Emirati airlines are on high alert this weekend after the US issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) warning of potential military action against Iran. Analysts told The National that any temporary closure of Iranian or Iraqi air-routes could force wide-body aircraft operated by Emirates, Etihad Airways and flydubai to add two-to-three-hour detours around the Strait of Hormuz. That equates to an extra US $6,000–7,500 in fuel, crew and maintenance costs for every flight hour.
While the UAE’s long-haul hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have well-rehearsed contingency corridors over Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea, a blanket no-fly zone would still disrupt dozens of daily links to Europe and the Americas. Cargo schedules are equally exposed: perishables from South Asia and East Africa trans-ship through Dubai World Central on strict cold-chain deadlines, leaving little slack for extended routings.
Corporate travel managers are therefore advising assignees to build extra connection time into itineraries and to keep tickets flexible. Travel risk consultants are also reminding mobility teams that war-risk insurance premiums can spike within hours of a NOTAM, potentially pushing up the cost of short-notice assignee evacuations.
![Gulf Carriers Prepare Costly Detours as US–Iran Tensions Put Regional Airspace at Risk]()
For firms rerouting personnel at short notice, visa and travel-document validity can quickly become a bottleneck. VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines emergency applications, extensions and crew visas, enabling mobility teams to verify requirements and file paperwork online in minutes—crucial when airlines are juggling last-minute flight-path changes.
UAE regulators have not yet issued binding restrictions, but the General Civil Aviation Authority said it is "closely coordinating with all national carriers to ensure passenger safety and commercial continuity." If diplomacy fails, companies with large regional workforces may need to activate remote-work or temporary relocation plans similar to those used during previous Gulf flashpoints.
In the immediate term, mobility leaders should monitor airline ops portals and sign up for GCAA SMS alerts so that any sudden reroute or cancellation can be communicated to travelling staff in real time.
While the UAE’s long-haul hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have well-rehearsed contingency corridors over Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea, a blanket no-fly zone would still disrupt dozens of daily links to Europe and the Americas. Cargo schedules are equally exposed: perishables from South Asia and East Africa trans-ship through Dubai World Central on strict cold-chain deadlines, leaving little slack for extended routings.
Corporate travel managers are therefore advising assignees to build extra connection time into itineraries and to keep tickets flexible. Travel risk consultants are also reminding mobility teams that war-risk insurance premiums can spike within hours of a NOTAM, potentially pushing up the cost of short-notice assignee evacuations.
For firms rerouting personnel at short notice, visa and travel-document validity can quickly become a bottleneck. VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines emergency applications, extensions and crew visas, enabling mobility teams to verify requirements and file paperwork online in minutes—crucial when airlines are juggling last-minute flight-path changes.
UAE regulators have not yet issued binding restrictions, but the General Civil Aviation Authority said it is "closely coordinating with all national carriers to ensure passenger safety and commercial continuity." If diplomacy fails, companies with large regional workforces may need to activate remote-work or temporary relocation plans similar to those used during previous Gulf flashpoints.
In the immediate term, mobility leaders should monitor airline ops portals and sign up for GCAA SMS alerts so that any sudden reroute or cancellation can be communicated to travelling staff in real time.
