This is a critical update for all travelers. The aviation landscape in the Middle East has shifted rapidly today, March 01, 2026, following the escalation of conflict between Iran, the USA, and Israel.
Middle East Flight Schedule – Airspace Closures & Flight Status (Feb – March 2026)
Situation: Active Conflict (Iran, USA, Israel)
The Middle East is currently experiencing unprecedented aviation disruptions. Due to ongoing military operations involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, multiple national airspaces have been closed, and flight operations at major hubs like Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), and Islamabad (ISB) are severely interrupted.
Flights from Dubai (DXB/DWC)
To Pakistan, Gulf, and Major International Hubs
| Airline Name | Destinations | Current Status |
| Emirates | Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Sialkot, Peshawar | Cancelled |
| flydubai | Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad | Cancelled |
| Pakistan International (PIA) | Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar | Cancelled |
| Airblue | Islamabad, Lahore | Cancelled |
| Air Sial | Islamabad, Lahore | Cancelled |
| Qatar Airways | Doha (DOH) | Cancelled |
| Gulf Air | Bahrain (BAH) | Cancelled |
| Oman Air / SalamAir | Muscat (MCT) | Cancelled |
| Saudia / flyadeal | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam | Cancelled |
| Lufthansa / Air France | Frankfurt, Paris (Europe) | Cancelled |
2. Flights from Qatar (DOH)
To Pakistan and Gulf Countries
| Airline Name | Destinations | Current Status |
| Qatar Airways | Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar | Cancelled |
| Pakistan International (PIA) | Islamabad, Lahore | Cancelled |
| Emirates | Dubai (DXB) | Cancelled |
| Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Cancelled |
| flydubai | Dubai (DXB) | Cancelled |
| Gulf Air | Bahrain (BAH) | Cancelled |
| Oman Air | Muscat (MCT) | Cancelled |
| Saudia | Riyadh, Jeddah | Cancelled |
3. Flights from Bahrain (BAH)
To Pakistan and Regional Hubs
| Airline Name | Destinations | Current Status |
| Gulf Air | Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar | Cancelled |
| Pakistan International (PIA) | Lahore, Islamabad | Cancelled |
| Emirates / flydubai | Dubai (DXB) | Cancelled |
| Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Cancelled |
| Qatar Airways | Doha (DOH) | Cancelled |
| Saudia | Riyadh, Jeddah | Cancelled |
4. Flights from Oman (MCT)
To Pakistan and Gulf Countries
| Airline Name | Destinations | Current Status |
| Oman Air | Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi | Cancelled |
| SalamAir | Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot, Multan | Cancelled |
| Pakistan International (PIA) | Islamabad, Lahore, Gwadar | Cancelled |
| Airblue | Islamabad, Lahore | Cancelled |
| Emirates / flydubai | Dubai (DXB) | Cancelled |
| Qatar Airways | Doha (DOH) | Cancelled |
5. Flights from Saudi Arabia (RUH/JED/DMM)
To Pakistan and Regional Hubs
| Airline Name | Destinations | Current Status |
| Saudia | Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar | Cancelled |
| flyadeal / Flynas | Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi | Cancelled |
| Pakistan International (PIA) | All Major Pakistan Cities | Cancelled |
| Air India | Delhi, Mumbai (Transit via UAE/KSA) | Cancelled |
| Emirates | Dubai (DXB) | Cancelled |
| Gulf Air | Bahrain (BAH) | Cancelled |
6. Flights from Iraq and Iran
Regional and International Operations
| Airline Name | Destinations | Current Status |
| Iraqi Airways | Dubai, Tehran, Islamabad, Istanbul | Cancelled |
| Iran Air | Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, London | Cancelled |
| Mahan Air | Dubai, Lahore, Moscow | Cancelled |
| Fly Baghdad | Dubai, Beirut | Cancelled |
| Qatar Airways | Tehran, Baghdad, Erbil | Cancelled |
Flights from Israel (Tel Aviv – TLV)
To Dubai, USA, and Regional Hubs
| Airline Name | Destinations | Current Status |
