Dubai’s aviation network came to a standstill on 28 February 2026 after authorities suspended all operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) amid escalating regional tensions and missile activity over Gulf airspace.
Dubai Airports confirmed in an official statement that all flight operations at both airports have been suspended until further notice. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and to contact their respective airlines for updates.
DXB is the world’s busiest international airport, handling around 90mn (million) passengers annually. Its sudden closure has sent shockwaves through the global aviation network, disrupting hundreds of routes connecting Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
According to airport authorities, more than 280 flights were cancelled and another 250 delayed within hours of the shutdown.
Major global carriers announced suspensions and disruptions:
- Emirates temporarily suspended operations to and from Dubai, citing multiple regional airspace closures.
- Qatar Airways halted flights after Qatari airspace was closed.
- Etihad Airways was grounded.
- Air India suspended all flights to Middle East destinations indefinitely.
- Turkish Airlines suspended services to Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, Qatar and the UAE until at least 2nd March.
- Lufthansa suspended Dubai operations.
- Air France halted flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut.
- Wizz Air suspended flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman until 7th March.
Several other airlines, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Japan Airlines, reported significant disruptions, with aircraft either grounded or rerouted.
The closure of Dubai’s airports represents more than a regional disruption. DXB is the largest connecting hub between Asia, Europe and Africa. Long-haul routes such as Mumbai–London, Singapore–Frankfurt and Nairobi–New York frequently transit Gulf airspace.
With Iranian ballistic missiles reportedly crossing civilian air corridors, airlines are being forced to reroute aircraft thousands of miles around restricted zones, increasing fuel burn and operational costs.
IndiGo has suspended flights to Almaty, Baku, Tashkent and Tbilisi until March 28, cutting off Central Asian connectivity for nearly a month.
Rerouted flights are consuming significantly more fuel at a time when oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel, driven by fears of instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit chokepoint.
Each additional hour of Gulf airspace closure compounds losses for airlines already operating on tight margins.
Dubai’s economy is deeply tied to aviation connectivity. Tourism, logistics, finance and trade all rely heavily on uninterrupted global access through DXB.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has described the missile activity as an act of aggression on its sovereign territory. Reports indicate a civilian was killed in Abu Dhabi due to falling missile debris.
For a country that has positioned itself as a safe, neutral and globally connected hub, the airspace disruption marks an unprecedented challenge.
In response to the evolving situation, India’s ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) convened a high-level review meeting with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), airline operators and major airport authorities.
Airlines have been directed to continuously monitor NOTAMs and international advisories, reroute or divert flights as required and strictly adhere to global safety protocols.
Major Indian airports have been placed on operational alert to handle potential diversions and unscheduled landings. Authorities are coordinating ground handling, parking bays, crew logistics and passenger facilitation.
The Ministry is also in touch with the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to address any emergent issues involving Indian carriers or nationals abroad.
Passengers have been advised to remain in close contact with their airlines for updates on delays, cancellations or rerouting.
Dubai Airports says further updates will be issued as the situation develops. For now, one of the most critical nodes in the global aviation system remains offline.
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