UAE Flight Cancellations: Europe Services Return, Saudi Hit

Get the latest uae flight updates regarding ongoing cancellations, airline schedule changes, and regional travel advisories across the Emirates.

UAE flight cancellations continue on Saudi routes, but there is some good news for travellers. Europe flights return as airlines restore services between Dubai and Europe. Gulf News reported on 26 October that carriers plan to bring back up to 36 weekly flights from late October through December 2026. Services to Athens and Manila are also coming back.

UAE flight cancellations still hit Saudi routes

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport reopened on 25 October after a two-week closure. However, most scheduled departures stayed cancelled. Cirium data cited in the report shows that airlines cancelled or did not operate 7,802 of 17,299 scheduled Saudi departures between 8 and 25 October, about 45 per cent. Riyadh suffered most, with disruption to around 86 per cent of its departures. Dammam and Jeddah also saw heavy disruption.

What airlines have announced as Europe flights return

Etihad Airways has extended cancellations between Abu Dhabi and both Riyadh and Dammam until 5 November. Meanwhile, flydubai has suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha until 29 October. Air Arabia also cancelled several Sharjah and Abu Dhabi services on Monday, including routes to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt. In addition, Emirates continues to list cancellations on Dubai services to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah.

Iranian airlines have not resumed flights to and from the UAE. Likewise, Emirates has suspended its codeshare flights with flydubai to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. At the airports, Dubai International listed several cancelled arrivals on Monday, including flights from Riyadh, Basra and Addis Ababa. Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International reported delays on arrivals from Mumbai, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

How travellers can plan ahead

The restored schedules should give passengers more choice. Even so, services may not resume all at once, so dates can still change. Therefore, confirm your flight status directly with your airline before leaving for the airport. Some delays come from operational or technical issues rather than the regional situation. Check both outbound and return flights, and review rebooking and refund options.

You can find official aviation guidance on the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority website. For more market and travel stories, see our business section.

Source: Based on reporting by Gulf News.