Selected Flights Delayed at Dubai and Abu Dhabi Airports Amid Regional Tensions

Selected flights at Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport are delayed or cancelled on September 3 amid continuing regional security tensions. Both airports remain open and operational, but travelers should verify their individual flight status before setting out.

What Happened

The disruption is affecting specific services rather than closing either airport. Independent reports list multiple delayed and cancelled flights at Dubai International, including services operated by Air France, Kenya Airways, Emirates and SpiceJet.

At Abu Dhabi, more than a dozen Etihad services have been reported as affected, alongside delays involving Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and IndiGo. Etihad’s official flight-status information also records delays involving flights to and from Abu Dhabi on September 2, as well as a September 1 flight that was subsequently cancelled.

The latest verified information describes an active, selective disruption on September 3. It does not indicate that Dubai International or Zayed International Airport has shut, or that all flights have been suspended.

The situation is developing amid continuing regional security tensions. Airport operations may therefore continue while individual flights are adjusted, delayed or cancelled.

What This Means for Travelers

Travelers with a Dubai or Abu Dhabi itinerary should not assume that an airport’s overall operating status means their own flight will run normally. A terminal can remain open while particular services face delays or cancellations.

The impact may differ by airline, route and departure time. Current reporting identifies affected services across several carriers, but the available information does not establish a complete list of every disrupted flight. Travelers should rely on the latest information for their own booking rather than on general airport conditions.

Passengers connecting through the UAE may also need to check each segment of their journey. A delay on an inbound service can affect a connecting flight even when the onward flight has not yet been listed as cancelled. Those with tight connections or time-sensitive plans should monitor updates closely.

The official Abu Dhabi travel advisory says the airport and flights are operating normally while also telling travelers to check for individual cancellations or delays. This reflects the distinction between normal overall airport operations and disruption affecting selected services.

What Travelers Should Do Now

Check the operating airline’s official flight-status page before leaving for the airport, and check again close to departure. If the airline has sent a notification, compare it with the latest status shown for the booking, as conditions can change while the disruption remains active.

Travelers flying to or from Abu Dhabi should check Etihad, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, IndiGo or the relevant carrier directly, depending on their itinerary. Those using Dubai International should consult their airline as well as the airport’s current information. Where possible, use the booking reference or flight details linked to the reservation rather than relying only on general news updates.

If a flight is delayed or cancelled, contact the airline directly for the available rebooking or travel instructions. Do not assume that a replacement flight will operate on the original schedule, particularly if the journey includes a connection.

Allow additional time for checking in and reaching the correct terminal if the flight is confirmed to operate. Keep essential travel documents, medicines and other necessary items accessible in case the journey takes longer than planned.

If travel is not imminent, continue monitoring official airline and airport updates before making final arrangements. Travelers should also review current guidance from the relevant UAE authorities, especially if their itinerary changes or they are unsure whether to proceed.

Most importantly, do not treat reports of airport operations as confirmation that an individual service is unaffected. The verified disruption concerns selected flights, so the status attached to the specific booking remains the most useful information.

What Is Confirmed

• Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport remain open and operational on September 3, 2026.
• Selected flights at both airports are delayed or cancelled amid continuing regional security tensions.
• Reports identify affected services involving Air France, Kenya Airways, Emirates and SpiceJet at Dubai International.
• More than a dozen Etihad services, along with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and IndiGo flights, are reported as affected at Abu Dhabi.
• Etihad’s official flight-status information records delays on September 2 and a subsequently cancelled flight from September 1.
• The disruption is selective and does not amount to a complete closure of either airport.

Sources

Primary sources

• Flight Status Tracker
• Flight Information
• Flight Status – Departures

Independent reporting

• UAE flights status update: Air France pauses Dubai flights amid regional tensions
• Renewed US-Iran strikes disrupt UAE and Gulf aviation

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