UAE-based carriers have rolled over a fresh round of schedule cuts to neighbouring Gulf capitals after operational and security risks once again spiked along regional air corridors. On Monday, 27 July 2026, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia all issued customer alerts confirming the suspension of select services to Kuwait International Airport (KWI), Bahrain International Airport (BAH) and Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Airport in Dammam (DMM). Flydubai continues to operate a skeleton timetable but has warned that further ad-hoc cancellations remain possible. The latest moves follow week-long disruptions triggered by renewed cross-border drone activity and warnings from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which has extended its conflict-zone bulletin for Gulf overflights until 31 August. Operationally, the withdrawals are narrowly focused: Emirates has pulled flights EK 835/837/839 to Bahrain and EK 853/855/857/859 to Kuwait “until further notice”, while EK 821 to Dammam and EK 905 to Amman were dropped on a rolling basis earlier this week. Etihad has grounded all Abu Dhabi-Bahrain frequencies and flights EY 653/654 on the Kuwait route, in addition to the AUH-DMM pairing. Air Arabia has cancelled multiple Sharjah rotations (G9 9107, 9068, 9124, 9160 and others) covering Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and Dammam. Travel-management companies say the biggest headaches are mounting for regional commuters and offshore project teams whose itineraries rely on the highly integrated point-to-point network normally offered by Gulf carriers. Re-accommodation options exist — Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air and Saudia continue to operate limited services — but corporate travel managers are being urged to trigger contingency routings through Muscat, Riyadh or Jeddah. Shippers are also feeling the pinch: Bahrain and Kuwait represent two of Dubai International’s top ten belly-hold cargo lanes, and exporters have begun to divert high-value pharmaceuticals through alternative hubs. For UAE-based multinationals the message is to remain agile. Aviation security consultants point out that the UAE’s three major airports are functioning normally and over-flight corridors above the Emirates and Oman remain open, but carriers are dynamically rerouting around the Strait of Hormuz and parts of Iraqi and Iranian airspace, adding block-time and fuelling costs. Travellers are being advised to keep mobile numbers updated with airlines and to allow extra transit time as last-minute gate changes become more common. Although no timeline has been given for a full restoration of services, airline sources tell Khaleej Times that they expect a phased return during August, conditional on further de-escalation between Washington and Tehran. Until then, companies with cross-Gulf mobility needs should monitor GCAA Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), carrier websites and travel-risk advisories, and consider virtual alternatives for non-essential meetings.
Source: Khaleej Times
