Hundreds of Travelers Affected Across Middle East at Riyadh, Dubai and More Airports with 109 Cancellations and 1,224 Delays

Hundreds of travellers face major flight disruptions across the Middle East today, as airports in Riyadh, Dubai and more regional cities report 109 cancellations and 1,224 delays. The disruption has affected travellers at major aviation hubs in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Jordan, Bahrain and Egypt. Meanwhile, regional security concerns, recent attacks on Saudi airport infrastructure and airspace restrictions have forced airlines to adjust schedules and suspend selected routes. Furthermore, operational challenges and potential knock-on delays have added pressure to busy international connections. Istanbul, Jeddah and Dubai have recorded particularly high delay numbers. As a result, passengers face longer waiting times, missed connections and unexpected changes to travel plans.

Middle East Airports Report Widespread Flight Delays and Cancellations

Saudi Arabia Records the Highest Airport Cancellation Numbers

Saudi Arabia experienced substantial disruption across four airports, recording 278 delays and 59 cancellations.

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah reported 202 delays and 22 cancellations, making it the country’s most affected airport by delayed flights.

King Fahd International Airport in Dammam registered 72 delays and 21 cancellations. Meanwhile, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh recorded four delays and 14 cancellations.

Prince Abdulmohsin Bin Abdulaziz Airport reported no delays but registered two cancellations.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah Face Significant Disruptions

The United Arab Emirates recorded 397 delays and 24 cancellations across three major airports.

Dubai International Airport reported 178 delays and 11 cancellations, making it the UAE’s busiest disruption point in the dataset.

Meanwhile, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi recorded 135 delays and three cancellations.

Sharjah International Airport experienced 84 delays and 10 cancellations.

These figures indicate widespread schedule disruption across the UAE’s principal aviation hubs, potentially affecting passengers travelling between the Middle East and international destinations.

Istanbul, Jordan, Bahrain and Egypt Also Report Disruptions

Türkiye’s Istanbul Airports Record the Highest Combined Delays

Istanbul Airport registered 218 delays and six cancellations, the highest individual airport delay figure in the dataset.

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport reported another 143 delays and three cancellations.

Together, Istanbul’s two airports recorded 361 delays and nine cancellations, highlighting the scale of disruption affecting Türkiye’s major aviation gateway.

Jordan, Bahrain and Egypt Experience Additional Flight Disruptions

Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, recorded 16 delays and 13 cancellations.

Bahrain International Airport registered 36 delays and two cancellations.

Meanwhile, Cairo International Airport in Egypt reported 136 delays and two cancellations.

Although their cancellation numbers remained lower than those at Saudi Arabian airports, these locations contributed to the wider regional disruption.

Middle East Airlines Face Delays and Cancellations

Saudia, Royal Jordanian and Air Arabia Report Operational Disruptions

Saudia recorded 14 cancellations, representing 2% of its flights, alongside 126 delays, equivalent to 24%.

Royal Jordanian reported 13 cancellations, or 9%, and one delayed flight, recorded as 0% after rounding.

Air Arabia registered 10 cancellations, representing 4%, alongside 73 delays, affecting 31% of its reported flights.

Jordan Aviation experienced two cancellations, representing 20%, and four delays, equivalent to 40%.

Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and EgyptAir Also Affected

Turkish Airlines recorded two cancellations, representing 0% after rounding, and 174 delays, equivalent to 11%.

Pegasus Airlines reported one cancellation, also rounded to 0%, and 155 delays, representing 21%.

EgyptAir registered two cancellations, rounded to 0%, alongside 45 delays, equivalent to 17%.

These airline figures show that delayed departures and arrivals affected a substantial share of operations for several carriers.

What Should Affected Passengers Do Now?

• Passengers travelling through affected Middle East airports should check their flight status directly with their airline before leaving for the airport.
• Travellers should also confirm connecting flights, monitor airline notifications and allow additional time for unexpected schedule changes.
• Those facing cancellations should contact their airline to explore rebooking or refund options. Passengers should retain booking confirmations and receipts for any additional expenses.
• Travel insurance may cover certain disruption-related costs, depending on policy conditions.

Data Verification Notice

The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 22 October 2026 at 3:55 pm ET USA (22 October 2026, 11:55 pm GST).
Primary Source: FlightAware, Local Correspondent
Verification Protocol: All statistics have been independently reviewed and cross-checked by our human editorial desk. Timestamped records, data logs and feed snapshots are securely archived internally to support historical accuracy and editorial transparency.
Note: Real-time flight-tracking figures reflect active airspace and operational data. Minor variations may occur when compared with information displayed at individual airport terminals or airline departure gates.

We publish travel disruption reports of airports across the Middle East. Click here to read full report.

Verified by Somudranil Sarkar