Flights Cancelled Throughout The Middle East As Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, UAE, Jordan, And Oman Cancel 243 And Delay 1,073 Flights, Disrupting Emirates, Turkish, Saudia, And Others

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Thousands of travellers are stranded in the Middle East today, after 243 cancellations and 1,073 flight delays disrupted Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Jordan, and Oman. The heaviest disruption was concentrated at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, while Dubai Airport registered the highest delays. Saudia emerged as the hardest-hit airline, accounting for over 50% of the total cancellations across the Middle East region, according to the latest aviation data. Emirates recorded the largest number of delayed flights. Other carriers experiencing significant disruption included Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and Flynas. Airports serving Istanbul, Riyadh, Sharjah, Muscat, Amman, Abha, Gizan, Najran, and Sharurah also experienced operational challenges, especially Abha Airport after the Saudi-Yemen conflict escalated.

As the fallout from US-Iran tensions collides with renewed fighting in Yemen, missile threats, and airspace concerns are fueling fresh disruption—but there is far more driving the crisis.

• Dubai Airport reported the highest number of delays with 299 affected flights.
• Abha Regional Airport experienced the highest number of cancellations, with 51 flights called off.
• Emirates was the most delayed airline, followed by Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Air Arabia, and FlyDubai.
• Saudia recorded by far the highest number of cancelled flights across the region, with 156.

What Is Behind The Disruptions In The Middle East?

The latest aviation disruption comes as security tensions surrounding Yemen have intensified once again.
Recent fighting escalated after an attack damaged the runway at Sana’a International Airport. Yemen’s internationally recognised government said the strike was intended to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing, while the Iran-backed Houthi movement accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out the attack.
The Houthis subsequently launched missiles and drones targeting Abha Airport in southern Saudi Arabia, raising fresh concerns about the safety of aviation infrastructure close to the Yemen border.
Yemen’s civil war, now entering its second decade, had remained relatively quiet following the 2022 truce. However, renewed regional instability following the Iran and US conflict has increased fears that the conflict could expand once again.
While airlines continue operating across much of the region, the renewed hostilities have heightened operational caution, route planning challenges, and airport security measures. The current wave of flight disruptions comes amid heightened security concerns linked to the Saudi-Yemen conflict and broader regional tensions. An increase in queries like “riyadh to abha distance” by concerned travelers has been seen.

Houthis Warn Airlines Over Saudi Airspace

The Houthis later issued a public warning through their military media account on X, urging airlines to avoid Saudi airspace until, according to the group, restrictions imposed on Sana’a International Airport are lifted. Although airlines continue to operate scheduled services, the statement has added another layer of uncertainty for carriers already navigating heightened regional security risks.

Saudi Arabia Launches New Digital Package Visa Initiative Despite Aviation Challenges

Even as parts of the region deal with operational disruption, Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead with efforts to expand international tourism.
The Kingdom has introduced a new Package Visa initiative as part of its Vision 2030 tourism strategy. Now in its pilot phase, the programme allows travellers to complete their visa application, book flights, reserve accommodation, and purchase curated holiday packages through a single digital platform rather than arranging each step separately.
India has been selected as one of the first six participating countries, alongside Jordan, Egypt, Mexico, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. Eligible travellers booking approved travel packages can receive an electronic tourist visa within approximately 48 hours, simplifying the overall entry process while supporting Saudi Arabia’s long-term ambition to become a leading global tourism destination.

Hardest-Hit Middle Eastern Airports

King Abdulaziz Airport, Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)

Jeddah experienced 71 delays and 55 cancellations, the highest cancellation total among the region’s major international gateways. Saudia, Flynas, and flyadeal recorded the greatest disruption.

Dubai Airport (United Arab Emirates)

Dubai recorded 299 delays and 11 cancellations, making it the busiest airport affected by delays. Emirates accounted for the largest share of delayed flights, while FlyDubai also experienced significant disruption as schedules across the hub came under pressure.

Istanbul Airport (Türkiye)

Istanbul Airport reported 241 delays and 1 cancellation. Turkish Airlines was responsible for the overwhelming majority of delayed services.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (Türkiye)

The airport recorded 159 delays. Pegasus Airlines faced the largest operational impact.

King Khalid Airport, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)

Riyadh reported 118 delays and 48 cancellations. Saudia, Flynas, and flyadeal were among the airlines most affected as flight schedules across the Saudi capital faced major disruption.

Sharjah Airport (United Arab Emirates)

Sharjah recorded 78 delays and 8 cancellations. Air Arabia accounted for the majority of delayed and cancelled services.

Muscat Airport (Seeb) (Oman)

Muscat registered 63 delays and 2 cancellations, with SalamAir and Oman Air accounting for most delayed flights.

Queen Alia Airport, Amman (Jordan)

Amman reported 42 delays and 3 cancellations. Royal Jordanian experienced the largest share of disruption, while Air Arabia and Jordan Aviation also saw delays.

Abha Regional Airport (Saudi Arabia)

Abha recorded a significant 51 cancellations, with Saudia, flyadeal, and Flynas accounting for most grounded services. Interest in the conflict has surged, with “abha airport saudi arabia” emerging as a trending query after the strike on Sana’a International Airport and the reported Houthi attack on Abha Airport.

What Should Affected Passengers Do?

• Check your airline’s latest flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Enable airline notifications for schedule changes and gate updates.
• Allow additional travel time when travelling through airports such as Dubai, Istanbul, Riyadh, or Jeddah, where operations may remain busy.
• Contact your airline promptly if your flight is cancelled to discuss rebooking or refund options.
• Keep receipts for eligible accommodation, meals, or transportation expenses if delays become prolonged.
• If travelling on connecting itineraries, confirm onward flights before departing.

Overview of Flight Cancellations and Delays

The disruptions stretched across the Middle East, affecting airports in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Jordan, and Oman, affecting both regional and long-haul travel. Cities including Dubai, Istanbul, Riyadh, Jeddah, Sharjah, Amman, and Muscat experienced delays ranging from moderate to severe, while southern Saudi cities such as Abha, Gizan, Najran, and Sharurah recorded high cancellation levels. Over the past four hours, flight cancellations across Saudi Arabia itself have risen from 208 to 218 now.
Among airlines, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Air Arabia, FlyDubai, Saudia, and Flynas accounted for a substantial share of the disruption. While delays were concentrated at major international hubs like Dubai and Istanbul, cancellations were heavily focused on Saudi Arabia, highlighting how operational challenges have varied across different parts of the Middle East as regional security concerns continue to influence air travel.

Data Verification Notice

The Data is extensively curated by me with figures derived from Flightaware dated 14th July 7:54 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