Passengers warned to expect Gulf flight disruptions as US–Iran clashes widen

Condé Nast Traveller Middle East has published an in-depth briefing (24 July 2026) on the growing wave of airline schedule changes affecting Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf hubs. The article notes that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin recommending carriers avoid UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar airspace until at least 29 July. Major UAE carriers remain operational but have trimmed Kuwait and Bahrain frequencies, while several European and Asian airlines—Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific among them—have suspended Dubai services until the autumn. Travellers are urged to check flight status even after check-in and to arrive at Dubai International three hours before departure. For corporate mobility teams, the immediate concern is itinerary integrity. Longer routings via Red Sea or Saudi corridors are extending block times and eroding crew-duty windows, leading to cascading delays. Employers should confirm that travel insurance covers conflict-zone disruptions, including unexpected overnights and rerouting costs. The article also underscores a secondary effect: reduced capacity is pushing up premium-cabin fares just as the UAE’s peak expatriate-exit season gets under way. Companies may need to budget for higher ticket prices or authorise downgrades where policy allows.