By: Sunday Ameh
The United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced the commencement of exceptional flight operations across airports in the country to facilitate the departure of passengers stranded due to recent regional tensions.
The development follows the temporary closure of UAE airspace after Iran launched reprisal missile attacks on United States military bases across the Middle East, prompting widespread disruption of air travel.
Airlines, including Qatar Airways, suspended flights to several destinations in the region, while major aviation hubs such as Dubai Airports halted operations temporarily. Several international carriers also announced short-term suspensions to and from the Middle East.
In a statement issued on Monday, the GCAA said the exceptional flights would operate in accordance with schedules to be communicated directly by airlines to affected passengers.
The authority urged travellers whose flights were impacted not to proceed to airports until they receive confirmation from their respective airlines in order to avoid congestion and ensure smooth processing.
Dubai Airports later confirmed a limited resumption of operations from Monday evening, stating that a small number of flights would operate from Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
Similarly, Abu Dhabi Airports announced a partial resumption of activities at Zayed International Airport (AUH) in coordination with relevant authorities and airline partners.
Passengers travelling through Abu Dhabi were advised to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.
Meanwhile, Emirates said it would operate a limited number of flights from Monday evening, prioritising customers with earlier bookings. The airline noted that rebooked passengers would be contacted directly and warned against travelling to the airport without confirmation.
flydubai also announced plans to operate a limited number of evening flights.
The partial reopening of UAE airports comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with aviation authorities closely monitoring the situation to ensure passenger safety and operational stability.
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