Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest aviation hub, has temporarily suspended all flights following a major escalation in the Middle East after a “major combat operation” against Iran was confirmed by Donald Trump. The move comes as Iran and Iraq closed their airspace, triggering widespread disruptions across the region.
Dubai International Airport’s main carrier, Emirates, suspended all operations to and from Dubai until 3pm UAE time on Sunday, 1 March, advising passengers to rebook or request refunds and to check flight status before heading to the airport. All other airlines operating at Dubai are also affected, with several aircraft diverting or returning to their points of origin.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has halted all flights to and from Doha following the closure of Qatari airspace. The airline confirmed additional ground staff have been deployed at Hamad International Airport to assist stranded passengers, warning that delays will continue even after operations resume.
The closures have impacted thousands of passengers worldwide, including travellers from Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australasia. Several inbound flights to the Gulf were diverted to cities such as Muscat, Cairo, Athens, and other regional airports, underscoring the scale of disruption across global air travel.
Source: The Independent
