Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia Flight Status Today: Dubai Airport and Zayed Airport Running at Reduced Capacity — March 12, 2026

Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport are operating on a heavily restricted basis on Thursday, March 12, 2026 — Day 12 of the Iran war. Emirates is flying at roughly 60 percent of its pre-war schedule, Etihad remains significantly reduced, and Air Arabia has resumed a growing number of daily flights. All passengers are urged not to go to any UAE airport without direct airline confirmation.

Emirates Flight Status Today: 60 Percent of Normal, DXB Open but Restricted

Emirates is currently operating a reduced flight schedule following the partial reopening of regional airspace. Customers can check the flight schedule for upcoming flights and book seats to travel via the Emirates website. Since March 5, the airline has run more than 200 flights daily, compared to more than 500 flights per day before February 28.

Emirates has for the past several days hovered at around 60 percent of its pre-war flight activity levels. An Iranian drone struck the vicinity of Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, injuring four people, causing brief holding patterns but no airport closure.

Do NOT travel to DXB without a confirmed departure notification directly from Emirates. Check real-time status at emirates.com before leaving for the airport.

Etihad Flight Status Today: Abu Dhabi AUH Running at 15 Percent of Normal

Etihad has taken a more cautious approach, running at roughly 15 percent of normal capacity out of Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport.

Etihad is scheduled to operate to and from 25 destinations between March 6 and March 19, subject to operational approvals and possible adjustments depending on regional airspace conditions. The airline urges passengers not to travel to AUH unless they have been contacted directly or hold a confirmed booking on the new schedule. Passengers can check flight status at etihad.com before heading to the airport. Guests on all Etihad flights until March 21 may request a full refund at etihad.com or through their travel agent.

Air Arabia Flight Status Today: 127+ Daily Flights from Sharjah

Air Arabia has bounced back faster than the two flag carriers. Air Arabia said it has begun operating a limited number of flights to and from the UAE, with 109 flights on March 7 and 127 flights on March 8. Passengers can book available flights through the airline's website, mobile app, or travel agents. Customers whose flights were previously cancelled may rebook, provided they have not already used their modification or refund option.

Passengers whose flights remain cancelled will be notified and offered a free date change within 15 days, a full credit voucher, or a full refund to the original form of payment.

Active Airspace Closures Affecting UAE Flights Right Now

As of Thursday, March 12, the following airspace closures are still active and directly affect flights routing through the region:

These closures force flights to use longer southern and eastern corridors, adding 1 to 3 hours to many routes and reducing available slots at DXB and AUH significantly.

Air India Express and International Carriers: What Is Flying Today

Air India is adding 78 additional flights on nine routes totaling 17,660 seats, with additional flights scheduled to operate from March 10 to 18 to Dubai, Ras Al-Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah to provide increased capacity as flights from major Gulf hubs remain limited.

Virgin Atlantic has resumed scheduled Dubai to London Heathrow service. Norwegian has cancelled all Dubai flights through March 12. Cathay Pacific has cancelled all Hong Kong to Dubai flights through March 31. Singapore Airlines has cancelled Dubai flights through March 15. British Airways remains unable to operate from Dubai but is offering extra Muscat to London Heathrow flights as an alternative.

Critical Passenger Guidance for DXB, AUH, and Sharjah Airports

Air operations currently run at 48 flights per hour through designated emergency corridors. The UAE Government is covering accommodation and subsistence costs for affected travellers still stranded at airports. Passengers should only travel to an airport if contacted by their airline with a confirmed departure time.

The single most important rule for any traveller in the UAE right now: check directly with your airline before going to any airport. Conditions are changing by the hour as Iran continues its drone and missile campaign across the Gulf, and flight windows can open and close with very little advance warning.