Qatar has issued NOTAM A0821/26, establishing a series of alternative flight routes within the Doha Flight Information Region (FIR) amid heightened regional security tensions.
The NOTAM is effective from 15:01Z on 7 June 2026 through to 23:59Z on 14 June 2026.
What Is NOTAM A0821/26?
Qatar’s civil aviation authority has published NOTAM A0821/26, outlining a set of mandatory alternative routing procedures for aircraft operating within the Doha FIR.
The notice affects departures from both Hamad International Airport (OTHH) and Doha’s former international airport (OTBD), as well as departures from Saudi Arabian airports such as King Abdulaziz International Airport (OEDF).
A companion NOTAM, A0820/26, confirms that the Doha FIR is currently subject to a partial closure, with traffic restricted to specific waypoints and corridors.
Crucially, however, this does not represent a total suspension of flight operations.
Hamad International Airport remains fully operational, with flights continuing under revised routing requirements.
The Alternative Routes in Detail For Doha…
For departures from OTHH and OTBD bound for airports within the Kuwait FIR (OKAC), the prescribed routing is via: ALVEN P430 ALTOM M600 EGNIM.
Flights departing OTHH and OTBD destined for airports in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh FIR (OEDF), and transiting both the Bahrain FIR (OBBB) and Jeddah FIR (OEJD), must follow: ALVEN P430 RAMKI L768 RABLA OBROS.
For OEDF departures landing at aerodromes within the Doha FIR, the specified route runs via: BORUK P559 ROSAN R659 VEDED.
Additionally, OEDF departures that are overflying the Doha FIR en route to the Emirates FIR (OMAE) are required to route via: BORUK P559 BOTOB L704 VEDED R659 VELAM N318 OVONA, applicable to both overflying traffic and aircraft landing within the OMAE FIR.
Not a Full Suspension: Operations Continue in Doha…
It is important to note that NOTAM A0821/26 does not constitute a blanket ban on operations into or out of Qatar.
Hamad International Airport, one of the busiest hubs in the Gulf region and home to Qatar Airways, continues to accept and dispatch flights normally.
What passengers and operators should expect, however, are potential delays and extended flight times as aircraft are rerouted along longer, less direct paths to avoid restricted portions of the Doha FIR.
Airlines have been instructed to submit updated flight schedules reflecting the revised routings.
What This Means for Airlines and Passengers
For airlines operating in and out of the Gulf region, the operational impact is significant.
Flight planners must now account for the prescribed waypoints and airways as mandatory routing constraints rather than optional alternatives.
Failure to comply with the stated routings could result in traffic management interventions or denied entry into the FIR.
Passengers travelling through Hamad International Airport should anticipate potential delays on inbound and outbound services, particularly those operating on routes that transit the affected portions of the Doha FIR.
Longer block times are likely on a number of sectors, most notably flights between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE.
Airlines are also advised to closely monitor adjacent FIR NOTAMs for any further routing restrictions or amendments that may affect their planned trajectories.
The fluid nature of regional airspace management means that the situation could evolve before the NOTAM’s expiry on 14 June.
Regional Context
The issuance of these rerouting NOTAMs comes amid ongoing regional security tensions that have periodically affected Gulf airspace management in recent years.
Qatar’s authorities appear to be taking a measured and structured approach, opting to maintain operations while implementing controlled routing measures rather than imposing broader restrictions.
The Aviation Hub will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as further information becomes available.
Operators and flight crew are strongly encouraged to check the latest NOTAMs before departure and to liaise with their operations centres for the most current routing guidance.
UPDATE #1 @ 2059 UK time – An update from the Qatari CAA.
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