Flights Cancelled Over The Middle East As UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, And More Cancel 201 And Delay 1,081 Flights, Grounding Emirates, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Etihad, 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 14, 2026 6:00 AM

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Flight cancellations further intensified in the Middle East as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwati, and Bahrain have been heavily disrupted after 1,081 delays and 201 cancellations were recorded across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Sharjah, Kuwait City, Bahrain, Cairo, Abha, Gizan and Najran. Dubai bore the brunt of flight delays, while Riyadh’s King Khalid Airport emerged as the epicenter of cancellations.
The latest wave of disruption comes as renewed hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has heightened security concerns across the region.
Qatar Airways saw the heaviest wave of delays, while Saudia faced the largest number of cancellations. Other airlines significantly affected include Etihad Airways, Emirates, and EgyptAir.

What Is The Reason Behind Disruptions In The Middle East?

Regional aviation has come under additional pressure after tensions surrounding Yemen escalated once again.
According to the internationally recognized government of Yemen, an attack on the runway at Sanaa International Airport was carried out to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The Iran-supported Houthi movement blamed Saudi Arabia for the strike.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels later said they launched missiles and drones targeting Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia on Monday in response to the airstrikes on Sanaa earlier the same day.
Flight cancellations have continued to climb across Saudi Arabia, increasing from 154 to 163 within the last three hours.
Beyond the security situation, flight disruptions can also occur even when airports remain open. Airlines frequently adjust schedules because of aircraft rotations, crew availability, air traffic management restrictions, technical inspections and operational congestion. Since aircraft and flight crews operate on tightly connected schedules, disruption at one airport can quickly spread across the wider network, resulting in delays and cancellations throughout the region.
Interest in the conflict has surged, with searches for “Saudi attack Yemen” rising after strikes on Sanaa International Airport and the subsequent reported Houthi attack on Abha Airport heightened regional tensions.

How Abha Airport Became the Latest Focus of Middle East Tensions

Abha Airport has once again found itself at the center of regional tensions after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement said it launched missiles and drones targeting the airport following strikes on Sanaa International Airport. Located in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the Yemeni border, Abha has repeatedly been drawn into the conflict over the years because of its strategic location and its role in connecting southern Saudi Arabia with domestic and regional destinations. Even when damage is limited or airport operations continue, heightened security measures, operational reviews and airline scheduling adjustments can still affect flights, contributing to wider disruption across the Kingdom.

How Delays In Riyadh, Jeddah And Dubai Can Affect Flights Across The Gulf

Flight disruptions rarely remain confined to a single airport. Aircraft and flight crews operate on tightly connected schedules, meaning a delayed departure from Riyadh, Jeddah or Dubai can have a cascading effect on subsequent flights throughout the day. An aircraft arriving late may miss its next scheduled departure, while crew duty-time limits, air traffic flow restrictions and aircraft rotations can force airlines to adjust multiple services. As a result, travelers connecting through major Gulf hubs may experience delays even if their own departure airport is operating normally.

Worst-Hit Middle Eastern Airports

Abha Airport

Abha Airport recorded one of the region’s most severe disruptions, with 36 flight cancellations. Saudia accounted for the largest share of cancelled flights. The airport was also thrust into the spotlight after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement said it launched missiles and drones targeting Abha International Airport, adding to regional security concerns and operational pressure on flights.

Dubai

Dubai recorded the region’s highest number of delays, with 209 delayed flights and 15 cancellations. Emirates and FlyDubai accounted for most of the delayed operations, while FlyDubai also experienced the largest share of cancellations at the airport.

King Khalid (Riyadh)

King Khalid Airport reported 103 delays and the region’s highest cancellation total at 41. Saudia, Flynas and flyadeal were the airlines most affected.

Hamad (Doha)

Hamad Airport reported 180 delays and 4 cancellations. Qatar Airways handled the overwhelming majority of affected flights, reflecting the airline’s dominant presence at its main hub.

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi saw 156 delayed flights and 1 cancellation. Etihad Airways experienced the largest operational impact, followed by Air Arabia Abu Dhabi.

Cairo

Cairo recorded 127 delays and 5 cancellations. EgyptAir handled most of the delayed flights, while Nile Air also experienced notable disruption.

Sharjah

Sharjah registered 101 delays and 3 cancellations, with Air Arabia accounting for the vast majority of delayed services.

King Abdulaziz (Jeddah)

Jeddah experienced 96 delays and 40 cancellations. Saudia, Flynas and flyadeal were responsible for most disrupted operations.

Airlines Most Impacted by Flight Cancellations

Saudia

No airline experienced more cancellations than Saudia, which recorded 134 cancelled flights across Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Gizan and Najran. The carrier also faced dozens of delays across its domestic network.

Emirates

Emirates experienced 4 cancellations and 91 delayed flights, with the vast majority of disruptions occurring at its Dubai hub.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways recorded 129 delayed flights, making it the second most delayed airline across the affected airports. Most disruptions were concentrated at Abu Dhabi.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways experienced 8 cancellations and the highest number of delays overall acorss the Middle East at 169, primarily through Doha but also affecting flights operating to Riyadh, Jeddah and Bahrain.

What Should Affected Passengers Do?

• Check your airline’s latest flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Allow extra time for check-in and security, especially if travelling through busy hubs such as Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi.
• Keep mobile notifications enabled in case your airline changes your departure gate or schedule.
• If your flight is cancelled, contact your airline promptly to discuss rebooking or refund options.
• Hold on to receipts for eligible expenses if you experience extended delays.
• If connecting through airports including Riyadh, Jeddah, Cairo or Sharjah, monitor onward flights carefully since earlier disruptions can affect later departures.

Learn More

Overview of Flight Cancellations And Delays

The latest wave of disruption has affected thousands of travelers moving through Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Cairo, Kuwait City and Bahrain. Major carriers including Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Air Arabia, FlyDubai, Saudia, EgyptAir and Flynas have all seen significant operational disruption, forcing schedule changes across domestic, regional and international services.
While the renewed tensions involving Yemen have added fresh uncertainty to regional aviation, airlines continue to work through complex operational challenges as aircraft and crews rotate between multiple destinations. Because many flights are interconnected, delays originating in cities such as Dubai, Doha, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi can ripple across the wider Middle East, affecting passengers connecting through Jeddah, Sharjah, Cairo and other major hubs. Travelers are encouraged to stay informed through their airlines and airport information channels as schedules continue to evolve.


Data Verification Notice

The Data is extensively curated by me with figures derived from Flightaware dated 13th July 7:13 PM ET

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.