The UAE’s four home-grown airlines took tentative steps back into the sky on 6 March after a week-long shutdown that stranded tens of thousands of travellers and cargo worldwide. Gulf News reports that Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) are allowing limited waves of departures and arrivals, while Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah airports have also reopened selected corridors.
• Emirates – Reduced schedule; refunds or free rebooking for travel through 30 April.
• Etihad – Limited network restarting from 6 March with 70 destinations; free rebooking until 15 May.
• flydubai – Gradual restart; one-time rebooking within 30 days.
• Air Arabia – Some flights restored; customers notified directly.
![UAE flight status on 6 March: limited services resume on Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia]()
With many travelers now racing to adjust plans, VisaHQ can step in to arrange or amend UAE visas on short notice. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines the application process, tracks status changes in real time, and helps passengers keep documentation in order while flight schedules remain unpredictable.
Authorities are restricting terminal access to confirmed passengers. Travellers must therefore secure written confirmation from airlines before heading to the airport and should verify the correct terminal—particularly in Dubai, where flights have been shifted between DXB and DWC at short notice. Corporate mobility teams should update traveller tracking systems with the latest schedules, build longer connection windows, and keep copies of new booking references in case airspace permissions change again. Employers sponsoring residence or mission visas should note that overstayers caused by flight cancellations remain eligible for fee waivers announced earlier in the week, but only if they depart on one of the authorised services.
Logistics managers are also watching Sharjah, a key distribution hub for low-cost carrier Air Arabia Cargo. The carrier has restarted a handful of freighter flights; exporters should secure space quickly as capacity is severely constrained and rates have spiked by up to 40 % on Europe–Gulf lanes.
• Emirates – Reduced schedule; refunds or free rebooking for travel through 30 April.
• Etihad – Limited network restarting from 6 March with 70 destinations; free rebooking until 15 May.
• flydubai – Gradual restart; one-time rebooking within 30 days.
• Air Arabia – Some flights restored; customers notified directly.
With many travelers now racing to adjust plans, VisaHQ can step in to arrange or amend UAE visas on short notice. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines the application process, tracks status changes in real time, and helps passengers keep documentation in order while flight schedules remain unpredictable.
Authorities are restricting terminal access to confirmed passengers. Travellers must therefore secure written confirmation from airlines before heading to the airport and should verify the correct terminal—particularly in Dubai, where flights have been shifted between DXB and DWC at short notice. Corporate mobility teams should update traveller tracking systems with the latest schedules, build longer connection windows, and keep copies of new booking references in case airspace permissions change again. Employers sponsoring residence or mission visas should note that overstayers caused by flight cancellations remain eligible for fee waivers announced earlier in the week, but only if they depart on one of the authorised services.
Logistics managers are also watching Sharjah, a key distribution hub for low-cost carrier Air Arabia Cargo. The carrier has restarted a handful of freighter flights; exporters should secure space quickly as capacity is severely constrained and rates have spiked by up to 40 % on Europe–Gulf lanes.
