UAE passengers face another day of flight disruptions, with Saudi services among flights affected from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Travellers are advised to check their individual flight status before leaving for the airport.
DUBAI: UAE flight cancellations continue to disrupt travel on October 16, 2026, as airlines suspend services to several Saudi Arabian destinations. Passengers flying from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah face delays, cancellations and last-minute schedule changes.
Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia have reported disruptions affecting routes to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and other Saudi cities.
Saudi Arabia remains the main area of disruption. Nearly half of the country’s scheduled departures were cancelled or not operating on October 15, according to aviation data reported by Gulf News.
Which UAE flights are affected today?
Several major UAE airlines have cancelled or suspended flights to Saudi Arabia.
Etihad Airways has extended cancellations between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 19. Services to Dammam and selected Jeddah flights have also faced disruption.
Emirates has cancelled selected flights from Dubai to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
flydubai has reported cancellations affecting Riyadh, Dammam, Abha and other Saudi destinations.
Air Arabia has also experienced disruption on routes linking Sharjah with several Saudi cities.
Passengers should check individual flight numbers, as cancellations do not necessarily affect every service on the same route.
Why are flights between UAE and Saudi Arabia disrupted?
The latest disruption follows security incidents affecting Saudi Arabia’s aviation network.
Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has faced significant operational restrictions following missile and drone attacks.
Saudi authorities have indicated that the airport will remain closed until October 17 while safety measures continue.
International airlines have adjusted their schedules in response to airport restrictions and regional airspace concerns.
What should passengers do before travelling?
Travellers should confirm their flight status directly with their airline before leaving home.
Passengers can check updates through official airline websites and mobile applications.
Those with cancelled flights should contact their airline or booking agent to discuss alternative travel dates, refunds or rebooking options.
Travellers with connecting journeys should also confirm onward flights.
Airlines continue to monitor regional developments, meaning schedules may change at short notice.
When will normal flight services resume?
Airlines have not announced a single date for the full restoration of affected services.
Some cancellations extend beyond the expected reopening date of Riyadh airport.
Etihad has indicated that its Abu Dhabi-Riyadh suspension will continue until October 19.
Other carriers are reviewing their schedules based on safety assessments and operational conditions.
Passengers should avoid assuming that previously cancelled services have resumed without direct confirmation.
Impact to expect
Continued UAE flight cancellations could affect business travel, tourism and family visits between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Passengers may face longer journeys, rebooking costs and delays. Airlines will need to adjust schedules until airport operations and regional airspace conditions stabilise.
Travellers should continue monitoring official airline updates as UAE flight cancellations remain subject to changing operational and safety conditions.
