Nearly 30,000 departing flights have been scrubbed across the Middle East since hostilities erupted on February 28 — half of all scheduled departures in the region, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium — yet UAE carriers continue to reach destinations on every inhabited continent.
Airspace restrictions imposed across the UAE and neighboring Gulf states have forced airlines to thin out their timetables, but current listings on carrier websites show the country’s four major airlines collectively serving roughly 150 cities worldwide.
Etihad Airways, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, is maintaining service to more than 40 cities, while Sharjah’s Air Arabia lists upward of 50 destinations spanning India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, and select European points. flydubai is also among the active carriers, operating alongside Dubai’s flagship Emirates, which alone accounts for over 90 destinations — including multiple daily frequencies to London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Karachi.
Foreign carriers are contributing to the recovery picture as well, with airlines from India and Pakistan running limited and irregular services into Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Al Ain. Schedules among these operators remain fluid.
The instability was underscored earlier this week when a drone incident forced a temporary suspension of operations at Dubai International Airport, prompting Emirates, flydubai, and several Asian carriers to reschedule or cancel affected flights. Passengers have been urged by airlines to confirm departure status directly before proceeding to any UAE airport.
