Travellers heading to Saudi Arabia and destinations across the Middle East are once again having to rethink their plans as airlines adjust schedules in response to changing regional conditions. Flight operations involving major hubs such as Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah remain subject to changes, with some carriers extending cancellations and others modifying their services. For passengers, this means checking the latest flight information has become an essential step before setting out for the airport.
The continuing Middle East flight disruption is producing different outcomes across the region’s aviation network. Some airlines have started bringing services back, while others have delayed their planned resumptions into August, September or October. These developments underline how quickly UAE flight schedules, Saudi Arabia flights and international connections can be revised when operating conditions change.
Airlines continue to adjust Middle East flight schedules
Airlines are not following a single timetable for restoring their Middle East services. Each carrier is making decisions based on its own routes, fleet requirements and assessment of current airspace conditions. As a result, passengers travelling on similar routes can face very different schedules depending on which airline they have booked.
For travellers, this changing situation makes the airline’s latest notification more important than an earlier published timetable. While selected routes are gradually returning to operation, other carriers continue to reroute or avoid certain airspace corridors. Anyone with an upcoming Middle East flight should therefore verify the status of their specific booking directly with the airline before leaving for the airport.
For travellers connecting through major aviation hubs such as Dubai International Airport, Riyadh and Dammam, the uncertainty can have consequences beyond a single cancelled flight. Changes to one route may affect connecting services, onward journeys and accommodation arrangements.
Emirates flights to Bahrain and Kuwait remain suspended
Emirates continues to suspend flights between Dubai and Bahrain, as well as Dubai and Kuwait. The airline had previously indicated that the suspension would continue until at least August 6, but no Emirates-operated services to either destination were listed through August 11 at the time of the latest update.
Before the disruption, Emirates operated three daily flights between Dubai and Bahrain and four daily services between Dubai and Kuwait. The continued suspension therefore represents a significant reduction in connectivity between Dubai and the two Gulf destinations.
Passengers travelling on codeshare services are also being reminded to check the operating airline, as Emirates’ online schedule does not necessarily display services operated by partner carriers.
Air Canada extends Dubai suspension into 2027
Air Canada has taken a longer-term approach, extending its suspension of flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv until mid-January 2027.
The Canadian carrier has advised affected passengers to contact the airline regarding rebooking and refund options. It has also urged travellers in affected areas not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed flight that is scheduled to operate.
The extended timeline underlines the uncertainty facing some long-haul international routes connecting the Middle East with North America and other global markets.
KLM suspends Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam flights
KLM has suspended flights to and from Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam until September 6 while continuing to avoid airspace over Iran, Iraq and Israel, as well as parts of the Arabian Gulf.
The airline said it has not yet been able to restore its normal Middle East schedule and that individual flights may be cancelled or adjusted according to operational conditions. Passengers affected by cancellations can rebook for a later date or request a refund, depending on their ticket conditions.
For travellers using Amsterdam as a European gateway to the Gulf, the changes could affect both direct journeys and connecting itineraries.
Air France and Singapore Airlines revise schedules
Air France has suspended flights to Riyadh until August 14, while services to Dubai and Beirut remain suspended until August 18. The airline said the timing of any resumption will depend on an assessment of the local security situation, which remains subject to rapid change.
Singapore Airlines has also extended its Dubai suspension until October 24, after services that had been expected to resume earlier in August were pushed back. The airline said passengers affected by cancellations would be offered alternative flights or a refund for the unused portion of their tickets.
Its low-cost subsidiary Scoot has separately suspended flights between Singapore and Jeddah until September 12. Customers can request a refund or rebook on alternative Scoot services, according to the airline.
Turkish Airlines resumes selected Middle East routes
Not all airlines are moving in the same direction. Turkish Airlines has resumed flights to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Damascus, Beirut and Amman, representing a gradual restoration of services on several Middle East routes.
However, flights to Iran remain suspended, and the airline has warned passengers that additional cancellations could occur as it continues to monitor regional airspace conditions in real time.
The contrasting decisions among airlines demonstrate how fluid the regional aviation situation remains. A route that has resumed can still be subject to changes if operating conditions deteriorate.
