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Missile Strikes Force Holds on Dubai Evacuation Flights as Gulf Airspace Remains Restricted

U.S. officials urged Americans in 14 countries to leave immediately using commercial options.

Overview

  • Incoming repatriation services to the UAE entered holding patterns and diverted after fresh missile and drone launches, pausing a tentative restart of flights.
  • Dubai and Abu Dhabi restricted access to confirmed travelers only and earlier reported casualties at their airports, while Doha’s airspace closure grounded Qatar Airways.
  • Cirium estimated about 13,000 of 32,000 scheduled Middle East flights since Saturday were canceled, with widespread reroutings and delays extending worldwide.
  • Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said nearly 8,000 passengers remained stranded in transit as regional restrictions persisted and openings changed with the security picture.
  • Limited relief operations proceeded where possible, with Emirates, Etihad and Flydubai mounting select services and Indian carriers running special flights from Jeddah, Fujairah and Muscat.