Dubai Airport Resumes Limited Operations Amid Conflict, Prioritises Repatriation Flights

Last Updated:March 02, 2026, 22:55 IST

Full normal operations are not expected to resume immediately and could face further delays depending on the evolving security situation.

Dubai airport operations, primarily at Dubai Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum Airport (DWC), resumed on the evening of March 2 (Monday), but are currently operating at a “very limited and slow capacity".

This comes after a multi-day suspension due to the escalating Middle East conflict, including Iranian retaliatory strikes. Since Saturday, Iran’s strikes on Gulf neighbours, following the US-Israeli attacks, forced the UAE to shut its airspace temporarily.

Sources told CNN-News18 that only a small number of select flights, mostly repatriation, priority, or special services, are currently being allowed to operate.

Major carriers such as Emirates and Flydubai have confirmed they are restarting a limited number of flights tonight, prioritising passengers with earlier bookings or those directly contacted by the airline.

Many international carriers, however, continue full suspensions or major restrictions, with some resuming operations only on Tuesday or later.

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Authorities and airlines have advised travellers not to head to the airport unless they’ve received direct confirmation from their airline about a specific departing flight. This is to help manage crowds, security, and slow processing at terminals as recovery efforts continue.

Full normal operations are not expected to resume immediately and could face further delays depending on the evolving security situation in the region.

Iran’s unprecedented bombardment in the Gulf has targeted not only military bases but also civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, hotels, airports, and seaports.

The attacks have rattled a region long seen as a refuge from Middle Eastern conflict. Since Saturday, airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Manama have been targeted. Authorities in Abu Dhabi reported one fatality in an incident at the airport.

In response to the escalating situation, the UAE announced a temporary and partial closure of its airspace on Saturday as a precautionary measure.

Dubai’s main airport (DXB), the second-busiest worldwide behind Atlanta, plays a pivotal role in the city’s economy, with its air industry contributing about a third of Dubai’s economic output. The ongoing airspace closures have hit this vital sector hard, further complicating the situation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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