Heavy morning fog blanketed parts of the Emirates on 24 February, forcing temporary suspensions at three secondary hubs—Sharjah International, Ras Al Khaimah International and Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum). Aviation authorities diverted at least seven flights, including an Air Arabia service from Karachi that rerouted to Fujairah and two Jeddah arrivals that diverted to Muscat and Doha.
Abu Dhabi International maintained limited operations but reported delays, while Dubai International (DXB) remained largely unaffected thanks to its advanced low-visibility procedures. The disruptions highlight the operational fragility of point-to-point services into Sharjah and RAK, popular with cost-sensitive expatriate workers and cargo charters.
![Fog grounds flights at Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Maktoum airports, causing diversions across the UAE]()
Should sudden schedule changes require last-minute visa amendments or fresh entry permits, travelers and mobility managers can turn to VisaHQ for quick, fully digital processing of UAE documentation; the service (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) offers real-time status updates and support that can be invaluable when re-routing through multiple airports.
For mobility managers, the incident underscores the need for contingency planning when routing staff through secondary UAE airports—particularly during the winter “fog season” of December to March. Employers should remind travellers to monitor airline apps for re-booking options and consider buffer days on time-critical rotation schedules. Travel insurers may treat weather-related diversions differently from mechanical delays, so policy wording should be reviewed.
Airport authorities said operations resumed gradually once visibility improved above the regulatory minimums. However, knock-on delays are expected to ripple through evening banks, and ground-transport providers around Sharjah advised passengers of possible congestion as diverted flights disembark at out-stations.
Abu Dhabi International maintained limited operations but reported delays, while Dubai International (DXB) remained largely unaffected thanks to its advanced low-visibility procedures. The disruptions highlight the operational fragility of point-to-point services into Sharjah and RAK, popular with cost-sensitive expatriate workers and cargo charters.
Should sudden schedule changes require last-minute visa amendments or fresh entry permits, travelers and mobility managers can turn to VisaHQ for quick, fully digital processing of UAE documentation; the service (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) offers real-time status updates and support that can be invaluable when re-routing through multiple airports.
For mobility managers, the incident underscores the need for contingency planning when routing staff through secondary UAE airports—particularly during the winter “fog season” of December to March. Employers should remind travellers to monitor airline apps for re-booking options and consider buffer days on time-critical rotation schedules. Travel insurers may treat weather-related diversions differently from mechanical delays, so policy wording should be reviewed.
Airport authorities said operations resumed gradually once visibility improved above the regulatory minimums. However, knock-on delays are expected to ripple through evening banks, and ground-transport providers around Sharjah advised passengers of possible congestion as diverted flights disembark at out-stations.
