Flight cancellations continue at airports in Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere as Iran war escalates

Airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Flydubai are scrambling to communicate guidance to passengers during the crisis. Here’s the latest.

FlyDubai planes at Dubai International Airport on March 2, 2026. [Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images]

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran this weekend, airlines around the region and world have canceled thousands of flights amid continued conflict in the Middle East.

Temporary regional airspace closures have led to airspace restrictions, forcing airlines to cancel flights and stranding countless passengers.

As of Monday, March 2, 2026, airspace across many parts of the Middle East remained partially or fully closed. According to FlightRadar24, the following airspace regions remain partially or fully closed today: 

United Arab Emirates (OMAE) airspace remains heavily restricted. A limited number of commercial flights were temporarily allowed to depart from Abu Dhabi (AUH) today. 

Major travel disruptions are ongoing 

According to FlightAware, which tracks flight delays, disruptions, and cancellations, 3,229 flights were canceled worldwide yesterday.

The airport with the most cancellations was Dubai International Airport (DXB), followed by Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha. 

Dubai-based Emirates had the most flight cancellations, followed by Qatar Airways and low-cost carrier Flydubai. Flight cancellations continue today. As of 9:00 a.m. ET, 2,357 flights have been canceled. Five hundred of them are Emirates flights. 

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