Over 8,100 flights canceled as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha hubs cut operations through March 2026

Disruption overview

Escalating conflict involving Iran and the United States has disrupted air travel through the Gulf and eastern Mediterranean throughout March 2026, with more than 8,100 flights canceled across Dubai International Airport (DXB), Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), Hamad International Airport (DOH), Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY), and King Fahd International Airport (RUH). Passengers have faced 24–72-hour rebooking delays and rerouted trips that can run 2–8 hours longer as airlines including Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways cut regional service and reshape long-haul schedules. Because the disruption is linked to armed conflict outside airline control, compensation under EC 261 is usually unlikely, but airlines should still offer rerouting or refunds, plus care and assistance during long delays. You can also use AirHelp's free flight checker to see what applies to your journey.

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Disruption details

Air travel through the Gulf and eastern Mediterranean has been heavily disrupted through March 2026, with more than 8,100 flights canceled across Dubai International Airport (DXB), Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), Hamad International Airport (DOH), King Fahd International Airport (RUH), Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), and Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY). For passengers, that has meant sudden cancellations, missed connections, and rerouted journeys that can take 2–8 hours longer than usual.

The disruption is tied to escalating armed conflict involving Iran and the United States. Since late February 2026, missile and drone strikes, insurer restrictions, and regulator warnings have pushed commercial airlines away from airspace near Iran, Iraq, the Strait of Hormuz, and adjoining corridors. Hundreds of thousands of passengers have already been affected, and the situation is still changing quickly.

At Dubai International Airport (DXB), operations are continuing at about 60% of normal capacity after early-March missile attacks damaged fuel-storage facilities on the airfield. Emirates has canceled more than 2,400 services, mainly on routes touching Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Many Europe-to-Asia and Australia journeys are now being routed north over Turkey, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, which is adding 4–8 hours to some trips and leaving connecting passengers facing rebooking delays of 24–72 hours.

At Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), flights were brought to a full ground stop in early March when neighboring airspace closed. Limited services have restarted on newly approved corridors, but Etihad Airways has still withdrawn service from more than 15 destinations and moved aircraft to European bases. In Doha, Hamad International Airport (DOH) has seen intermittent shutdowns after Iranian strikes inside Qatar, and Qatar Airways has suspended flights to 12 regional cities while overall capacity sits at about 50% of normal.

Saudi Arabia has not formally closed its airspace, but military activity is still making schedules harder to run. Saudi Arabian Airlines, flydubai, Air Arabia, and Flynas have trimmed frequencies or suspended some flights to Gulf capitals, while King Fahd International Airport (RUH) is operating less efficiently as airlines adjust around temporary military no-fly zones.

The knock-on effect is reaching farther west too. Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv and Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) in Beirut are open, but both are handling less than half of normal traffic. European and Gulf airlines, including KLM, Air France, and Emirates, have reduced service because of missile incidents and rising insurance premiums.

Confirmed cancellations currently break down like this:

• Dubai International Airport (DXB) accounts for about 2,400 cancellations.

• Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) accounts for about 1,800 cancellations.

• Hamad International Airport (DOH) accounts for about 1,600 cancellations.

• Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) accounts for about 900 cancellations.

• Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) accounts for about 800 cancellations.

• King Fahd International Airport (RUH) accounts for about 600 cancellations.

The pressure isn't staying in the region. Traffic density over Turkish and Eastern European airspace is up 40% as Lufthansa, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Turkish Airlines switch to contingency routings. If you're flying between Europe and Australia, or on routes linking Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, you may still feel the impact even when your airport stays open.

Airlines are trying to make disrupted trips easier to rearrange. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways have all offered fee-free rebooking or full refunds, and carriers are publishing tentative timetables every 6–12 hours as conditions change. The disruption is expected to last at least 30–90 days, and a full recovery depends on a sustained cease-fire.

If your flight was delayed or canceled because of this conflict, compensation under EC 261 is usually unlikely because the disruption was outside the airline's control. You should still be offered rerouting or a refund, and US and EU authorities have also reminded travelers that refund rights still apply. If you're left waiting, your airline should provide care such as meals, refreshments, and overnight accommodation when needed. Compensation may be unlikely here, but that doesn't mean you're without support. If you want to see what applies to your journey, you can use AirHelp's free flight checker.

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