Gulf Travel Impated as Dubai, Riyadh and Other Airports Face 53 New Cancelled Flights and 939 Delays

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Due to severe operational issues at Dubai, Riyadh, and other airports, flights throughout the Middle East were severely disrupted today. Travelers were impacted by 939 delays and 53 cancellations at major aircraft hubs. However, due to network interruptions, security concerns, and regional air traffic challenges, airlines continued to manage operations while modifying timetables. The airports in Riyadh also suffered significant effects, although Dubai International Airport recorded the most delays. Passenger wait times were further lengthened by shifting flight itineraries, aircraft rotations, and operational inspections. As a result, before arriving at airports, travelers around the Middle East were warned to keep an eye on airline updates and be ready for any changes.

Gulf Aviation Faces Widespread Flight Disruptions Across Key Hubs

Gulf aviation operations faced significant disruption today as several major airports and airlines reported delays and cancellations affecting passenger journeys across the region. The disruption data showed widespread pressure across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait, with major international hubs experiencing extended waiting times and schedule changes.

Across the reported Gulf airport network, a total of 939 flight delays and 53 cancellations were recorded. The highest operational impact was seen at some of the region’s busiest airports, including Dubai International Airport, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Abu Dhabi International Airport, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Hamad International Airport in Doha.

While cancellations remained limited compared with delays, the high number of delayed flights created challenges for passengers travelling through major Gulf transit hubs. Many travellers rely on these airports for connecting journeys between Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, meaning delays can affect multiple flights throughout the day.

Riyadh, Dubai and Jeddah Airports Record Major Passenger Impact

Dubai International Airport Sees Highest Delays

Dubai International Airport recorded the highest number of delays among the affected airports, with 226 delayed flights and 5 cancellations. As one of the world’s busiest international aviation hubs, disruption at Dubai can affect passengers travelling across multiple continents.

The delay rate at Dubai reflected pressure on flight schedules, with passengers facing longer waiting times for departures and connections.

Saudi Arabian Airports Experience Mixed Disruptions

Saudi Arabia recorded major impacts across several airports. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah reported 117 delays and 8 cancellations, affecting travellers arriving for international connections and regional journeys.

Meanwhile, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh recorded 90 delays and 18 cancellations, making it the airport with the highest number of cancellations in the provided data.

Other Saudi airports also experienced disruptions. Abha Regional Airport reported 27 delays and 7 cancellations, while Gizan Regional Airport recorded no delays but reported 4 cancellations. Najran Domestic Airport also recorded no delays but had 4 cancellations.

Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Doha Face Operational Pressure

In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi International Airport recorded 121 delays and 2 cancellations, showing significant pressure on flight schedules despite a lower cancellation number.

Sharjah International Airport reported 49 delays and 1 cancellation, adding to the wider disruption affecting UAE aviation operations.

In Qatar, Hamad International Airport in Doha recorded 92 delays and 1 cancellation, highlighting continued challenges across major Gulf connecting airports.

Other regional airports also reported disruption. Kuwait International Airport recorded 29 delays and 2 cancellations.

Airline Disruption Analysis Across Gulf Carriers

Airlines operating across the Gulf region also experienced operational challenges.

Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, reported 22 cancellations, representing a 4% cancellation rate. The airline also recorded 61 delays, with an 11% delay rate.

FlyDubai, based in the UAE, recorded 2 cancellations, with a 0% cancellation rate, but experienced the highest number of delays among the listed airlines. The carrier reported 108 delayed flights, representing a 35% delay rate.

Qatar Airways reported 1 cancellation with a 0% cancellation rate. The airline recorded 74 delays, representing an 11% delay rate, affecting passengers using Doha as a regional and international connection point.

Kuwait Airways Corporation reported 1 cancellation, with a 1% cancellation rate, alongside 17 delays and an 18% delay rate.

Mahan Air of Iran recorded 1 cancellation, representing a 5% cancellation rate. The airline also reported 4 delays, with a 21% delay rate.

Countries and Cities Affected by the Gulf Flight Disruptions

The disruption affected several important aviation markets across the Gulf and surrounding regions.

Saudi Arabia experienced impacts across Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan and Najran, with both international and domestic operations affected.

The United Arab Emirates saw disruptions at Dubai and Sharjah, with Dubai recording the largest delay volume among all airports listed.

Qatar’s capital city Doha was affected through delays at Hamad International Airport, while Kuwait City faced disruption through Kuwait International Airport operations.

The airline data also showed impacts across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Iran, affecting both national carriers and regional operators.

What Affected Passengers Should Do Now

Passengers travelling through Gulf airports should take several steps to manage possible disruption.

• Check flight status directly with the airline before leaving for the airport.
• Allow extra time for airport arrival, check-in and security procedures.
• Monitor airline applications and official airport updates for schedule changes.
• Confirm connecting flight timings, especially when travelling through major hubs such as Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah and Doha.
• Contact airlines quickly if flights are cancelled to understand available rebooking options.

Travellers should also keep important travel documents accessible and remain prepared for possible changes to departure times.

Data Verification Notice

The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on  24 September 2026 at 6:06 pm ET USA (25 September 2026, 2:06 am GST).
Primary Source: FlightAware.
Verification Protocol: All statistics have been independently reviewed and cross-checked by our human editorial desk. Timestamped records, data logs and feed snapshots are securely archived internally to support historical accuracy and editorial transparency.
Note: Real-time flight-tracking figures reflect active airspace and operational data. Minor variations may occur when compared with information displayed at individual airport terminals or airline departure gates.

Click here to read our earlier reports of disruptions over Gulf Airports published on our website.