| EL AL Israel Airlines | Dubai, New York (JFK/EWR), Los Angeles, Miami, Boston | Cancelled |
| Emirates | Dubai (DXB) | Cancelled |
| flydubai | Dubai (DXB) | Cancelled |
| Etihad Airways | Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Cancelled |
| United Airlines | Newark (EWR), San Francisco, Washington D.C. | Cancelled / Rerouted |
| Delta Air Lines | New York (JFK), Boston | Cancelled / Rerouted |
| American Airlines | New York (JFK) | Cancelled |
| Gulf Air | Bahrain (BAH) | Cancelled |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt, Munich (Transit to USA) | Cancelled |
| British Airways | London Heathrow (Transit to USA) | Cancelled |
| Virgin Atlantic | London Heathrow (Transit to USA) | Cancelled |
| Wizz Air | Abu Dhabi, Dubai (DWC) | Cancelled |
| Arkia / Israir | Dubai, Eilat (Domestic) | Cancelled |
Current Airspace Status (Live Updates)
As of 10:00 UTC, the following airspaces are fully closed or under emergency restrictions to civilian traffic:
- Iran & Iraq: Closed to all commercial overflights and landings.
- Israel: All civilian aviation suspended.
- Gulf Region: Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar have restricted airspace following regional missile activity.
- United Arab Emirates: Partial and temporary closures are in effect to ensure passenger safety.
Pakistan to UAE: Flight Status
Travel from Pakistan to the UAE is significantly impacted. Many flights are being “Returned to Stand” or diverted back to their origin.
Islamabad (ISB) to Dubai & Abu Dhabi
- Emirates Airline: All flights from Islamabad to Dubai International (DXB) are delayed or cancelled until further notice.
- Etihad Airways: Operations to Abu Dhabi (AUH) are currently suspended.
- Airblue & Air Sial: Domestic and international Gulf-bound flights are facing indefinite delays.
Lahore (LHE) to UAE
- All operations from Lahore to Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been halted. Emirates, Etihad, and FlyDubai have grounded their Lahore fleets pending a security reassessment.
Global Hub & Regional Status
Major airports in the Middle East have moved to emergency protocols.
1. Dubai (DXB) & Abu Dhabi (AUH)
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has suspended a significant portion of its worldwide flight schedule. While some long-haul flights are being rerouted via Africa, most regional departures are cancelled.
2. Doha (DOH) & Bahrain (BAH)
All departures and arrivals at Hamad International Airport (Doha) and Bahrain International Airport are suspended until further notice due to the high risk in the surrounding flight corridors.
3. Saudi Arabia (KSA)
Major hubs including Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah (JED), and Dammam (DMM) have issued a temporary suspension of all international flights.
4. Oman (Muscat)
Muscat International Airport has temporarily closed its runways. No flights are currently departing from Islamabad, Lahore, or Karachi toward Oman.
Major Airline Advisories
| Airline | Status | Impacted Routes |
| Air India | Suspended | All flights to Middle East destinations are halted immediately. |
| Air Arabia | Restricted | Flight 3L441 recently returned to Abu Dhabi after 5.5 hours in the air due to the Iran airspace closure. |
| Turkish Airlines | Cancelled | All regional flights to Iran, Iraq, and Jordan are cancelled through March 2nd. |
Important Advice for Passengers
- Do Not Travel to the Airport: Unless you have received a direct confirmation from your airline that your flight is operating via an alternative route.
- Monitor FlightRadar24: Check the real-time position of your aircraft.
- Refunds & Rebooking: Most airlines (Emirates, Etihad, Air India) are offering full refunds or free date changes due to the Force Majeure situation.
Verification Note: This is a developing situation. We recommend checking the official websites of your respective airports and airlines every 30 minutes for the latest “Notices to Airmen” (NOTAMs).