Thousands of holidaymakers have been affected after Emirates suspended all flights in and out of Dubai as Iran launched attacks across the Middle East in response to a massive and ongoing attack against it by the US and Israel
Airlines serving the Middle East cancelled or diverted a large number of flights on Saturday in the wake of US and Israeli airstrikes against on Iran – Emirates have issued an update(Image: Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Thousands of travellers have found themselves stranded after aviation heavyweight Emirates cancelled all services to and from Dubai on Saturday.
The deteriorating situation in Iran and across the Middle East has resulted in a number of regional airspace shutdowns affecting Dubai.
Emirates declared a “red alert” suspension running until at least 3pm local time on Sunday. The airline is “actively monitoring” the critical situation whilst authorities work frantically to handle the developing emergency.
Whilst safety remains the “highest priority,” the decision has triggered widespread travel chaos for passengers caught up in the disruption.
All flights in Dubai International Airport have been suspended until further notice
Carriers operating Middle Eastern routes scrapped or rerouted substantial numbers of flights on Saturday following US and Israeli military strikes on Iran. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air were amongst airlines reducing their Middle East schedules, pointing to safety considerations, reports the Mirror.
Writing on X, an Emirates spokesperson said: “Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, up until 1500hrs UAE time on Sunday, 1 March. If you are booked to travel in the next 72 hours, your options are:
A projectile falls over Dubai on February 28, 2026. AFP correspondents heard a loud explosion in Dubai on February 28 and one of them saw a plume of smoke rising from the city. The explosions came in the wake of wide-ranging Iranian attacks on the Gulf, in retaliation for US and Israel strikes on Iran.(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“Rebook on an alternate flight. You can rebook on another flight to your intended destination up to 10 days from your original date of travel. If you booked your flight with a travel agent, please contact them. If you booked with us directly, contact us.
“Request for refund. You can request for a refund of your ticket by completing the refund form if you booked with us directly. If you booked your flights with a travel agent, please contact them. We urge all customers to check flight status before proceeding to the airport. Customers impacted by flight cancellations must contact their travel agency for rebooking.
An Emirates plane is descending to land at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Mateo, California, United States on February 6, 2026(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
“If booked directly with Emirates, please contact us. Customers are requested to ensure their contact details are correct by visiting http://emirat.es/managebooking to receive updates We are actively monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities. We apologise to customers affected by disruptions for any inconvenience caused. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.”
This latest update follows confirmation from Iran’s state broadcaster that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the early hours of Sunday morning local time, following US and Israeli airstrikes.
Want to see more of the stories you love from the Irish Mirror? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Irish Mirror as a preferred source, simply click here.