British Airways delays wider Middle East return
British Airways has delayed its planned return to several Middle East markets. Flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman remain suspended until October 25 under the revised schedule.
The airline is also reducing frequencies on selected routes. Services to Doha have been reduced to once daily from August 1, while flights to Riyadh have been cut from two daily services to one from August 8.
British Airways has also permanently suspended its flights to Jeddah, making the route change one of the more significant long-term adjustments among international carriers responding to the regional situation.
Air Astana and Finnair extend suspensions
Kazakhstan’s Air Astana has suspended flights between Almaty, Astana and Dubai until August 31, citing the deteriorating situation around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region.
Passengers affected by the suspension can receive a full refund, rebook for a later date or move to another international destination served by the airline, subject to the applicable conditions.
Finnair has extended its Helsinki-Dubai suspension until October 24. Its Doha flights will remain suspended through the winter season, with the airline citing commercial reasons. Customers holding bookings between October 3 and March 27, 2027, are expected to be rerouted, mainly through Qatar Airways-operated services.
Cathay Pacific extends Dubai and Riyadh suspensions
Cathay Pacific has also pushed back the resumption of services to the Gulf. Flights to and from Dubai are suspended until October 25, while flights to and from Riyadh remain suspended until October 26.
The Hong Kong-based airline said affected passengers would have options to rebook, reroute or request a refund. It will continue monitoring developments before deciding when services can return to their previous schedules.
The extended dates are particularly important for passengers planning autumn travel between Asia and the Middle East, as Dubai and Riyadh are important connecting points for business and leisure travellers.
Lufthansa Group keeps several Gulf routes on hold
Lufthansa Group airlines are also maintaining restrictions on several Middle East routes.
Lufthansa and SWISS flights to Dubai remain suspended until September 13, while Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines services to destinations including Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dammam, Amman, Beirut, Muscat, Erbil and Tehran are on hold until October 24.
At the same time, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SWISS have resumed services to Tel Aviv, demonstrating the selective nature of the group’s approach to restoring regional operations.
ITA Airways suspends Riyadh flights
ITA Airways has suspended flights to Riyadh until September 15, while its Dubai services remain suspended until October 24.
Passengers affected by the cancellations can request rebooking on alternative flights or a refund of their tickets, according to the airline.
For travellers planning trips between Italy and Saudi Arabia or the UAE, these changes mean alternative routing may need to be considered, particularly where fixed travel dates are involved.
IndiGo warns passengers travelling through the Gulf
Indian travellers are also being advised to remain alert to potential schedule changes.
IndiGo, which operates multiple routes connecting Indian cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru with destinations across the Gulf, has warned passengers that flight schedules could change because of the evolving situation.
The airline is advising customers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
This is particularly relevant for passengers travelling between India and Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha and other Middle East destinations, where connecting flights may also be affected by changes to international schedules.
What Middle East travellers should do now?
For passengers with upcoming flights to the UAE, Saudi Arabia or other affected Middle East destinations, flexibility remains essential. Airline schedules are being updated as operating conditions change, meaning information available when a ticket was booked may no longer reflect the latest situation.
Travellers should check their airline’s official website or app before leaving for the airport and confirm whether their specific flight is operating. Passengers with connecting itineraries should also verify every segment of their journey rather than checking only the first flight.
Those facing cancellations should review the options offered by their airline, which may include rebooking, rerouting or refunds, depending on the carrier and fare conditions.
Middle East aviation remains in a state of flux
The latest airline updates show that the region’s aviation network is gradually changing rather than returning to a single, predictable operating pattern. Some destinations are seeing services restored, while others remain cut off from major international networks for weeks or months.
For travellers, that means patience and regular monitoring are more important than relying on an earlier timetable. The status of a Dubai, Riyadh or Dammam flight can change as airlines reassess airspace, operational and security conditions.
As airlines continue to balance passenger demand with operational and safety considerations, the Middle East flight disruption is likely to remain an important factor for anyone planning travel through the Gulf. For now, the safest approach for passengers is simple: check the latest airline notification, confirm the status of every flight segment and allow extra flexibility when making travel arrangements.
