Operations at Dubai International Airport were disrupted early Friday as unstable weather conditions rippled through flight schedules, affecting both departures and arrivals at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
Airlines operating at DXB adjusted timetables after forecasts warned of heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong winds, and possible fog stretching from December 18 into midday December 19. Passengers were advised to track flight updates closely and allow extra time at the airport as conditions evolved.
Several international carriers were caught in a wave of disruptions, with delays and cancellations reported across Emirates, flydubai, Turkish Airlines, Saudia, Kuwait Airways, and Qatar Airways. The disruptions resulted in missed connections, congested terminals, and stranded travelers, according to Travel and Tour World.
Flight data checked on the DXB website early December 19 showed multiple affected services, including flights operated by flynas, Royal Jordanian, flydubai, and Emirates. Some services were rescheduled, with Emirates flights EK 191 to Lisbon and EK035 to Newcastle assigned revised departure times, while other flights continued to operate on schedule, Dubai Airports indicated.
Emirates and flydubai, which account for a significant share of DXB traffic, advised departing passengers to arrive as much as four hours ahead of scheduled departure times to manage possible delays. Other airlines, including IndiGo, also cautioned travelers about potential disruptions on routes to and from the UAE.
On social media platform X, passengers shared accounts of extended queues at transfer desks, repeated delay notifications, and difficulties with ground handling during the weather disturbance.
Kuwait Airways confirmed the cancellation of two flights bound for Dubai as conditions remained unstable.
