Flights out of Dubai & Abu Dhabi begin to restart, with the likes of Emirates, flydubai and Etihad Airways starting slowly following regional tensions.
The move follows a weekend of severe disruption triggered by escalating military action between Iran, Israel and the United States, which forced widespread airspace closures and temporarily shut major regional hubs including Dubai and Doha.
“Special flights” will now operate across UAE airports to help clear the backlog of tens of thousands of passengers left unable to travel, according to the UAE civil aviation authority.
Airspace in Dubai & Abu Dhabi Reopens After Regional Attacks
The disruption began after Iranian retaliatory strikes extended beyond US bases and interests, prompting authorities across the Middle East to close large sections of airspace.
Dubai International Airport, which handled nearly one hundred million passengers last year, sustained minor damage during the attacks.
Despite this, the airport is preparing to reopen gradually, with Dubai Airports confirming that a “limited resumption” would begin on Monday.
Al Maktoum International Airport will also permit a small number of departures as operators prioritise safety assessments and operational readiness.
The reopening marks the first step in restoring normal connectivity after one of the most significant aviation shutdowns the region has seen in years.
Emirates and flydubai Restart Select Services
Emirates and flydubai have confirmed that a small number of flights will operate from Monday evening, focusing on essential travel and repatriation.
flydubai will initially operate four services to Russian destinations including Kazan, while inbound flights from three Pakistani airports and from Hargeisa in Somaliland are scheduled to return to Dubai.
These early movements are designed to reposition aircraft, support cargo flows and return stranded passengers to their home countries.
The airlines emphasise that the restart will be slow and tightly coordinated with UAE authorities.
Etihad Maintains Cancellations but Operates Special Flights
Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways continues to cancel all scheduled commercial services to and from the UAE capital.
However, the airline is operating select repatriation, cargo and repositioning flights under strict regulatory approval.
“Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals,” Etihad said in a statement.
Despite the suspension of regular services, Etihad’s website showed several flights departing from Zayed International Airport on Monday, including services to London and Paris, with more expected to follow as conditions stabilise.
A Cautious Return to Operations at Dubai & Abu Dhabi Airports…
The gradual reopening of UAE airspace underscores the complexity of restoring normal operations after a regional security event of this scale.
Airlines are balancing the urgent need to move stranded passengers with the operational challenges of repositioning aircraft, reassigning crews and ensuring safety across all stages of the network.
For now, the focus remains on controlled recovery rather than full resumption.
As the situation evolves, the pace of reopening will depend on regional stability and ongoing assessments by aviation authorities.
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