The British Airways Dubai route resumed on 3 November 2026, restoring a London Heathrow connection that had been suspended for eight months after Gulf airspace closed in the wake of the US-Iran conflict that began on 28 February 2026. The airline is operating one daily Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner service for the winter season, with plans to scale back up from there.
The resumption is a significant step for British Airways across the region, and it arrives alongside the restart of several other Middle East routes that had been grounded since the same airspace closures. It is part of a broader, cautious return by UK carriers to destinations that were placed off-limits when the conflict escalated earlier this year.
Why Gulf Airspace Closed in the First Place
Gulf airspace was closed on 28 February 2026 following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which triggered the conflict and prompted widespread flight suspensions across the region. British Airways, along with many other carriers, had no path through the affected airspace and suspended its Heathrow to Dubai route at that point.
The suspension lasted eight months in total. For context, this route sits among the airline's most commercially important long-haul connections, linking one of the world's busiest airports with one of its largest aviation hubs.
The New British Airways Dubai Schedule and Aircraft
TTG reported that the first return flight number is BA105, departing Heathrow at 20:05 GMT on 3 November 2026. The outbound service leaves Heathrow at 20:00, with touchdown in Dubai at 07:45 the next morning. TTG also reported that the return leg departs Dubai at 10:00, landing back at Heathrow at 14:55.
British Airways is using the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner on the route. You can explore the aircraft further using our Aircraft Search. The airline is operating one daily frequency for the winter season, with plans to increase to two daily flights by summer 2027.
Economy fares for November travel on a one-way basis are priced from £329 to £340, based on current figures across both sources.
Other BA Middle East Routes Restarting
Dubai is not the only destination coming back online. British Airways is resuming its Amman services on 4 November 2026, operating four times a week. Riyadh follows later, with services restarting on 11 January 2027, though at a reduced frequency of one daily flight rather than the two that operated before the suspension.
This phased approach reflects both the available demand and the still-sensitive security picture across the region. We covered a comparable restart earlier this month when British Airways resumed its Tel Aviv flights after an eight-month pause, and the pattern of cautious, reduced-frequency returns is consistent across the airline's Middle East network.
The FCDO Position
On 18 June, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office revised its regional travel advice, withdrawing the 'do not travel' designation for numerous Middle East destinations following a ceasefire agreement across the region. Walesonline reported that the coordinated security update covers 16 countries, including the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
That said, the FCDO's current guidance stops well short of an all-clear. The office states: "The context in the Middle East remains deeply unpredictable, and the risk of sudden escalation is high." Walesonline reported that the FCDO is advising that "British nationals in, or planning to travel through, the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruption."
Passengers travelling to any of these destinations in the coming weeks should check the FCDO's travel advice before they book or depart, as conditions can change rapidly.
The Bottom Line
The return of British Airways Dubai services marks a genuine turning point for UK connectivity with the Gulf, even if the airline is rebuilding carefully with a single daily frequency and reduced schedules on other routes. The Boeing 787-10 is well suited to the sector, and the summer 2027 target for two daily flights gives a reasonable timeline for a fuller recovery, assuming the security situation holds.
What passengers should keep in mind is that the FCDO has not declared the region stable. Walesonline reported the advisory explicitly warns that the Middle East situation remains unpredictable with a high risk of sudden escalation. Anyone booking these routes should monitor official guidance closely and consider flexible ticketing options for the foreseeable future.
This article draws on reporting by walesonline and Aerospace Global News.
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