Thousand of Passengers Left Stranded as 1,960 Flights Delayed and 158 Canceled Across Dubai, Sharjah, Riyadh, and Jeddah with Emirates, FlyDubai, Saudia, and More Affected

Published on December 19, 2025

Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, and King Khalid and King Abdulaziz International Airports in Saudi Arabia have emerged as focal points of widespread disruption in Middle East aviation this week. Personal accounts from affected travelers paint a vivid picture: weary families, stranded business commuters and holiday‑bound passengers trapped in terminals for hours amid an unprecedented operational breakdown at major Gulf hubs. Authorities, including the UAE’s aviation regulators and Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, have urged passengers to verify flight statuses via official airport platforms before setting out, after flight disruptions surged to totals rarely seen outside crisis conditions.

Middle East Flight Data Reveals Scale of Disruption

Recent compiled figures from airport operations reports reveal staggering totals across key Gulf hubs:

• Dubai International Airport (DXB): 726 flight delays and 69 cancellations
• Sharjah International Airport: 140 delays and 4 cancellations
• King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh): 329 delays and 11 cancellations
• King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah): 220 delays and 6 cancellations

This amounts to 1,964 delays and 158 cancellations recorded across these airports in the latest reporting period. These figures dwarf normal seasonal variances and point toward systemic operational stress affecting the Gulf’s air travel networks.

UAE’s Official Response: Advisories and System Strain

Dubai Airports’ own flight status portal — the official source for real‑time schedule changes — continues to show an elevated rate of disruptions, with numerous departures and arrivals marked delayed or rescheduled.

Compounding the problem, carriers operating within the UAE, including Emirates and flydubai, have published operational alerts to travellers explaining that adverse weather forecasts and heightened air traffic volume are contributing to delays at DXB and Sharjah. These airline advisories, shared on official websites and customer help pages, stress early arrival times at the airport and direct passengers to monitor progress through official digital channels.

Weather and Operational Bottlenecks a Key Factor

Cold‑season weather fronts and fog‑related conditions early in the morning have disrupted flight movements in the Gulf and across the broader region. Recent reports from the UAE point to dense fog across major international and domestic airports as a key driver of temporary runway slowdowns, compounding regular holiday travel volumes.

Airlines and airport operational centres alike have acknowledged that the combination of busy seasonal travel peaks, limited visibility and aircraft rotation logistics has transformed minor delays into full‑scale schedule disruptions. The resultant lateness and missed connections have cascaded across the network.

Saudi Arabia Issues Travel Alerts as Tensions and Closures Ripple

Across the King‑dom, the situation is equally tense. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued official advisories urging passengers traveling through King Khalid International in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International in Jeddah and other Saudi airports to contact their airlines directly before departing for the airport. This government‑level warning stems from regional airspace volatility and temporary closures, a response to geopolitical developments that triggered rerouting and cancellations across several Gulf‑bound flights.

The Saudi travel alert explicitly encourages passengers to verify schedules with airline providers as well as monitor updates from airport authorities, as ongoing changes in their flight status are possible with little notice.

Airline Impact: From Gulf Carriers to International Connections

Multiple airline operators are reflected in the disruption totals. Among the most affected:

• FlyDubai: 243 delays, 35 cancellations
• Emirates: 271 delays, 19 cancellations
• Pakistan International Airlines: 1 delay, 6 cancellations
• Saudia: dozens of delays & cancellations attributed across Saudi hubs
• Oman Air, Gulf Air and Flynas: smaller but noticeable disturbance counts

The variety of airlines affected demonstrates that the disruptions are not isolated to a single carrier but are affecting a broad spectrum of international and regional flight operations.

Government and Official Site Travel Guidance

Government and aviation authority platforms such as Dubai Airports’ official flight status page, and Saudi Arabia’s GACA advisories, serve as primary reference points for up‑to‑date travel guidance. These portals are now essential tools for passengers planning to move through the region’s busiest hubs

Because airspace over certain parts of the Gulf remains unpredictable, official advisories are evolving. Travelers are strongly encouraged to use these government sources rather than unofficial third‑party apps or ticket reseller data, which may lag behind in reflecting real‑time changes.

Business Travel and Tourism Sector Strained

Local tourism offices and travel agencies are reporting that delayed or canceled flights are dampening business travel plans and holiday bookings, particularly at this point in the peak travel season. Hotels near major airports in Dubai and Jeddah have seen an uptick in last‑minute reservations as passengers seek immediate alternative accommodation, a trend confirmed by sources from regional hospitality partners.

In addition to weather and airspace volatility, analysts say the phenomenon could signal broader stress on air traffic management infrastructure that will require coordinated efforts between aviation authorities and airline operators across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

Human Impact: Stranded Passengers and Frustration

Across terminals in Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah, the human dimension of the disruption is stark. Families separated from planned itineraries, business travellers missing important corporate events, and international connections delayed by cascading effects from Gulf hubs are all part of this unfolding story. What many passengers are reporting is a lack of reliable updates until the very last minute — a situation government‑sponsored platforms are now working to address with more frequent information bulletins.

What Travellers Must Do Now

• Check your flight status directly via official airport websites before leaving home.
• Contact your airline’s customer service for rebooking options.
• Allow additional transit time when flying through DXB, Sharjah, Riyadh, or Jeddah.
• Monitor weather and advisory updates from national aviation authorities.

These steps are critical as airports continue to manage one of the most disruptive periods for Gulf travel in recent memory.