Emirates, Etihad, and Air Arabia cancel and delay UAE flights to Bahrain and Kuwait

Disruption overview

Flights from the UAE to Bahrain and Kuwait remain disrupted on 17 August 2026 as Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, and other carriers adjust schedules because of regional security restrictions. Emirates has canceled some Dubai-Bahrain services, Etihad has suspended several Abu Dhabi-Bahrain rotations through 21 August, and Air Arabia has posted multiple changes on Bahrain and Kuwait routes, while passengers traveling onward to India are also being told to allow more time at the airport until 20 August. If your trip is affected, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely because the disruption appears to be outside the airlines' control, but you should still be offered rebooking or a refund, plus care such as meals or accommodation when needed.

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Disruption details

Flights from the UAE to Bahrain and Kuwait are still facing cancellations and delays on 17 August 2026, with Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Air Arabia adjusting schedules on routes to Bahrain International Airport and Kuwait International Airport from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah as regional security restrictions continue to affect airspace around the Strait of Hormuz.

If you're traveling today, that can mean late schedule changes, rebookings, and longer waits before you even reach the airport. Airlines are reviewing operations day by day, and some flights that are still scheduled could yet be delayed, canceled, or rerouted at short notice.

Some of the clearest changes so far include:

• Emirates has restarted a single daily Dubai-Bahrain rotation, but flights EK835 and EK837 have been canceled. Some Dubai-Kuwait services are also still under review.

• Etihad Airways has canceled flight pairs EY641-642, EY645-646, and EY647-648 between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain through 21 August. EY643-644 are operating, EY653-654 to Kuwait remain scheduled, and a separate technical issue has delayed EY479 from Bali to Abu Dhabi today.

• Air Arabia has posted multiple cancellations and time changes on UAE-Kuwait and UAE-Bahrain routes, including flights G9068, G9124, G9107, and G9108. Several other Sharjah and Abu Dhabi rotations are still subject to late changes.

• Flydubai says its Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia services are operating, but it still recommends allowing extra time and checking live updates before travel.

At Dubai International Airport, the wider impact is already visible beyond UAE carriers. Airblue flight PA211 to Islamabad has been delayed, while flyadeal flight F3512 to Riyadh has been canceled.

Outside the immediate Bahrain and Kuwait routes, several foreign airlines have also extended or introduced suspensions on Dubai and other Middle East services. Air Canada, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Air France, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Lufthansa Group airlines are among the carriers avoiding parts of Iranian, Iraqi, and Israeli airspace, with some resumptions pushed into September or later.

If you're flying from the UAE to India this week, build in extra airport time. Heightened security remains in place until 20 August at major Indian gateways, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Airlines are trying to soften the impact where they can. Emirates says passengers can change travel dates without a fee, although any fare difference may still apply, and it wants travelers to check their flight status within 24 hours of departure before heading to the airport. Etihad is rerouting affected passengers, while flydubai says its Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia services are operating but recommends allowing extra time and monitoring real-time updates.

Because this disruption appears to be outside the airlines' control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely. That doesn't mean you're without support, though. Your airline should still provide care and assistance, including rebooking or a refund, plus food, refreshments, and accommodation if you need to wait overnight. If you'd like to check what may still apply to your journey, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple place to start.

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