UAE flights disrupted as Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz; Etihad, Air Arabia cancel Gulf routes

UAE travellers are experiencing ongoing flight disruptions as regional security tensions escalate. Etihad has cancelled Abu Dhabi-Bahrain and Abu Dhabi-Kuwait services, while Air Arabia has cancelled several regional flights. Emirates has yet to confirm some Dubai-Bahrain and Dubai-Kuwait services. Some regional carriers including flydubai, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Oman Air and SalamAir are running limited or maintained services to some Gulf destinations, though schedules remain subject to change.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its conflict-zone advisory until August 31, urging airlines to exercise caution around affected Gulf airspace. Airlines avoiding restricted airspace may add one to three hours to some flight times.

The disruptions follow Iran's refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the US meets its demands, which include ending its naval blockade, withdrawing military forces, paying war damages, dropping sanctions and unfreezing assets. Ship crossings through Hormuz have dropped sharply from 15 to just 6 by Sunday, while an oil tanker ran aground near Oman, spilling oil across roughly 390 square kilometers of coastline.