Gulf tensions force UAE airlines to cancel Saudi routes and warn passengers of last-minute delays

UAE travellers woke on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, to a fresh round of schedule changes as the regional security crisis deepened. Overnight missile and drone attacks on Riyadh—claimed by Houthi rebels and condemned by the Saudi-led coalition—prompted authorities to keep King Khalid International Airport closed. Etihad, Emirates and flydubai immediately suspended all services to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam until at least 24 October, while Indian carriers Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo pulled their Saudi flights from Dubai’s departure boards. Within the UAE, knock-on effects rippled across the hubs. Etihad pushed back departures from Abu Dhabi to Colombo and New York by up to two hours to keep crew within flight-time limitations, and Dubai International (DXB) reported delays on SpiceJet’s Kochi service and IndiGo’s Chandigarh flight. Aviation analysts said the sudden groundings would strand an estimated 18,000 passengers this week and tighten already scarce holiday-season capacity on the India–Gulf corridor. Airlines advised business travellers to reconfirm itineraries before heading to the airport and to allow extra time for security screening, as Emirates activated contingency measures that include re-routing crews through Bahrain and hiring additional ground-handling staff at DXB. Corporate mobility managers were urged to monitor insurance coverage, because many policies exclude disruption caused by acts of war. Beyond aviation, the Strait of Hormuz saw two tankers damaged by naval mines claimed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, pushing Brent crude above US $111 and prompting freight forwarders to re-assess routing of high-value shipments. The UK raised its travel advice for the wider Gulf, warning of possible airspace closure with limited notice. For companies moving staff in or out of the Emirates this week, contingency planning is now critical: build 48-hour buffers into travel schedules, reconfirm connecting flights beyond the Gulf, and ensure employees are registered with their embassy alert systems. The UAE’s airports remain open and fully staffed, but authorities caution that further timetable changes are likely until regional tensions cool.