Flights Cancelled Throughout Middle East As UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, And More Cancel 178 And Delay 1,126, Grounding Pegasus Airlines, Saudia, Etihad Airways, And Others

Written By: Ryan Rashid

Ryan Rashid

Ryan Rashid writes news that people actually find and finish reading. Ryan has a knack for turning jargon-heavy updates into engaging journalism anyone can follow in under a minute. An English graduate from Calcutta University, he pairs sharp writing instincts with a solid grip on what makes a story travel online. He keeps a close eye on what's trending and what's about to, so stories land while they still matter. Underneath the fast pace, there's always solid research and clean editing holding it together.

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July 19, 2026 12:03 AM

Image generated with Ai

Thousands of passengers grounded in the Middle East as tensions escalated today, with 1,236 delays and 186 cancellations reported across Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Türkiye, Jordan, and Egypt. Dubai faced the greatest delays with 333, while Gizan experienced the largest cancellations. Saudia was the hardest hit airline once more, accounting for around 48% of all cancellations. Other airlines facing major challenges include Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Pegasus Airlines.
The disruption extends across key aviation hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait City, Riyadh, Jeddah, Istanbul, Amman, Cairo, Sharjah, Abha, Gizan, and Najran. Airlines continue adjusting schedules as regional security concerns and airspace restrictions create ripple effects across domestic and international networks.

• Dubai recorded the highest number of delays with 333 disrupted flights.
• Gizan saw the most cancellations after 37 flights were called off.
• Saudia accounted for 90 cancellations, representing nearly 48% of all cancellations.

What Is Presently Causing Disruptions In Middle East?

Military tensions across the region continue to place pressure on aviation operations.
The US military said it conducted a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran after President Donald Trump declared the temporary ceasefire agreement had ended.
Iran, in turn, said it responded by striking facilities linked to US allies, including locations in Kuwait, where authorities reported damage to a power station, a water desalination facility, and an oil installation.
As governments assess the evolving security situation, airlines are continuing to adjust routes, review operational risks, and make schedule changes that are contributing to delays and cancellations across several Middle Eastern airports.
Searches for “Jordan Middle East” and “Pegasus” surged following the latest strikes in the Middle East, travelers are looking for the latest airline advisories and airport updates

Why Kuwait Has Become A Key Watchpoint Today

Towering columns of smoke were seen rising over Mangaf after Iranian strikes reportedly hit several sites in the area.
Kuwaiti officials said the attacks damaged a power generation facility and a water desalination plant, prompting authorities to urge residents to conserve electricity where possible.
The incidents have heightened concerns about infrastructure resilience and regional stability.
Although airports remain operational, the broader uncertainty is contributing to flight schedule changes as carriers prioritize passenger and crew safety.
The latest escalation has fueled online queries for “Kuwait Airways flight rescheduling” and “Kuwait airport open or closed” as travelers seek real-time updates on operations and possible changes.

Hardest-Hit Airports Today

Dubai, the UAE

Dubai recorded 333 delays and 14 cancellations, making it the busiest airport affected by delays today. Emirates and FlyDubai experienced the largest operational impact, with additional disruptions affecting Flynas, Saudia, and several regional carriers.

Hamad International Airport, Qatar

Doha’s Hamad airport reported 134 delays and 11 cancellations. Qatar Airways accounted for the overwhelming majority of delayed flights, while Air Arabia, Air Seychelles, Air India Express, and IndiGo also experienced schedule disruptions.

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen, Türkiye

The airport recorded 125 delays and 12 cancellations. Pegasus Airlines experienced the highest disruption levels, followed by Turkish Airlines, AJet, Jazeera Airways, and Kuwait Airways.

Kuwait International Airport, Kuwait

Kuwait International Airport reported 110 delays and 8 cancellations, with cancelled flights rising by the minute. Most delays affected Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways, while cancellations were spread across Saudia, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Pegasus Airlines, and Air Arabia.

King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh’s King Khalid airport recorded 103 delays and 30 cancellations, one of the highest cancellation totals in the region. Saudia, Flynas, and flyadeal accounted for most disrupted flights.

Airlines Most Disrupted by Flight Cancellations & Delays

Saudia

No airline experienced more cancellations than Saudia once again today, which cancelled 90 flights across multiple Saudi airports while also recording dozens of delays. Operations in Riyadh, Jeddah, Gizan, Najran, and Kuwait City were particularly affected.

Emirates

Emirates recorded 210 delays—the highest delay total among all airlines—and also cancelled 7 flights. Most disruptions originated from Dubai, with additional delays affecting operations through Cairo and Kuwait City.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways faced 111 delays, largely concentrated at Abu Dhabi, making it one of the region’s most disrupted carriers by delayed departures.

Pegasus Airlines

Pegasus Airlines experienced 86 delays and 7 cancellations, primarily affecting operations at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen.

What Can Impacted Passengers Do?

• Check your airline’s latest flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Allow additional travel time if flying through airports such as Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, or Istanbul, where operations remain under pressure.
• Keep notifications enabled through your airline’s mobile app for schedule updates.
• Speak with airline staff promptly if your flight is delayed or cancelled to explore rebooking options.
• If connecting through major regional hubs, remain flexible as schedules may continue changing throughout the day.
• Keep essential medications, chargers, travel documents, and a change of clothes in your cabin baggage in case of extended delays.

Overview of Flight Cancellations And Delays

Today’s disruptions paints a challenging picture for travelers across the Middle East. From Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, Kuwait City, Istanbul, Cairo, and Amman, airlines have been working to recover schedules amid rapidly changing operational conditions. Emirates, Saudia, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, FlyDubai, Pegasus Airlines, Flynas, Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways, and EgyptAir have all experienced varying levels of disruption, affecting thousands of passengers across domestic, regional, and long-haul routes.
For travelers, the situation remains highly fluid. While many flights continue operating, airlines are making real-time adjustments based on operational requirements and regional developments. Anyone planning to travel through Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Kuwait City, Istanbul, or Jeddah should continue checking for updates before heading to the airport, as schedules may change with little notice.

Data Verification Notice

The Data is extensively curated by me with figures derived from Flightaware dated 17th July 1:26 pm ET USA

Primary Source: Real-time data aggregated via FlightAware.

Verification Protocol: Statistics are cross-checked by our human editorial desk. Timestamped logs and feed snapshots are securely archived internally to maintain historical accuracy.

Note: Real-time tracking figures represent active airspace data and may experience minor variances from local airport terminal gates. 

Travelers are advised to check respective airline and airports for more latest information and updates