UAE flights on Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia face delays and cancellations

Disruption overview

Most flights from the UAE are still running, but passengers using Dubai International Airport (DXB), Zayed International Airport (AUH), and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) on 18 September 2026 are seeing more late departures, retimed services, and some cancellations. Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia have all adjusted parts of their schedules as security tensions in the Gulf continue to affect regional airspace. The changes are centered on routes to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, though some Europe-bound departures have also been delayed. If your flight falls under EC 261, compensation is usually unlikely when disruption is linked to conditions outside the airlines' control, but airlines should still provide rerouting, meals, and accommodation when needed.

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Disruption details

Passengers flying through Dubai International Airport (DXB), Zayed International Airport (AUH), and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) on 18 September 2026 are dealing with short-notice schedule changes as delays, retimings, and some cancellations affect Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia. Most flights are still operating, but if you're traveling, your plans could still shift with little warning.

The disruption comes amid heightened security tension across the Gulf linked to the ongoing US-Iran confrontation, which has already affected regional airspace, shipping lanes, and fuel markets. Airlines haven't pointed to one single technical issue behind every late departure, saying changes may reflect the regional situation, operational constraints, or technical considerations.

Examples of affected services on 18 September 2026 include:

• From Dubai International Airport, Emirates flights EK092 to Milan, EK539 to Ahmedabad, EK086 to Zurich, and EK132 to Moscow departed between 30 minutes and 1 hour late.

• flydubai flights including FZ446 to Mumbai, FZ192 to Cairo, FZ980 to Yekaterinburg, and FZ952 to Moscow were also pushed back.

• flydubai canceled FZ815 from Dubai to Abha and FZ816 from Abha to Dubai.

• At Zayed International Airport, Etihad Airways flights EY247 to Ahmedabad and EY233 to Bengaluru showed later departure times, while Air Arabia Abu Dhabi services 3L020/021 to Kuwait and 3L017/018 to Bahrain were canceled or retimed.

• From Sharjah International Airport, Air Arabia removed scheduled pairs of flights to Abha, Jizan, Tabuk, and Bahrain.

Not every schedule change has been a delay. Some Etihad Airways and Air Arabia flights were moved earlier than first published, and Air Arabia also had services still waiting to depart on some regional routes. That underlines how fluid the situation remains through the day.

Because timings are moving in both directions, a flight that looked normal earlier may not stay that way. If you're flying, it's worth checking your airline's app or official status page again before you leave home.

The pattern also differs by airport. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have mainly seen revised departure times, while Sharjah has felt the lighter end of the disruption overall, even though several Air Arabia regional routes were removed from the schedule.

The disruption is centered on the UAE's three main airports and on routes to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Some Europe-bound services have also seen timing changes, including Emirates departures to Milan and Zurich.

Most departures and arrivals are still running, but airlines are urging travelers to check official channels before leaving home. They haven't announced blanket rebooking waivers, and are instead handling disrupted bookings case by case.

Travel advisories from the UK, US, Australia, and Canada continue to warn that security conditions in the Middle East could lead to sudden route closures or airspace changes. If you're due to fly, that makes live airline updates especially important.

The wider airline picture remains mixed. British Airways is still due to resume its Dubai service on 3 November. At the same time, Air Canada, Air France, Lufthansa Group, and Singapore Airlines have extended some suspensions into the fall and winter seasons, showing that the UAE remains a viable destination, but one that airlines are monitoring closely.

If your flight falls under EC 261, compensation is usually unlikely here because the disruption appears tied to regional security conditions outside the airlines' control.

Still, that doesn't mean you're without support. If your flight is canceled, your airline should offer rerouting or a refund. During long delays, they should also provide meals, refreshments, and, if you're stranded overnight, accommodation and transport to it. If you want to understand what may apply to your trip, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple place to start.

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