Gulf carriers based in the United Arab Emirates widened flight cancellations to Saudi Arabia on Friday, 16 October 2026, after authorities kept Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport closed for a second day following Houthi missile strikes earlier in the week. An updated list compiled by Gulf Business shows Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia collectively cancelling more than 60 rotations to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam through at least 18 October. Emirates has waived re-booking fees and is offering full refunds for affected passengers, while flydubai is providing vouchers valid for 12 months. Air Arabia re-routed some Sharjah-origin flights to Medina but warned that schedules could change at short notice. The shutdown hits a lucrative travel corridor that normally carries thousands of business travellers and Umrah pilgrims each week. ForwardKeys data indicate UAE-Saudi seat capacity had only last month recovered to 92 % of pre-pandemic levels. Hotels in Dubai that cater to Saudi weekenders are bracing for a spike in late cancellations. For corporate mobility teams, the priority is rerouting executives through Kuwait City or Manama, though capacity on those sectors is tightening. Freight forwarders shipping time-sensitive components for NEOM and other Saudi giga-projects are switching to land transport via the Ghuwaifat border crossing, adding 24 hours to delivery times. Saudi authorities say investigations and runway repairs are ongoing. UAE airlines have asked travellers to check status updates every four hours and reconfirm onward connections before heading to the airport.
Source: Gulf Business
