Air travel in the Gulf is ramping up amid a ceasefire between the US and Iran.
Emirates airline has built operations up to 80 per cent of its pre-war capacity, and Etihad is at about 75 per cent. Although some international carriers have kept flights to the region on hold, many are resuming operations.
Airspace restrictions are also easing, with Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait reopening their airspace after large-scale closures following the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28. On May 2, UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority announced the full resumption of air traffic operations in the country.
British Airways is planning a phased return to the Middle East, with flights to Dubai and Doha set to resume from July 1, with one daily service each.
Dubai operations will gradually increase, with a second daily flight expected from October 16. Services to Riyadh are due to restart earlier, from May 20, while routes to Bahrain and Amman remain suspended until October 25.
Etihad Airways has resumed operations, but is not yet back to full capacity, with schedules continuing to be adjusted as conditions evolve.
Etihad Airways is currently operating a reduced timetable while gradually expanding its network, with services yet to fully return to pre-disruption levels. Passengers are advised to check directly with the airline for the latest updates, as flight schedules remain subject to change.
On April 27, the airline operated 232 flights, which is more than 75 per cent of it's pre-February 28 average of around 300 daily flights.
Emirates is now operating flights to 137 destinations across 72 countries, covering Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, as it continues to rebuild its global network.
The airline said it is monitoring the situation closely and working to offer more flight options and connections in the coming weeks.
Passengers are advised to check their flight status regularly and ensure their contact details are up to date to receive any changes or cancellations before heading to the airport.
Travellers affected by disruptions can rebook on an alternative flight to the same or nearby destination for travel up to June 15, or request a refund depending on their booking conditions.
Flydubai is currently operating flights across its network with a reduced schedule. Flight durations and transit times in Dubai may be longer than usual due to the temporary rerouting of some flight paths, the airline said.
Air Arabia is operating a limited number of flights to and from three airports in the UAE: Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah.
Passengers booked on cancelled flights are eligible for one free date change, a full refund or a full credit voucher within 30 days.
Qatar Airways continues to reinstate its network across the Middle East, announcing the return of passenger flights to Baghdad (BGW), Basra (BSR), and Erbil (EBL) in Iraq, starting on 10 May 2026.
Qatar Airways is continuing to restore its Middle East network, with passenger flights to Baghdad, Basra and Erbil set to resume from May 10.
The airline has already restarted daily services to Dubai and Sharjah, along with routes to Bahrain, Damascus and Kozhikode, improving options for travellers across the region.
Saudia partially resumed flight operations to and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman, operating a limited number of daily services.
The airline said the schedule will include flights between Jeddah and Dubai and between Abu Dhabi and Amman, with return services also operating on the same routes.
Kuwait International Airport has begun a limited resumption of operations, starting with Kuwait Airways flights from April 26. The airline was operating a limited number of flights at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Passengers completed check-in and baggage drop-off procedures at Al Khiran Mall, not Kuwait International Airport, and were then taken by bus to Dammam.
