Dubai‑Abu Dhabi LIVE News Updates: Air India Suspends Flight Ops To UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel Amid Conflict

Air India has suspended flight operations to and from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Israel till 11:59 pm on Wednesday as conflicts in West Asia escalate.

“We continue to closely monitor and assess the evolving developments in the region. A limited number of flights are being operated, with the highest priority accorded to the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew,” said the statement from the airline.

At least 4 people were killed in an Israeli strike on an a building, Lebanon’s state media said on Wednesday, according to a report by AFP.

Amid the West Asia crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is intensifying diplomatic outreach to Gulf nations to ensure safe return of Indian nationals stranded in the affected countries.

PM Modi spoke to leaders of Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and separately urged Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for an early end to hostilities and facilitate dialogue.

SpiceJet announced it will operate eight special flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday to facilitate the return of Indian citizens stranded in the country amid the ongoing hostilities, a press release by the airline said.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in a statement, said Indian carriers are planning 58 flights today to bring back stranded citizens from the Middle East amid the ongoing unrest following Iranian strikes.

In view of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the Donald Trump-led administration shared a region-wide precautionary message to Americans.

The government shifted countries like Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to Level 3, urging American citizens to reconsider travelling to these nations.

Flight services remain temporarily suspended due to closure of Qatari airspace amid the ongoing unrest in the Middle East.

Oil prices rose more than USD 1 on Wednesday as the US-Israeli strikes on Iran disrupted the Middle East supply and halted exports from the region, according to a report by Reuters.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that 9,000 Americans had returned home safely from the Middle East since the launch of Operation Epic Fury against Iran.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump said that the US Department of State was assisting Americans stranded in the Middle East in returning to their country.

American citizens stranded in the Middle East have been advised to head to step.state.gov or mytravel.state.gov/s/step and sign up under the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

First of two flights arranged by Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde to evacuate tourists from the state stranded in the UAE arrived in Mumbai.

A control room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region. The Control Room can be contacted from 9 am to 9 pm at:

1800118797 (Toll Free)
+91 11 2301 2113
+91 11 2301 4104
+91 11 2301 7905

Scenes of jubilation emerged at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Airport as stranded Indian citizens landed in Ahmedabad amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.

Around 200 Indians stranded in Jeddah arrived in Ahmedabad amid the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.

An Indian passenger arriving from Dubai described the on-ground situation in the country and recalled the horror amid West Asia conflict.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the consulate general of India in Dubai are in touch with representatives of the Indian community amid regional unrest.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait amid regional unrest.

Amid the unrest among gulf nations following Iranian attacks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to ‘brother’ Amir of Qatar and expressed India’s solidarity with the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday proposed a swap with US and Israeli allies in the Middle East, offering Kyiv’s advanced drone interceptors in exchange for PAC-3 air defence missiles. The move comes as Iran’s retaliatory drone attacks have targeted military and civilian infrastructure across the Gulf following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Zelenskyy, speaking after calls with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim, said the exchange would help protect skies from hundreds of incoming Shahed drones, a threat that conventional missiles alone struggle to counter.

Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday said that 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 by foreign airlines have been cancelled so far due to the evolving airspace situation in parts of West Asia.

“To facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, 24 flights are being operated by Indian carriers today. Further, Indian carriers are planning 58 flights on 4th March, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express,” the government shared on X.

Loud explosions heard across Dubai on Tuesday were confirmed by the Dubai Media Office as the result of successful interceptions by the city’s air defence systems.

“The relevant teams continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to ensure everyone’s safety, and they urge the public to obtain information from its official sources,” the Dubai Media Office said in a statement.

An ATP Challenger tennis tournament in Fujairah was briefly suspended on Tuesday after drone strikes targeted nearby oil refineries. Falling debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire at an oil field around 15 kilometres from the tournament venue.

In a statement, the ATP said play was halted following a security alert and players, officials and staff were moved to designated safe areas in line with security protocols. The body added that the health and safety of everyone involved remains its top priority.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has released a list of emergency helplines and contact details for Indian citizens in the Middle East amid escalating conflict in the region. The numbers cover the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Palestine.

MORE DETAILS HERE

Emirates on Tuesday announced that all its scheduled flights to and from Dubai will remain suspended till 23:59 UAE time on 4 March due to airspace closures across the region. The airline is operating a limited number of repatriation and cargo flights on 3 and 4 March, prioritising passengers with earlier bookings.

Customers are advised not to go to the airport unless they have been directly notified or hold a confirmed booking. Emirates said it is closely monitoring the situation and will update its operational schedule accordingly.

Operations have resumed at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone after a fire caused by falling drone debris was brought under control, authorities said on Tuesday. The blaze broke out after air defence systems successfully intercepted a drone, leading to debris falling in the area.

Officials confirmed that emergency teams acted quickly, no injuries were reported, and normal activities have now restarted. The incident comes as tensions remain high across the Gulf region.

Three Indian seafarers have lost their lives and one has been injured amid escalating tensions in West Asia, according to the Directorate General of Shipping, cited by PTI.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Indian missions and shipping companies to ensure the safety of other nationals in the region.

Air India on Tuesday welcomed passengers and crew arriving from Dubai onboard flight at Indira Gandhi Airport in New Delhi.

This marked the first international arrival by an Indian carrier into the national capital today, carrying 149 passengers and eight operating crew members, the airline said.