Airports across the United Arab Emirates were operating normally on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, despite the continuing US-Iran confrontation that has kept large swathes of regional airspace under threat. Dubai International (DXB), Al Maktoum (DWC) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International (AUH) all reported healthy passenger throughput, yet airlines are having to thread aircraft through a shrinking patchwork of safe corridors. Gulf carriers have opted for longer routings rather than cancellations. Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia are keeping most scheduled services in the air, but flight times on Europe-to-Asia sectors have lengthened by 60-120 minutes. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority continues to bar Iranian carriers from the country, and routes to Tel Aviv, Abha and parts of Iraq remain suspended. Foreign airlines including Air France, KLM, SWISS and ITA Airways have prolonged their Dubai suspensions until at least 24 October, while Wizz Air has pushed the relaunch of several Abu Dhabi routes to January 2027. Although the skies are more crowded, capacity into the UAE is set to improve: Lufthansa will restore Munich and Frankfurt flights on 25 October, SWISS will return to Zurich two days later and Eurowings will add three German cities from 1 November. Cargo flows through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab are also continuing, albeit with higher insurance premiums that feed into freight and ticket prices. Retail fuel in the UAE has risen for a third straight month, mirroring Brent’s climb above $100 and forcing airlines to maintain temporary fuel surcharges. For corporate travel managers the message is clear: double-check itineraries, build in extra buffer time and stay close to official airline channels. The absence of domestic security alerts means meetings and exhibitions are proceeding as planned, but executives could face longer door-to-door journey times and tighter aircraft rotations. Companies with supply-chain exposure to the Gulf should review shipping schedules and insurance coverage in case of a sudden escalation. Practical tips for travellers include arriving at DXB or AUH at least four hours before departure, completing online check-in wherever possible and watching for last-minute gate changes. Multinational employers are advising staff to register with their home-country consulates and to download airline apps for live notifications. The current situation underlines the UAE’s resilience as a hub, yet also highlights the fragility of regional connectivity when geopolitical risks flare.
Source: Gulf News
