Commercial aviation in the United Arab Emirates has begun a cautious recovery as airlines gradually resume limited operations following recent regional airspace disruptions. Major carriers including Emirates, Etihad Airways and flydubai restarted select flights, but authorities stress the situation remains unstable and schedules are far from normal.
Airport officials confirmed that only specific services — mainly repatriation flights, priority connections and previously rescheduled passengers — are currently operating. Thousands of travellers are still affected by cancellations and long delays after widespread airspace closures across the region forced airlines to halt operations for safety reasons.
Because of the limited restart, aviation authorities issued a strong advisory urging passengers not to head to the airport unless they have received direct confirmation from their airline. Many bookings shown as active in older itineraries may still be suspended, and airport access without approval could lead to overcrowding and confusion inside terminals.
Airlines are contacting eligible passengers individually through SMS and email with updated departure details. Travellers are being told to rely only on official airline communication channels and real-time flight trackers, not third-party booking websites that may show outdated schedules.
Officials also warned that flight operations could change at short notice depending on regional airspace security assessments. Further delays and last-minute cancellations remain possible as authorities continue coordinating safe routes for aircraft movement across the Gulf.
The phased reopening aims to prioritise passenger safety while gradually restoring international connectivity. A full return to normal operations is expected to take time as airlines reposition aircraft, crew and passengers affected by the disruption.
For now, passengers are advised to stay in contact with airlines and wait for confirmation before travelling to any UAE airport.
