UAE flights hit by cancellations and delays after Riyadh airport suspension

UAE travellers faced flight disruptions on Sunday, October 11, with cancellations and delays affecting services from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Several flights linking the UAE with Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Abha, were affected, alongside services to other regional and international destinations.

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the attack killed 12 people and injured 309, prompting a temporary suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh while damage and safety checks are carried out. The casualties included Saudi nationals and people from Bangladesh, the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.

flydubai's Tel Aviv services remain affected following the FZ1073 security incident. Emirates has also suspended codeshare operations on these routes until further notice. The UAE has suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country until further notice, preventing carriers such as Iran Airtour from operating to and from Dubai.

At Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways flight EY556 from Riyadh was cancelled, while arrivals from Tel Aviv, Kathmandu, Dammam, Amman and Bangkok were delayed. At Dubai International Airport, cancellations affected services from Saudi Arabia, Europe, India and Central Asia, with several incoming flights delayed into the early hours of Monday, October 12.

Emirates listed cancellations on Dubai to Riyadh services EK815, EK817 and EK819 on October 11 and 12, with return services EK816, EK818 and EK820 also cancelled. Passengers should confirm revised arrival times directly with their airlines, particularly for flights crossing midnight.