Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia flights hit by delays and cancellations in the UAE

Disruption overview

Flights in the United Arab Emirates are still operating on 21 September 2026, but passengers at Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport, and Sharjah International Airport are seeing an uneven mix of delays, cancellations, and short-notice timetable changes. Etihad Airways and Emirates say many regional services are running, while flydubai and Air Arabia have canceled several flights to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia as Gulf security tensions continue to affect operations. The United States has also warned of possible escalation in the region and says drone and missile activity could affect civil aviation. Because the disruption appears to be linked to external safety risks rather than something the airlines caused, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely, though airlines should still provide rebooking or refunds and practical care during long delays.

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Disruption details

Flights operated by Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia were still running in the United Arab Emirates on 21 September 2026, but passengers at Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport, and Sharjah International Airport still faced delays and cancellations as Gulf security tensions disrupted schedules. Many services remained in the air, but timetables were uneven through the morning.

For passengers, this meant double-checking departure times and preparing for last-minute changes, even where airport websites were showing limited disruption. Flight-tracking data also showed some early departures leaving late, and airlines were updating flight information frequently.

At Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, Etihad Airways said most services to Bahrain, Kuwait, Riyadh, Al Qassim, and Medina were operating normally. Even so, flight EY577 to Dammam and flight EY603 to Jeddah both departed behind schedule.

Emirates also kept key regional services in the air, including flights EK837, EK839, and EK857 to Bahrain and Kuwait. The airline still urged travelers to reconfirm their departure times before heading to the airport, a sign that schedules could shift quickly.

Some lower-cost regional routes saw more direct disruption:

• flydubai canceled flight FZ029 from Dubai to Bahrain and flight FZ817 from Dubai to Yanbu, while FZ023 and FZ063 were still operating.

• Air Arabia listed cancellations on flights G9068 and G9124 to Kuwait, G9107 to Bahrain, and 3L020 from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait.

• Other rotations were still scheduled, but passengers were being warned to expect short-notice changes.

The disruption is linked to wider geopolitical instability across the Gulf and the risk of sudden airspace changes. Iranian military officials say the United States may be preparing new strikes, while Washington has warned of a possible escalation between Saudi forces and Houthi rebels after a missile strike on Riyadh.

That broader risk has pushed governments to tighten travel advice. The United States now rates the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Oman at Level 3 Reconsider Travel, has ordered non-emergency staff to leave the UAE, and has warned that drone and missile activity could affect civil aviation. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has eased earlier blanket warnings, but still says sudden airspace closures remain possible. Australia and Canada are also advising travelers to use extra caution.

Even with flights still moving, international connectivity hasn't fully returned. Dubai Airports chief Paul Griffiths said the hub's seat capacity has recovered to about 84% of pre-war levels, and Emirates is flying at roughly 93% of its normal schedule. But British Airways, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, KLM, Air Canada, and several other global carriers are still keeping UAE routes suspended until dates ranging from late October 2026 to January 2027.

If you're traveling soon, check your flight status online before you leave, arrive with extra time, and keep watching for airline messages right up to departure. With schedules changing throughout the day, a plan that looked settled in the morning could still change by the time you reach the airport.

Because these disruptions appear to be linked to external security risks and airspace uncertainty outside the airlines' control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely. That doesn't mean you're without support, though. If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, your airline should still help with rebooking or a refund, and provide care such as food, refreshments, and accommodation if you're stranded overnight. If you'd like to check what may apply to your trip, you can use AirHelp's free flight checker.

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