Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports restart limited passenger services after unprecedented air-space shutdown
First post-crisis Emirates A380s depart DXB as hub moves from shutdown to skeletal schedule
UK begins extraction of nationals as first evacuation flights leave Dubai amid ‘chaos’
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UAE issues 15,000 emergency visas and processes 30,913 travellers in single day to ease airport backlog
Immigration officers processed nearly 31,000 passengers and issued over 15,000 emergency short-stay visas on 3 March, preventing status violations for travellers stranded by the flight shutdown. The initiative gives employers and assignees legal breathing room while airlines rebuild schedules.
Ministry of Human Resources extends remote-work directive through 3 March, telling firms to keep staff off roads and tarmacs
MoHRE’s remote-work advisory, effective 1–3 March, remained active on Tuesday, keeping thousands of private-sector employees at home. The move mitigates commuting and on-site safety risks but delays immigration processing and onboarding for new hires.
Port advisory restricts crew changes as UAE keeps maritime gateways at ISPS 1 but airspace closed
A 3 March advisory confirms UAE ports are open, but crew changes are only possible under tight movement controls because the country’s airspace remains closed. Shipping companies face higher insurance costs and logistical hurdles moving seafarers in or out of the Emirates.
UAE carriers ground fleets as Iranian missile salvos close Gulf airspace
All five major carriers operating in the UAE—Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia and Qatar Airways—halted flights on 1 March 2026 after Iranian missile attacks triggered sweeping Gulf air-space closures. Thousands of passengers and tonnes of cargo were stranded, forcing companies to activate contingency plans and exposing the vulnerability of hub-dependent travel programmes.
UAE closes embassy in Tehran and withdraws diplomats after missile strikes
Responding to Iranian missile attacks, the UAE shut its Tehran embassy on 1 March 2026 and pulled out all diplomats. Visa processing for Iranians is suspended and corporate paperwork must be diverted to third-country missions, lengthening lead times for cross-border projects.
GCAA bans drones, gliders and recreational aircraft for one week
Effective 1 March 2026, the UAE aviation regulator grounded all drones, gliders and recreational aircraft for seven days amid regional missile threats. Commercial drone operators need special waivers, while hobbyists face fines and equipment seizure. The move protects air-defence operations but also disrupts survey, media and leisure activities.
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.