British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Saudia, flydubai, and More Trigger UAE Travel Disruption as 9 Flights Are Cancelled, Affecting Routes to London, Hong Kong, Riyadh, Doha, Dhaka, Minsk, Lahore, and More – New Update

Published on December 24, 2025

Air travel across the United Arab Emirates experienced renewed pressure as a total of nine UAE flight cancellations were recorded across three major airports. The disruptions affected international routes linking the UAE with Ufa, Doha, Hong Kong, Dhaka, London, Riyadh, Minsk, and Lahore, underscoring how operational challenges can quickly spread across global aviation networks. These cancellations spanned both long-haul and regional services, contributing to ongoing international flight disruptions UAE travelers are closely watching.

The cancelled departures were reported at Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Abu Dhabi International Airport, involving a mix of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft operated by international and regional airlines.

Al Maktoum International Airport Sees Multiple Route Cancellations

At Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, three outbound flights were cancelled, affecting passengers traveling to Eastern Europe, the Gulf region, and East Asia.

Cancelled flights from Al Maktoum International Airport included:

• UTA740 operated by Ural Airlines
  Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
  Route: Ufa International Airport (UFA / UWUU)
  Scheduled departure: 2:50 PM (+04)
• QTR8727 operated by Qatar Airways
  Aircraft: Boeing 777-200
  Route: Hamad International Airport (DOH / OTHH)
  Scheduled departure: 5:00 AM (+04)
• UAE9880 operated by Emirates
  Aircraft: Boeing 777-200
  Route: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG / VHHH)
  Scheduled departure: 3:20 PM (+04)

These cancellations added to Dubai airport flight cancellations affecting travelers relying on Dubai as a major international connection point.

Abu Dhabi International Airport Reports Dhaka-Bound Cancellation

Abu Dhabi International Airport recorded one cancelled international departure, adding to Abu Dhabi airport cancellations for the day. The disruption affected a high-demand route between the Gulf region and South Asia.

• UBG350 operated by US-Bangla Airlines
  Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
  Route: Shahjalal International Airport (DAC / VGHS)
  Scheduled departure: 10:10 PM (+04)

While limited in number, the cancellation had a direct impact on passengers traveling between Abu Dhabi and Dhaka.

Dubai International Airport Records the Highest Number of Cancellations

Dubai International Airport accounted for five of the nine cancellations, making it the most affected hub. These cancelled flights Dubai International Airport recorded involved routes to Europe, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South Asia.

The cancelled services were:

• BAW106 operated by British Airways
  Aircraft: Airbus A380
  Route: London Heathrow (LHR / EGLL)
  Scheduled departure: 2:15 AM (+04)
• SVA559 operated by Saudia
  Aircraft: Airbus A321
  Route: King Khalid International Airport (RUH / OERK)
  Scheduled departure: 4:00 PM (+04)
• FDB1715 operated by flydubai
  Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
  Route: Minsk International Airport (MSQ / UMMS)
  Scheduled departure: 6:15 PM (+04)
• SVA557 operated by Saudia
  Aircraft: Airbus A321
  Route: King Khalid International Airport (RUH / OERK)
  Scheduled departure: 7:25 PM (+04)
• SIF787 operated by Pakistan International Airlines
  Aircraft: Airbus A330-200
  Route: Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE / OPLA)
  Scheduled departure: 3:30 PM (+04)

Summary Table of All Cancelled Flights

Impact on Passengers and Airline Operations

These nine UAE flight cancellations disrupted travel plans for passengers flying to major global hubs and regional centers. Wide-body aircraft cancellations on routes such as Dubai–London and Dubai–Hong Kong suggest a significant number of travelers were affected.

For passengers, cancellations can lead to:

• Missed onward connections
• Longer rebooking and rerouting times
• Increased demand for hotel accommodations
• Extended overall journey durations

For airlines and airports, managing these disruptions requires close coordination between operations teams, ground staff, and customer service units, particularly at high-traffic hubs.

A Broader Regional Perspective

Together, these events highlight Middle East aviation disruptions where dense flight schedules and interconnected networks mean even a limited number of cancellations can have widespread effects. As demand for international travel remains strong, UAE flight cancellations continue to draw attention from travelers navigating increasingly complex global itineraries.