UAE shuts airspace, Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports halt all flights amid regional missile crisis
GCAA issues traveller playbook as UAE airlines scramble to rebook 20,000 stranded passengers
Emirates outlines flexible re-booking rules as website crashes from high traffic
Latest News
Global carriers reroute or cancel Gulf services as UAE airspace closure ripples outward
Euronews reports that multiple global carriers—Wizz Air, Saudia, Oman Air, Turkish Airlines, Air France, KLM and others—have cancelled or rerouted services involving the UAE, extending travel times and shrinking seat supply. Companies should prepare for higher costs and itinerary complexity.
UAE labour ministry orders private-sector remote work through 3 March
MoHRE has told all private-sector companies to implement remote working from 1–3 March 2026 following weekend missile interceptions. The order carries potential fines for non-compliance and forces multinationals to revisit duty-of-care, payroll and immigration-timing considerations for UAE-based staff.
Air India cancels UAE flights until 2 March, complicating repatriations for Indian assignees
Air India has extended flight cancellations to the UAE until 2 March 2026, disrupting travel plans for thousands of Indian professionals and their employers. Refunds and free re-booking are available but seat inventory is tight once operations restart.
Etihad Airways grounds all Abu Dhabi departures as Gulf airspace shuts
Etihad Airways has frozen all outbound flights from Abu Dhabi until at least 2 p.m. on 1 March 2026 after regional air-space closures linked to US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The grounding strands thousands of business and transit passengers and disrupts cargo flows through the UAE capital, raising duty-of-care issues for multinationals that rely on Etihad’s hub. Travellers can rebook or refund tickets, but mobility managers are being urged to defer trips and support employees on the ground.
Emirates, flydubai extend Dubai flight ban to 15:00 as safety buffer widens
Emirates and flydubai have prolonged the suspension of all Dubai flights until 3 p.m. on 1 March 2026 in response to continuing regional missile activity. The move deletes hundreds of flights, strands expatriate assignees and stalls high-value cargo flows through the world’s busiest international airport. Travellers may rebook or seek refunds, but employers should prepare for multi-day seat shortages once operations resume.
UAE labour ministry orders private-sector remote work through Tuesday
Citing missile-related safety concerns, the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has told all private-sector companies to implement remote work until Tuesday, 3 March 2026. The order, which complements a parallel shift to online schooling, forces multinationals to re-activate pandemic-era remote-working playbooks and threatens fines for non-compliance.
Over 1,000 flights scrapped; UAE pledges hotel bills for stranded tourists
With Gulf airspace closed, more than 1,000 Middle-East flights were cancelled on 1 March 2026. The UAE aviation regulator has stepped in to pay hotel and meal costs for over 20,000 stranded travellers, an expensive but reputation-saving measure. Corporates with staff stuck in transit should check carrier liability and keep receipts for eventual insurance claims.
UK and Australia raise UAE travel warning to ‘do not travel’, plan evacuations
The UK and Australia have both elevated their UAE guidance to the highest “do not travel” level and are mapping evacuation options for tens of thousands of citizens stranded by Gulf airspace closures. The change could invalidate standard corporate travel-insurance cover and may force companies to reassess assignment plans.
Dubai International Financial Centre shifts to remote services, keeps licences valid
The DIFC Authority has told its member firms that all services will run remotely from 2–4 March 2026, with electronic filings and e-hearings accepted. The move ensures licence continuity while aligning the leading financial free zone with federal safety directives issued after weekend missile strikes.