Photo credit: X/@emirates
Dubai, UAE — March 2026 — The escalating military conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran plunged global air travel into unprecedented disarray Monday, as major Middle Eastern hubs remained closed and governments scrambled to assist tens of thousands of stranded citizens across multiple continents.
The armed conflict, which erupted Saturday, has transformed the region’s normally bustling airports into virtual ghost towns, leaving travellers trapped in hotels and airports, with no clear timeline for when flights might resume.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha – critical connectors between Europe, Africa, and Asia – all sustained direct hits from Iranian strikes, forcing their airports to shut down.
Emirates airlines announced it would resume a limited number of flights Monday evening without elaboration, following an earlier suspension until Tuesday afternoon. “We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority,” the airline stated, warning travelers not to arrive at airports unless notified.
Budget carrier FlyDubai followed suit with a restricted schedule of four departures and five arrivals Monday evening, describing the situation as dynamic and promising close monitoring of operations.
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways managed to dispatch 15 aircraft within a three-hour window Monday, offering hope for transit passengers stranded since the conflict began, according to flight tracking site FlightRadar. In a statement on March 2 evening, the carrier said that all its “commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Wednesday 4 March.”
It added that some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals. “Guests should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad and advised to do so,” the airlines warned.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority announced it would cover all “hosting and accommodation costs” for affected passengers, reporting approximately 20,200 travelers had already required assistance as of Sunday.
The statement, carried by the Emirates News Agency, underscored the region’s determination to manage the crisis despite the unprecedented disruption to its aviation-dependent economy.
