UAE airlines and airports started Monday, 12 October 2026, with another round of schedule upheavals after weekend Houthi drone-and-missile strikes forced a partial shutdown of King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh. Etihad Airways confirmed that eight Abu Dhabi–Riyadh rotations (EY551/552, EY555/556, EY559/560) for 11–12 October have been pulled, while warning that ‘the situation remains dynamic’. flydubai, the biggest UAE operator on the route, extended its suspension of Dubai–Riyadh flights until at least 14 October and advised customers to arrange refunds or re-bookings online. Emirates, Air Arabia and several Saudi carriers also scrubbed multiple departures to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha. Operational data compiled by aviation analyst Cirium show that 99 per cent of Sunday’s scheduled departures from RUH did not operate, easing only marginally on Monday. Gulf News reports that Riyadh still accounts for the overwhelming majority of the 362 Saudi cancellations logged on 12 October. UAE airports were largely unaffected air-side, but Dubai International (DXB) and Zayed International (AUH) urged passengers to arrive early and monitor airline apps for real-time updates. For corporate mobility managers the episode underscores the fragility of Gulf air corridors at a time of elevated regional tension. Companies moving staff between UAE and Saudi Arabia are advised to build two-day buffers into itineraries, keep contingency budgets for last-minute hotel stays, and brief employees on airline re-accommodation policies. Travellers transiting the UAE on long-haul itineraries should ensure connecting flights are still operating before they board their first sector. Looking ahead, any escalation of attacks on Gulf aviation infrastructure could trigger wider air-space restrictions under EASA Conflict Zone Bulletins and force costly re-routing of Europe-Asia traffic. Mobility teams should therefore review travel-risk insurance, update traveller tracking systems and re-confirm duty-of-care procedures for staff with imminent trips.
Source: Khaleej Times / Gulf News
