Irish travellers connecting through the Gulf received partial relief on 9 March 2026 as Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia published the first coordinated timetable since the 28 February regional air-space shutdown. A consolidated update, circulated to GDSs at 07:00 UTC and reflected in local media, shows roughly 60 per cent of pre-crisis frequencies operating on Tuesday, with most long-haul sectors pushed back several hours to avoid lingering military corridors. Key services popular with Irish corporates—Dubai-Dublin EK162/163 and Abu Dhabi-Dublin EY045/046—remain cancelled through 11 March; passengers are being re-protected on same-day routings via Paris or Frankfurt.
![UAE carriers issue rolling timetable as Gulf airspace gradually re-opens]()
For travellers who suddenly find themselves needing visa amendments because of these shifting flight patterns, VisaHQ can step in to streamline the paperwork. Its Ireland-based platform (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) handles expedited UAE, Qatar and broader Asia-Pacific visas, letting passengers and travel managers track every stage online and avoid additional delays.
Travellers with tickets issued on or before 28 February for journeys up to 21 March can rebook once free of charge for travel anytime until 15 May 2026 or request refunds without penalty. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority continues to limit overflights east of Qatar between 18:00 and 02:00 local time, forcing carriers to adopt longer southern routings and triggering crew - duty limitations. Travel managers should therefore build a 24-hour buffer into project start dates in Asia-Pacific until schedules stabilise. Irish expatriates returning from Australia should note that Emirates has reinstated EK413 Sydney-Dubai but with a 90-minute refuelling stop in Kuala Lumpur; missed connections are being accommodated in airport hotels where layovers exceed eight hours. Those holding Irish Residence Permits stamped for re-entry must ensure their IRP is in date, as Dubai immigration officers will not accept the Irish Temporary Travel Letter after 28 February’s extension expiry. Industry analysts expect full restoration of Gulf-Europe frequencies by 16 March, provided no further escalation in regional hostilities. Mobility teams with time-sensitive assignments are advised to consider alternative routings via Singapore or North America in the interim.
For travellers who suddenly find themselves needing visa amendments because of these shifting flight patterns, VisaHQ can step in to streamline the paperwork. Its Ireland-based platform (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) handles expedited UAE, Qatar and broader Asia-Pacific visas, letting passengers and travel managers track every stage online and avoid additional delays.
Travellers with tickets issued on or before 28 February for journeys up to 21 March can rebook once free of charge for travel anytime until 15 May 2026 or request refunds without penalty. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority continues to limit overflights east of Qatar between 18:00 and 02:00 local time, forcing carriers to adopt longer southern routings and triggering crew - duty limitations. Travel managers should therefore build a 24-hour buffer into project start dates in Asia-Pacific until schedules stabilise. Irish expatriates returning from Australia should note that Emirates has reinstated EK413 Sydney-Dubai but with a 90-minute refuelling stop in Kuala Lumpur; missed connections are being accommodated in airport hotels where layovers exceed eight hours. Those holding Irish Residence Permits stamped for re-entry must ensure their IRP is in date, as Dubai immigration officers will not accept the Irish Temporary Travel Letter after 28 February’s extension expiry. Industry analysts expect full restoration of Gulf-Europe frequencies by 16 March, provided no further escalation in regional hostilities. Mobility teams with time-sensitive assignments are advised to consider alternative routings via Singapore or North America in the interim.
