-visas within 24 hours—an option worth activating to avoid overstay fines.
For companies that need rapid visa extensions or fresh travel documents, VisaHQ can handle the entire process remotely. Through its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), employers can submit extension requests, monitor progress in real time and receive digital notifications the moment an e-visa is approved—helping stranded staff stay compliant without costly penalties.
Emirates reminded customers that weather-related changes qualify for free date or destination amendments within the ticket-validity window. Mobility managers should ensure traveller mobile numbers are embedded in passenger-name records so SMS alerts are received in real time. The incident also underlines the value of keeping alternative routings via Lahore or Islamabad in corporate travel policies when flying to Pakistan’s Punjab region during winter fog season.
The disruption is a reminder that weather events outside the UAE can still snarl mobility for Gulf-based staff. Sialkot is a key manufacturing hub for construction fittings, leather goods and sports apparel sourced by UAE firms; postponed inspections could cascade into supply-chain delays just as year-end inventory counts peak.
HR teams should immediately verify the UAE visa status of employees stranded in Dubai: single-entry visit visas could lapse while they await the next available flight. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) allows online extensions at AED 750 and usually issues e-visas within 24 hours—an option worth activating to avoid overstay fines.
For companies that need rapid visa extensions or fresh travel documents, VisaHQ can handle the entire process remotely. Through its UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), employers can submit extension requests, monitor progress in real time and receive digital notifications the moment an e-visa is approved—helping stranded staff stay compliant without costly penalties.
Emirates reminded customers that weather-related changes qualify for free date or destination amendments within the ticket-validity window. Mobility managers should ensure traveller mobile numbers are embedded in passenger-name records so SMS alerts are received in real time. The incident also underlines the value of keeping alternative routings via Lahore or Islamabad in corporate travel policies when flying to Pakistan’s Punjab region during winter fog season.
