With the country’s skies still closed on 2 March 2026, the General Civil Aviation Authority moved from crisis response to customer triage. In co-ordination with national carriers, the regulator published a detailed advisory urging passengers **not to go to the airport unless they hold a confirmed, operating flight** and listing re-booking and refund options for each airline.
Etihad is offering free re-booking on any service up to 18 March for tickets issued before 28 February, while Emirates and flydubai are allowing date changes or full refunds for travel until 5 March. Air Arabia has extended similar flexibility and suspended flights on several Levant routes until 3 March.
For travelers who discover that an unplanned layover might cause their UAE visa to expire, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Through its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), the company facilitates quick extensions and new e-visa applications, giving passengers one less administrative worry while they wait for flights to resume.
![GCAA issues traveller playbook as UAE airlines scramble to rebook 20,000 stranded passengers]()
Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have set up additional check-in desks and on-ground liaison teams to manage what they estimate are **20,200 disrupted travellers**. Those requiring overnight stays are being accommodated at airport-area hotels at government expense—a policy reminiscent of the COVID-19 era that underscores the UAE’s determination to protect its reputation as a seamless transit hub.
For corporate mobility managers, the guidance simplifies claims processing: airlines will cover hotel and meal costs, while employers need only focus on salary-continuity and visa validity for assignees stuck in the UAE. The GCAA said further bulletins will be issued via official social-media channels as routes reopen.
The episode highlights the value of maintaining updated employee travel profiles and contingency budgets; companies that had pre-registered travellers’ contact details with airlines reported faster re-bookings and earlier notification of itinerary changes.
Etihad is offering free re-booking on any service up to 18 March for tickets issued before 28 February, while Emirates and flydubai are allowing date changes or full refunds for travel until 5 March. Air Arabia has extended similar flexibility and suspended flights on several Levant routes until 3 March.
For travelers who discover that an unplanned layover might cause their UAE visa to expire, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Through its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/), the company facilitates quick extensions and new e-visa applications, giving passengers one less administrative worry while they wait for flights to resume.
Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have set up additional check-in desks and on-ground liaison teams to manage what they estimate are **20,200 disrupted travellers**. Those requiring overnight stays are being accommodated at airport-area hotels at government expense—a policy reminiscent of the COVID-19 era that underscores the UAE’s determination to protect its reputation as a seamless transit hub.
For corporate mobility managers, the guidance simplifies claims processing: airlines will cover hotel and meal costs, while employers need only focus on salary-continuity and visa validity for assignees stuck in the UAE. The GCAA said further bulletins will be issued via official social-media channels as routes reopen.
The episode highlights the value of maintaining updated employee travel profiles and contingency budgets; companies that had pre-registered travellers’ contact details with airlines reported faster re-bookings and earlier notification of itinerary changes.
