The United Arab Emirates announced it will cover the accommodation and meals for more than 20,000 passengers stranded in the country due to ongoing airspace closures affecting Gulf aviation. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said the state will “bear all hosting and accommodation costs for affected and stranded passengers” until normal operations resume.
A circular issued to hotels by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) instructed establishments to extend stays for guests whose flights cannot depart due to circumstances beyond their control. “The cost of the extended stay will be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi,” the notice said. The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) also contacted hotels to offer the same conditions for extended stays, asking establishments to report to authorities if passengers cannot cover the additional costs.
Flight disruptions across the UAE have affected operations at major hubs. Dubai Airports suspended flights at both Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) until further notice. A concourse at DXB sustained damage on 1 March, injuring four staff members. Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport also halted flights after debris from an intercepted drone strike caused one death and seven injuries.
Airlines have provided timelines for resuming operations. Etihad Airways announced its flights will remain suspended until 2:00 pm local time (11:00 am CET) on Tuesday, while Emirates extended its halt until 3:00 pm local time (12:00 pm CET) on the same day. Airports in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah remain closed, with no set reopening time.
Other Gulf countries have faced similar disruptions. Hamad International Airport in Qatar suspended all flight operations, with Qatar Airways advising passengers not to travel to the airport. The airline plans to provide a further update by 3 March at 9:00 am local time (7:00 am CET). Kuwait closed its airspace after Terminal One of Kuwait International Airport was struck by a drone on 28 February, injuring nine staff members. Damage assessments are underway to restore operations as quickly as possible.
Oman Air has cancelled flights to and from Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, and Kuwait for 2 March, while other services may operate with delays. Saudia also cancelled flights to and from Amman, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Moscow, and Peshawar until 11:59 pm local time (9:59 pm CET) on 2 March.
Authorities and airlines have urged passengers to monitor official channels for updates before traveling. The unprecedented regional disruptions follow a series of drone and missile incidents that have prompted precautionary closures to protect passengers and airport personnel. The UAE’s move to cover the costs of stranded travelers aims to ease the burden on those affected while flight operations remain suspended.
