A rolling live blog from Gulf Business, updated throughout 6–7 March, captured the minute-by-minute reopening of UAE airspace and the knock-on effects across the Gulf. Dubai Airports’ official X account reiterated that passengers should not approach DXB or DWC unless their airline has directly confirmed a seat—an instruction echoed by Emirates and DXB police to ease pressure on security lanes and immigration counters.
Air Arabia used the same platform to declare a “select flight” programme, enabling passengers whose earlier departures were cancelled to rebook free of charge or seek refunds. Etihad’s limited schedule from Abu Dhabi began on 6 March with 25 international destinations; the carrier is adding frequencies subject to route clearances through Saudi and Omani FIRs.
Amid these scheduling uncertainties, travellers should also verify that their entry documents remain in order. VisaHQ’s easy-to-use portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines UAE visa applications, offers real-time status updates, and provides support for last-minute changes—helping both individuals and corporate mobility teams keep paperwork aligned with shifting flight itineraries.
![Gulf Business live blog: DXB warns ‘come only if contacted’ as limited UAE flights restart]()
The blog also tracked parallel developments in neighbouring Qatar, where the Civil Aviation Authority opened contingency corridors for evacuation and essential-cargo flights. Mobility managers with dual-hub routings are therefore urged to cross-check permissions, especially for crew rest rules and duty-time limitations that differ between UAE and Qatari regulators.
Importantly, DXB’s remote city check-in desks and baggage drop points remain closed, meaning travellers must allow extra dwell time for on-airport formalities once their flights are green-lit. Corporate duty-of-care teams should refresh employee briefings to reflect the fluid situation and continue to monitor airline social-media feeds flagged in the blog.
The post concludes that while capacity is creeping back—DXB handled fewer than 200 movements on 6 March versus its normal 1,100—network stability is unlikely before mid-week, keeping pressure on emergency travel budgets and project timelines.
Air Arabia used the same platform to declare a “select flight” programme, enabling passengers whose earlier departures were cancelled to rebook free of charge or seek refunds. Etihad’s limited schedule from Abu Dhabi began on 6 March with 25 international destinations; the carrier is adding frequencies subject to route clearances through Saudi and Omani FIRs.
Amid these scheduling uncertainties, travellers should also verify that their entry documents remain in order. VisaHQ’s easy-to-use portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) streamlines UAE visa applications, offers real-time status updates, and provides support for last-minute changes—helping both individuals and corporate mobility teams keep paperwork aligned with shifting flight itineraries.
The blog also tracked parallel developments in neighbouring Qatar, where the Civil Aviation Authority opened contingency corridors for evacuation and essential-cargo flights. Mobility managers with dual-hub routings are therefore urged to cross-check permissions, especially for crew rest rules and duty-time limitations that differ between UAE and Qatari regulators.
Importantly, DXB’s remote city check-in desks and baggage drop points remain closed, meaning travellers must allow extra dwell time for on-airport formalities once their flights are green-lit. Corporate duty-of-care teams should refresh employee briefings to reflect the fluid situation and continue to monitor airline social-media feeds flagged in the blog.
The post concludes that while capacity is creeping back—DXB handled fewer than 200 movements on 6 March versus its normal 1,100—network stability is unlikely before mid-week, keeping pressure on emergency travel budgets and project timelines.
