UAE aviation authority’s announcement is the latest sign of the travel sector’s recovery across the Middle East. Published On 3 May 20263 May 2026The United Arab Emirates has lifted all flight restrictions put in place since the start of the United States and Israel’s war on Iran, the country’s civil aviation authority has announced.All air operations have returned to “normal status” in UAE airspace, the General Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement on Saturday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list“Our decision came following a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions, in coordination with the relevant authorities”, the aviation authority said in a post on X, adding that it would continue monitoring the situation.The announcement marks a significant milestone for UAE hubs Dubai, home to the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, and Abu Dhabi, which have been operating under restrictions since late February.The US-Israel war on Iran has caused major disruption to aviation across the Middle East, with Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries forcing the closure of large portions of the region’s airspace.As well as dealing a blow to a region that is striving to lessen it economic dependence on fossil fuels, the upheaval has restricted the number of routes available to air carriers operating long-haul flights between Europe and Asia.At least eight states announced full or partial airspace closures, including the UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.UAE carriers Emirates and flydubai temporarily halted all operations, while Etihad suspended all departures from Abu Dhabi.More than 11,000 flights in and out of the region were cancelled in the opening days of the conflict, according to aviation data firm Cirium. Advertisement The UAE declared a “temporary and partial” closure of its airspace at the beginning of the conflict in late February, before announcing a gradual reopening in March.Dur …
