Hundreds of Travelers across Middle East Affected in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye and Egypt as Saudia, SpiceJet, Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air and others Face 27 Flight Cancellations and 1,377 Delays in Jeddah, Dubai, Istanbul, Cairo and more, New Update

Published on December 22, 2025

Major travel disruptions are currently sweeping through the Middle East, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded in high-traffic hubs. Travel schedules have been thrown into chaos across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye and Egypt. Heavy operational burdens are hitting key cities like Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, where dozens of flights remain grounded. Simultaneously, massive delays are surfacing in Dubai and Sharjah, complicating transit for international commuters. Further north, the impact stretches to Istanbul, while backlogs are reported in Cairo and Hurghada. There’s a total of 27 flight cancellations and 1,377 delays reported. Airlines are working tirelessly to manage the fallout. Travelers should expect a ripple effect on connecting routes throughout the region. This report breaks down the specific numbers behind these cancellations and delays. It highlights the carriers struggling to maintain their schedules. Staying informed is now a top priority for anyone navigating these vital corridors today.

Major Airports Affected

The disruption was widespread across the Middle East, affecting Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye and Egypt, with eight primary airports reporting significant operational hurdles.

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah emerged as one of the most heavily impacted sites, where 5 cancellations were recorded alongside 235 flight delays. Not far behind in terms of volume, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh saw the highest number of total cancellations for a single site, with 7 flights removed from the schedule and 154 delays reported. In the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam recorded 6 cancellations and 44 delays.

Moving into the United Arab Emirates, Dubai International Airport—a critical node for global connectivity—experienced a massive 393 delays, although cancellations were kept to a modest 3. Nearby, Sharjah International Airport faced its own set of challenges, reporting 1 cancellation and 137 delays.

Istanbul Airport in Türkiye recorded 2 cancellations and 167 delays, while Cairo International Airport in Egypt dealt with 2 cancellations and 207 delays. Rounding out the report, Hurghada International Airport, a key destination for coastal travel, saw 1 cancellation and 40 delays.

Impacted Airlines

A diverse array of carriers was affected by today’s operational constraints across the Middle East, affecting Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye and Egypt.

Saudia, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia, bore the brunt of the scheduling changes, recording a total of 13 cancellations and 135 delays across its operations in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam. The airline’s heavy presence in these hubs meant that a significant portion of the region’s total disruptions was concentrated within its network.

International carriers also faced difficulties. KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) saw 4 cancellations split between Riyadh and Dammam, though notably, no delays were reported for their remaining services at these locations. In the UAE, SpiceJet was impacted at Dubai International with 2 cancellations and 12 delays, while Air India Express recorded 1 cancellation and 4 delays. Air Arabia, operating primarily out of Sharjah, experienced a single cancellation but a substantial 118 delays, affecting a large volume of regional traffic.

In Türkiye and Egypt, the national carriers were the primary focus of the report. Turkish Airlines at Istanbul Airport saw 2 cancellations and 109 delays. Meanwhile, Egypt Air experienced a combined 3 cancellations and 122 delays across Cairo and Hurghada. Additionally, Malaysia Airlines was noted in Jeddah with 1 cancellation and 2 delays, further illustrating the international scope of the day’s aviation challenges.

Beyond these specific figures, delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like flyadeal, Flynas, Air Cairo, Etihad Airways, FlyDubai, Emirates, Nile Air, easyJet and more.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The concentration of delays and cancellations across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye and Egypt in Middle East is expected to have a noticeable effect on local tourism and hospitality sectors. In cities like Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, where Saudia serves as a primary link for religious and business tourism, the disruption of over 140 flights could lead to a temporary bottleneck in hotel occupancy and local transportation services.

Dubai and Sharjah, which serve as major tourist magnets in the UAE, saw a combined total of over 500 delays. Such significant scheduling shifts often result in missed connections and shortened stays for international visitors, potentially impacting the revenue of local tour operators and retail sectors. Similarly, in Istanbul—a city that thrives on its status as a bridge between East and West—the 167 delays may cause a backlog of travelers within the airport’s transit zones, placing additional pressure on terminal amenities.

In Egypt, the delays at Cairo and Hurghada are particularly significant for the leisure travel market. As Hurghada is a premier resort destination, even a small number of cancellations and delays can disrupt the tightly timed itineraries of holidaymakers. Throughout the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye and Egypt, the synchronization of tourism activities is heavily dependent on the reliability of these air corridors and today’s figures represent a significant hurdle for the regional travel economy.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For those currently caught in the wave of disruptions across the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye and Egypt, immediate action is recommended to mitigate further inconvenience. Passengers at King Abdulaziz, King Khalid and Dubai International should prioritize checking their flight status through official airline mobile applications or airport websites, as real-time updates are essential during periods of high-volume delays.

Communication with carrier representatives is vital. Travelers flying with Saudia, Turkish Airlines or Egypt Air should inquire about rebooking options or the provision of meal and accommodation vouchers if the delay exceeds certain time thresholds. In the case of the 27 total cancellations reported today, passengers are often entitled to either a full refund or a seat on the next available flight, depending on the specific terms and conditions of the airline and local aviation regulations.

Furthermore, travelers within the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye and Egypt are advised to maintain a record of all travel expenses incurred due to these delays. This documentation is necessary if a claim for compensation is to be filed later through travel insurance providers. As the situation evolves, patience and proactive communication remain the best tools for navigating the current challenges in the regional airspace.

The current state of flight operations in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Türkiye and Egypt serves as a reminder of the volatility of modern air travel. While the 1,377 delays present a massive logistical puzzle for airport authorities and airlines, the focus remains on restoring the schedule and ensuring that passengers reach their final destinations safely and efficiently.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.