Hundreds of Travelers Stranded Throughout UAE as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Airports Cancel 21 and Delay 630 Flights Impacting Emirates, Etihad, FlyDubai, Air Arabia and More Airlines

Written By: Indranil Mukherjee

Indranil Mukherjee

I am an SEO content writer with over two years of experience in digital publishing. I hold a Master's degree in English, and since completing my studies, I have been working with Travel And Tour World. I am passionate about creating engaging, well-researched content that informs and connects with readers. I have a keen interest in exploring the social and economic forces that shape the world, with a particular focus on literature, travel, and global developments. Through my work, I strive to deliver insightful, accurate, and SEO-friendly content that helps readers stay informed about the latest trends and stories from the travel industry.

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July 17, 2026 05:08 GMT+5:30

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Hundreds of travellers are stranded throughout the UAE as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports face major travel disruption, with 21 cancellations and 630 delays impacting Emirates, Etihad, FlyDubai, Air Arabia and more airlines. The UAE airports recorded widespread operational challenges as regional air connectivity faced pressure. Moreover, ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts have created additional uncertainty across aviation networks, affecting schedules, aircraft movements and passenger confidence. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports continue to manage disrupted operations as airlines adjust services.

Therefore, travellers across the region are experiencing extended waiting times, revised departures and cancelled journeys. The disruption has affected passengers travelling through major UAE hubs, while airlines continue working to restore normal operations and support affected travellers amid the challenging regional situation.

How Were Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Airports Affected?

Dubai International Airport Experienced the Highest Number of Flight Disruptions

Dubai International Airport recorded the largest share of UAE flight disruptions, with 340 delayed flights and 14 cancellations. The airport’s disruption was largely linked to delays affecting some of the biggest carriers operating through Dubai.

Among airlines, Emirates recorded 216 delays and 1 cancellation, making it the most affected airline at the airport in terms of delayed operations. FlyDubai reported 45 delays and 11 cancellations, while Air India Express recorded 7 delays and 2 cancellations.

Other airlines operating from Dubai also experienced delays. SpiceJet recorded 10 delays, Saudia recorded 6 delays, and Flynas and Jazeera Airways each recorded 5 delays. Turkish Airlines, Kuwait Airways Corporation and flyadeal each recorded 4 delays, while IndiGo reported 4 delays.

Additional delays were reported among Gulf Air with 3 delays, Airblue with 3 delays, SriLankan Airlines with 2 delays, Fly Jinnah with 2 delays, and several airlines including Air India, Bangladesh Biman, Cyprus Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, FitsAir, Kenya Airways, Oman Air, Pegasus Airlines, Regent Airways, RwandAir and Ariana Afghan each recording individual delays.

The disruption at Dubai affected a wide network of international routes, with passengers travelling through one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs experiencing delays across multiple airline operations.

Abu Dhabi International Airport Sees Major Etihad Airways Disruptions

Abu Dhabi International Airport recorded 191 delays and 2 cancellations, with the majority of disruption concentrated among Etihad Airways operations.

Etihad Airways recorded 158 delays and 2 cancellations, representing the largest impact among all airlines operating from Abu Dhabi. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi followed with 21 delays, while Air India Express recorded 6 delays.

Other airlines also reported delays, including IndiGo with 4 delays, Ethiopian Airlines with 1 delay, Gulf Air with 1 delay, Egypt Air with 1 delay, Pakistan International Airlines with 1 delay, Air Sial with 1 delay, Saudia with 1 delay, and US-Bangla Airlines with 1 delay.

The disruption at Abu Dhabi primarily affected passengers connecting through the UAE capital’s international network, particularly those travelling with the airport’s major carriers.

Sharjah International Airport Records Delays Affecting Air Arabia and Regional Airlines

Sharjah International Airport recorded 99 delays and 5 cancellations, with Air Arabia experiencing the highest impact among airlines operating from the airport.

Air Arabia recorded 88 delays and 5 cancellations, accounting for almost the entire cancellation total at Sharjah. Other airlines reported smaller disruptions, including Air India Express with 1 delay, Ethiopian Airlines with 1 delay, IndiGo with 1 delay, Qatar Airways with 1 delay, US-Bangla Airlines with 1 delay, Egypt Air with 2 delays, and Fly Jinnah with 4 delays.

The disruption affected regional and international passengers using Sharjah as a key travel hub for low-cost and international connectivity.

Which Airports, Cities and Airlines Were Most Affected Across the UAE?

The disruption was spread across the UAE’s three major aviation cities — Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Dubai experienced the largest operational impact with 340 delays and 14 cancellations, making it the most affected airport in the country. The city’s aviation disruption was mainly linked to Emirates, FlyDubai and Air India Express operations.

Abu Dhabi followed with 191 delays and 2 cancellations, driven primarily by Etihad Airways disruptions. Sharjah recorded 99 delays and 5 cancellations, with Air Arabia accounting for the majority of affected flights.

Across the three airports, major UAE-based airlines experienced the strongest impact:

• Emirates: 216 delays and 1 cancellation at Dubai International Airport
• Etihad Airways: 158 delays and 2 cancellations at Abu Dhabi International Airport
• Air Arabia: 88 delays and 5 cancellations at Sharjah International Airport
• FlyDubai: 45 delays and 11 cancellations at Dubai International Airport
• Air Arabia Abu Dhabi: 21 delays at Abu Dhabi International Airport

International airlines operating through the UAE also experienced smaller-scale disruptions, affecting passengers travelling between the UAE and destinations across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

What Can Passengers Do Now Amid UAE Flight Disruptions?

Passengers affected by delays and cancellations across UAE airports should check their latest flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport. With hundreds of flights experiencing delays, passengers should allow additional time for check-in, security procedures and possible schedule adjustments.

Travellers affected by cancellations should contact their airline for available options, including rebooking, alternative travel arrangements or updated departure schedules. Passengers should also monitor airline notifications through official websites, mobile applications and airport information channels.

Those with connecting flights should confirm revised timings to avoid missing onward journeys. Travellers should also keep essential documents, booking details and contact information easily accessible while waiting for updates.

UAE Aviation Network Continues to Face Passenger Pressure

The latest disruption data shows the scale of operational pressure affecting UAE aviation. With 630 total delays and 21 cancellations across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports, thousands of passengers may experience longer waiting periods and revised travel plans.

Dubai remains the most affected airport by overall numbers, while Abu Dhabi’s disruption is heavily concentrated around Etihad Airways operations and Sharjah’s impact is largely connected to Air Arabia services. Passengers travelling through the UAE should remain alert, check updates frequently and communicate directly with airlines for the latest travel information.

Data Verification Notice

The Data is extensively curated by me with figures derived from Flightaware dated 16 July 2026, 7:32 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