Thousands of Passengers Grounded across Middle East Amid Maintenance Issues and Bad Weather as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Kuwait Face Travel Hell with 208 Cancellations and 1,513 Delays by Saudia, Emirates, Flydubai, Air Arabia and others at Riyadh, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait City and more, New Update

Written By: Subhankar Chakraborty

Subhankar Chakraborty

I'm a content writer with a strong foundation in psychology and a passion for the travel and hospitality industry. Beyond timely reporting and contemporary narratives I bring a unique perspective to content creation, crafting stories that not only inform but also connect with readers on a deeper emotional level. I combine meticulous research, accuracy and compelling storytelling to deliver authentic, engaging and insightful content for a global audience.

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December 20, 2025 00:56 GMT+5:30

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The aviation landscape across the Middle East is currently facing a massive wave of disruptions. A combination of severe weather and technical maintenance has triggered a ripple effect through Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. Major transit hubs are now struggling to manage a staggering volume of 208 cancellations and 1,513 delays. In Saudi Arabia, the situation is particularly intense. Travelers in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam face significant wait times. Even regional centers like Buraidah report impacted schedules. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has transformed the travel experience in the UAE into a logistical challenge. Hubs in Dubai and Sharjah are working tirelessly to clear the backlog of stranded passengers.

Further across the Gulf, the transit corridors of Doha and Kuwait City remain under pressure. Airlines are currently prioritizing safety as they navigate these operational hurdles. This report explores the data behind this “travel hell” and examines the specific factors grounding thousands of passengers. From fuel system maintenance to unpredictable storms, the regional network is testing its resilience. Travelers should stay informed as authorities work to restore regularity across these vital global gateways.

Major Airports Affected

The impact of these disruptions is felt most acutely at the primary international gateways. In Saudi Arabia, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has emerged as a focal point of the crisis. According to official data, a total of 97 cancellations and 223 delays were recorded today at the facility. This situation was exacerbated by a concurrence of operational factors, including the diversion of flights from other regional airports and scheduled maintenance within the fuel supply system.

Further west, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah reported 23 cancellations and 152 delays, while King Fahd International Airport in Dammam saw 13 cancellations. Even regional facilities like Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Regional Airport in Buraidah were not spared, recording 5 cancellations as the ripple effects spread throughout the Kingdom.

In the UAE, the situation at Dubai International Airport remains critical. Known as one of the world’s busiest transit points, Dubai recorded 24 cancellations and a massive 632 delays. Nearby, Sharjah International Airport in Sharjah faced 37 cancellations and 107 delays, primarily driven by a severe weather system characterized by heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. Similarly, Hamad International Airport in Doha and Kuwait International Airport in Kuwait City have reported 5 and 4 cancellations respectively, alongside hundreds of delayed departures, as the entire Middle East corridor faces a synchronized slowdown.

Impacted Airlines

The burden of these cancellations has been largely carried by the region’s flagship carriers. Saudia has reported the most extensive disruptions, with 95 cancellations and 79 delays in Riyadh alone, followed by 20 cancellations in Jeddah. The airline’s domestic and international schedules have been heavily compromised by the technical challenges cited at King Khalid International Airport.

In the UAE, Emirates and Flydubai have been forced to manage a logistical nightmare in Dubai. Flydubai recorded 11 cancellations and 259 delays, while Emirates logged 7 cancellations and 205 delays. These figures represent a significant portion of the total travel disruptions in the Middle East. In Sharjah, Air Arabia bore the brunt of the weather-related grounded flights, with 37 cancellations and 81 delays. Other international carriers, including Egypt Air, Air China, SpiceJet and Turkish Airlines, have also seen their schedules to Riyadh, Dubai and Doha modified or suspended.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The ongoing “travel hell” is expected to have a noticeable influence on local tourism sectors. In cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, where Saudi Arabia is actively promoting its Vision 2030 tourism goals, the grounding of thousands of visitors could lead to immediate losses in the hospitality and retail sectors. Planned events and hotel bookings in Dubai and Doha are similarly at risk, as transit passengers—who form the backbone of the tourism economy in the UAE and Qatar—find themselves unable to reach their final destinations.

The disruption in Kuwait City and Sharjah further highlights the vulnerability of regional tourism to sudden aviation bottlenecks. As flights are diverted and schedules are rewritten, the seamless travel experience typically associated with the Middle East is being replaced by uncertainty, potentially deterring short-term leisure travelers and business professionals who rely on the precision of these flight networks.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For those currently navigating the chaos across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait, several immediate steps are recommended by aviation experts.

1. Verify Flight Status Remotely: Passengers are urged by airport authorities in Riyadh and Dubai to contact their airlines directly before departing for the airport hub. Utilizing official mobile apps and SMS alerts is advised to receive the most current updates on timing.
2. Understand Passenger Rights: Under the regulations of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia and similar bodies in the UAE and Kuwait, passengers may be entitled to refreshments, accommodation and rebooking assistance depending on the length and cause of the delay.
3. Utilize Public Transport: In Dubai, travelers are encouraged to use the Metro to avoid road congestion caused by water accumulation, ensuring they reach the terminal safely if their flight is confirmed.
4. Coordinate with Stakeholders: As operational teams in Riyadh work around the clock to restore regularity, travelers should remain in close coordination with airline staff at Dammam, Buraidah and Doha to secure seats on the next available flights.

The current situation is a stark reminder of the complexities involved in maintaining the vast aviation infrastructure of the Middle East. While teams work tirelessly to address the fuel system issues in Saudi Arabia and the weather challenges in the UAE, the road to operational normalcy for Saudia, Emirates and Flydubai remains a priority for the regional transport industry.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.