By Anietie anii-bassey
A cautious return to air travel began in the United Arab Emirates on Monday as several major international carriers resumed a small number of flights following widespread disruptions caused by escalating hostilities across the Middle East.
The partial reopening offered some relief to thousands of stranded passengers after regional airspace closures and heightened security concerns brought aviation activity to a near standstill over the weekend. The turmoil followed coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, which in turn launched retaliatory attacks targeting locations across the region.
Long-haul operators Etihad Airways and Emirates, alongside budget carrier FlyDubai, confirmed they would operate a limited number of flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Air traffic had been suspended since Saturday after missile and drone threats prompted the activation of defense systems in the Emirates.
Authorities in Dubai urged passengers not to travel to airports unless contacted directly by airlines, warning that operations would remain highly restricted. Data from aviation tracking services indicated that more than 80 percent of scheduled flights to and from Dubai were still canceled, while over half of Abu Dhabi’s services remained grounded.
At least 15 Etihad flights departed Abu Dhabi on Monday, carrying passengers to destinations including Islamabad, Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Cairo and London. These departures were primarily aimed at assisting travelers stranded by the sudden suspension of commercial aviation across the Gulf.
Emirates announced plans to resume select services later in the day, though it remained unclear how quickly operations would return to normal. FlyDubai confirmed it would operate a small number of outbound and inbound flights as part of what it described as a gradual and closely monitored return to service.
The conflict has disrupted one of the world’s most critical aviation crossroads. Key regional hubs such as Dubai International Airport, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, and Hamad International Airport in Doha serve as vital transit points linking Europe, Africa and Asia.
All three were affected by recent Iranian strikes, compounding the disruption for passengers traveling both to and through the region.
As a result, tourists, business travelers and religious pilgrims have found themselves stranded in multiple countries. Some were diverted mid-journey, including passengers aboard flights forced to turn back due to safety concerns.
Qatar Airways confirmed its own services remained suspended, with further updates expected as the security situation evolves. Meanwhile, Jordan announced a partial closure of its airspace, extending the disruption beyond the Gulf.
Governments around the world have urged their citizens to remain in place while emergency evacuation plans are developed. Tens of thousands of Indonesian pilgrims were stranded in Saudi Arabia, where they had traveled to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina for religious observances.
European nations also began organizing assistance for citizens caught in the upheaval. Germany reported that tens of thousands of its nationals were stranded across the region, including aboard cruise ships and in hotels near closed airports. Authorities in Berlin moved to arrange special flights to evacuate vulnerable travelers from locations including Oman.
Similarly, the Czech Republic prepared aircraft to retrieve citizens from Egypt and Jordan, while the United Kingdom signaled readiness to implement evacuation measures if conditions deteriorate further.
The widespread disruption has also rippled through global financial markets, weighing on airline and travel-related stocks as investors assessed the potential for prolonged instability in one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors.
The Gulf’s major cities rely heavily on a constant flow of international passengers and cargo to sustain their economies, a dynamic that has helped transform airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad into global aviation leaders.
Dubai International Airport alone handled more than 95 million passengers last year, cementing its status as the world’s busiest hub for international travel. The ongoing crisis has underscored how quickly geopolitical tensions can disrupt that connectivity, leaving travelers and governments scrambling to adapt in real time.
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