Thick early-morning fog on 24 February 2026 caused a string of delays and diversions at Dubai International (DXB) and Sharjah Airport, prompting Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia to urge passengers to monitor flight status closely.
![Fog triggers flight delays at Dubai and Sharjah airports, airlines issue advisories]()
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Dubai Standard quoted an Emirates spokesperson saying that “safety will not be compromised” after several arrivals were held in holding patterns and departures were rescheduled once runway visual range dipped below 300 metres. Sharjah Airport reported at least 28 delayed rotations, chiefly affecting regional Air Arabia services, while IndiGo and Air India Express rerouted flights to Al Maktoum International until conditions improved. Airport duty managers activated Low Visibility Procedure 2, spacing aircraft three minutes apart and instructing ground handlers to operate under ‘follow-me’ escort rules. Business-travel itineraries faced ripple effects throughout the day, particularly for Gulf-India services that rely on tight turn-arounds and connecting traffic. Freight forwarders also flagged late-night cargo departures, warning exporters of potential missed delivery windows for Europe-bound perishables. The disruption highlights the operational vulnerability of the UAE’s aviation gateway to seasonal fog despite Category III ILS capabilities. Mobility planners were reminded to build slack into schedules and to advise travellers to download airline apps for push-alerts in real time. Authorities said a task-force review of apron-lighting and taxi-way guidance systems is under way, and that temporary visibility challenges will continue through March when land-sea temperature inversions peak.
If changing itineraries leave you scrambling for updated travel documents, VisaHQ can step in to secure fast-track UAE tourist or transit visas entirely online, provide real-time status tracking, and offer live customer support—check https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/ for simple instructions and turnaround options.
Dubai Standard quoted an Emirates spokesperson saying that “safety will not be compromised” after several arrivals were held in holding patterns and departures were rescheduled once runway visual range dipped below 300 metres. Sharjah Airport reported at least 28 delayed rotations, chiefly affecting regional Air Arabia services, while IndiGo and Air India Express rerouted flights to Al Maktoum International until conditions improved. Airport duty managers activated Low Visibility Procedure 2, spacing aircraft three minutes apart and instructing ground handlers to operate under ‘follow-me’ escort rules. Business-travel itineraries faced ripple effects throughout the day, particularly for Gulf-India services that rely on tight turn-arounds and connecting traffic. Freight forwarders also flagged late-night cargo departures, warning exporters of potential missed delivery windows for Europe-bound perishables. The disruption highlights the operational vulnerability of the UAE’s aviation gateway to seasonal fog despite Category III ILS capabilities. Mobility planners were reminded to build slack into schedules and to advise travellers to download airline apps for push-alerts in real time. Authorities said a task-force review of apron-lighting and taxi-way guidance systems is under way, and that temporary visibility challenges will continue through March when land-sea temperature inversions peak.
