UAE carriers ground fleets as Iranian missile salvos close Gulf airspace
UAE closes embassy in Tehran and withdraws diplomats after missile strikes
GCAA bans drones, gliders and recreational aircraft for one week
Latest News
Air Arabia extends UAE-wide flight suspension through 2 March
Sharjah-based Air Arabia pushed its network shutdown into 2 March and froze several Levant routes until 3 March, compounding the UAE’s wider aviation stand-still. Corporates relying on the low-cost carrier should prepare for refund queues, visa-extension filings and potential hotel shortages around Sharjah International.
Estonia issues rare travel bulletin warning citizens in UAE to shelter and expect visa-overstay waivers
Estonia’s Foreign Ministry elevated its UAE travel warning to the highest level on 1 March 2026, advising citizens to shelter in place and citing UAE assurances that visa-overstay penalties will be waived for those trapped by flight cancellations. The notice highlights land-border exit options via Oman and signals likely policy moves by other EU states.
UAE shuts national airspace; over 4,000 flights cancelled worldwide within hours
The UAE closed its entire airspace on 28 February 2026, issuing a NOTAM that forced global airlines to cancel or reroute more than 4,000 flights in just eight hours. The shutdown stranded passengers, disrupted cargo flows and triggered corporate evacuation and remote-work contingencies. Capacity shortfalls and insurance complications are expected to push up fares and logistics costs for weeks.
Emirates and Etihad ground fleets, activate crisis rebooking for stranded passengers
Flag carriers Emirates and Etihad grounded their entire passenger fleets on 28 February 2026, waiving fees and setting up emergency shelters for thousands of stranded travellers. The unprecedented stand-down is disrupting corporate mobility schedules, energy-sector rotations and global connecting-traffic flows until at least 3 March.
Missile strike damages Palm Jumeirah hotel; Burj Khalifa evacuated, business travellers relocated
A missile intercepted over Dubai on 28 February damaged a Palm Jumeirah hotel and triggered the evacuation of Burj Khalifa, forcing conference delegates and corporate travellers to relocate to outlying emirates. The incident highlights the knock-on effects that security crises have on hospitality capacity, duty-of-care obligations and short-term housing for internationally mobile staff.