Home » Airline News In Middle East » Middle East Hit by Travel Disruption as UAE, Iran and Iraq Face 20 Cancellations with over 300 Delays in Dubai, Tehran, Erbil and more by FitsAir, Emirates and others, New Update
Published on
November 29, 2025
Travelers faced disruption across the Middle East today. Flight schedules in the UAE, Iran and Iraq all saw significant operational breakdowns. Specifically, five major airports experienced widespread interruption. Dubai and Sharjah in the UAE struggled with delays. Meanwhile, Tehran’s two international airports in Iran dealt with a high number of cancellations. Erbil, located in Iraq, also reported several grounded flights. In total, 20 flights were cancelled and over 300 were delayed. This widespread incident immediately impacted hundreds of passengers. Airlines like Emirates and Mahan Air found themselves struggling to manage the backlog. Consequently, passengers must immediately verify their flight status. This situation underscores the fragile nature of air travel across the region.
The disruption was broadly distributed across five international airports, though the severity of the impact varied significantly between the hubs in the Middle East.
Dubai International: This major UAE hub bore the vast majority of the delay burden. Five total cancellations were recorded, but the most severe impact was the staggering figure of 256 delays, representing a major bottleneck for the region’s busiest international gateway.Sharjah International : The second UAE airport listed saw two cancellations and 55 delays. This number of delays suggests that the broader operational issues were not confined to Dubai alone but were affecting the greater UAE aviation landscape.Imam Khomeini International, Tehran: Operations in Iran were severely impacted by cancellations. This airport, serving the capital, recorded the highest number of cancellations at six, alongside 20 delays.Mehrabad International, Tehran: Also located in Iran, this airport reported five cancellations and three delays, further highlighting the significant effect of cancellations on the country’s flight schedules.Erbil International: In Iraq, two cancellations and two delays were registered. Although the lowest figures overall, these disruptions still represent a complete suspension and delayed arrival for specific scheduled services into Iraq.
Five different carriers were officially named as being affected by these widespread flight irregularities across the Middle East. The nature of the disruption differed greatly among the airlines:
Emirates: The flagship carrier of the UAE was disproportionately affected by delays, logging one cancellation but a massive 75 delays at Dubai Int’l.Mahan Air: This Iran-based carrier faced the most significant challenge regarding cancellations, with a total of 13 cancelled flights distributed across three different airports: two at Dubai Int’l, six at Imam Khomeini Int’l and five at Mehrabad Int’l. Additionally, three delays were noted across its affected flights.FitsAir: Two cancellations were attributed to the airline at Dubai Int’l, with no recorded delays.Pakistan International Airlines: This carrier was impacted at Sharjah Int’l, reporting two cancellations and two delays.Pegasus Airlines: The airline recorded two cancellations and one delay at Erbil Int’l in Iraq.
Beyond these specific figures, delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like FlyDubai, Iran National Airlines and more.
The operational pressure on these airlines, particularly those with services connecting the UAE, Iran and Iraq, is clearly indicated by the reported figures.
Such widespread aviation disruption is known to have a probable, albeit unquantifiable, ripple effect on the local tourism and business sectors of the affected cities.
Dubai, a major global hub for tourism and business in the Middle East, could experience a notable strain. The 256 reported delays at Dubai Int’l, while not outright cancellations, mean a significant number of visitor arrivals were postponed. This can lead to missed hotel check-ins, delayed business meetings and lost revenue for the hospitality and travel industries in the UAE. The high volume of disruptions may also challenge the airport’s reputation for efficiency.
In Tehran, Iran, the high number of cancellations reported at both Imam Khomeini Int’l and Mehrabad Int’l directly interrupts the flow of international and regional visitors. For tourists and business travelers relying on timely air access into the country, this creates considerable uncertainty, challenging local economies that are dependent on air traffic for commerce and tourism. Similar, though less voluminous, effects are anticipated for Erbil, Iraq. The operational instability across the entire Middle East region, as highlighted by these figures, presents a complex picture for travel planning.
For travelers whose journeys have been impacted by these significant flight disruptions across the Middle East, certain immediate steps are advised:
Flight Status Verification: Passengers are strongly urged to verify the status of their specific flight directly through the website or application of the operating airline before traveling to any of the affected airports in the UAE, Iran or Iraq.Contact Airline or Travel Agent: In cases of a cancellation, passengers should immediately contact their airline, or the travel agent through whom the ticket was purchased, to discuss rebooking options or eligibility for a refund.Documentation Retention: All communication from the airline, including delay or cancellation notices, should be saved, as this documentation may be required for compensation claims or travel insurance purposes.Alternative Route Consideration: If urgent travel is required, alternative routes or modes of transport may need to be explored, particularly for travel between cities in the Middle East.
The current situation requires patience and proactivity from all passengers traveling through the UAE, Iran, Iraq and other connecting hubs.
-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.
