Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Airlines in the UAE have temporarily suspended or rerouted flights to multiple destinations in the Middle East as the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies, prompting travel alerts and causing significant disruptions for passengers. The conflict, which entered its fourth day on Monday (June 16), has seen both Israel and Iran exchange waves of missile strikes, hitting civilian infrastructure and killing scores of people. The violence has prompted fears of further regional instability and has led carriers to halt operations to affected zones for safety reasons.

Emirates suspends regional flights

Dubai-based Emirates Airline confirmed it has suspended flights to Tehran, Baghdad, and Basra until June 30. Flights to Amman (Jordan) and Beirut (Lebanon) are also suspended until June 22. “Customers connecting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice,” Emirates said in a statement. The airline added that it is “monitoring the situation and making all efforts to ensure minimal disruption.”

Etihad cancels Tel Aviv route

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways announced that it has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until June 22. The airline has also begun rerouting flights due to restricted airspace across parts of the Middle East, warning of delays and disruptions in the coming days. “Guests transiting through Abu Dhabi to connect to cancelled flights will not be accepted for travel from their point of origin,” Etihad said, urging passengers to regularly check their flight status at etihad.com.

flydubai and Air Arabia suspend more routes

Flydubai, the UAE’s budget airline, said it has suspended all flights to Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Syria until June 30. The airline said it has reinstated flights across its network where conditions permit, but noted that it continues to assess the situation. “We have reinstated flights across our network where conditions permit, and we continue to monitor and review our operations as the situation evolves,” a flydubai spokesperson said, “The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority.” Meanwhile, Air Arabia, operating out of Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, announced that flights to Lebanon, Jordan, and Russia are suspended until June 16, and flights to Iran and Iraq are on hold until June 30. Connecting passengers with final destinations in these countries will also be denied boarding at their point of origin.

UAE issues travel advisory

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory, warning citizens, residents, and tourists to avoid travel to the conflict zones and contact airlines directly for the latest updates on flight schedules. Emiratis in high-risk countries — including Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, and Israel — have been urged to register with Twajudi, a platform that helps coordinate repatriation during emergencies. The travel disruptions come as the military conflict between Israel and Iran escalates, with both sides exchanging airstrikes that have left at least 19 people dead in Israel and 224 in Iran, according to reports. Oil refineries, power grids, and civilian homes have been targeted, leading to widespread panic and efforts to flee major cities such as Tehran. The ongoing hostilities have raised concerns of wider regional involvement, with international leaders urging diplomacy and de-escalation as the threat of full-scale war looms. ICA/Expat Media
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