Travel Disruption in Abu Dhabi with 4 Flights Delayed and 3 Cancelled Affecting Routes to Riyadh, Muscat, and More – New Update You Need to Know

Written By: Namrata Sinha

Namrata Sinha

Experienced travel journalist and editor creating authoritative content on global tourism, aviation, hospitality, destinations, and travel trends. Passionate about delivering well-researched, informative, and engaging stories for a worldwide audience.

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July 10, 2026 00:50 GMT+5:30

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Abu Dhabi flight cancellations affected seven scheduled flights over multiple days, disrupting air travel between the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. The cancellations impacted services operating between Riyadh and Muscat, affecting both arriving and departing flights at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Saudia and Etihad Airways suspended several regional services, reducing connectivity on two of the Gulf’s busiest travel corridors.

Although the number of affected flights was relatively limited, repeated cancellations on the same routes across consecutive days demonstrate how operational changes can affect passenger itineraries, airline schedules, and regional travel networks.

Seven Scheduled Flights Cancelled

The reported disruptions included:

• 4 cancelled arrivals
• 3 cancelled departures
• 7 total cancellations
• Routes affected: Riyadh–Abu Dhabi and Muscat–Abu Dhabi
• Airlines affected: Saudia and Etihad Airways

These Abu Dhabi International Airport disruptions were concentrated on two key regional connections linking the UAE with Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Cancelled Arrivals

Four inbound services to Abu Dhabi were cancelled.

Saudia cancelled two Airbus A320 flights operating as SVA572 from King Khalid Int’l (RUH / OERK) in Riyadh. The flights had been scheduled to arrive in Abu Dhabi at 1:05 PM on Friday and Saturday.

Etihad Airways also cancelled two inbound services from Seeb Int’l (MCT / OOMS) in Muscat. Flight ETD697, operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, was due to arrive at 1:00 AM on Friday, while flight ETD693, operated by an Airbus A320, was scheduled to arrive on Thursday at 1:05 PM.

These repeated Etihad Airways cancellations temporarily reduced connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Muscat.

Cancelled Departures

Outbound services were also affected.

Saudia cancelled two Airbus A320 flights operating as SVA573 from Abu Dhabi to King Khalid Int’l (RUH / OERK). The flights were scheduled to depart at 3:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, resulting in consecutive Saudia flight cancellations on the Riyadh route.

Etihad Airways also suspended flight ETD696, operated by a Boeing 787-9, from Abu Dhabi to Seeb Int’l (MCT / OOMS). The service had been scheduled to depart on Thursday at 8:45 PM.

Flight Cancellation Summary

What The Pattern Suggests

The repeated suspension of identical flight numbers over consecutive days indicates that the airlines likely made planned operational adjustments rather than responding to a single isolated event.

Airlines often revise schedules to optimize fleet utilization, manage aircraft availability, consolidate passenger demand, or accommodate broader network requirements. Although the cancellations have been confirmed through published schedules, no official reason accompanied the affected services.

The repeated adjustments suggest that the airlines temporarily modified operations on these routes while maintaining flexibility across their wider networks.

Impact On Passengers

Even though only seven scheduled flights were cancelled, the disruptions may affect many more travellers than the numbers suggest.

Passengers could experience:

• Flight rebookings onto later departures
• Missed onward international connections
• Longer travel times
• Changes to business and leisure itineraries
• Reduced flight options on busy regional routes

Travellers connecting through Abu Dhabi may also encounter delays if revised schedules affect their onward international flights.

Aircraft Operating The Affected Services

The cancelled flights included both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.

Saudia deployed Airbus A320 aircraft on its Riyadh services, a common choice for short regional sectors.

Etihad Airways scheduled both Airbus A320 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on its Muscat services, reflecting different capacity requirements across individual flights.

Travelers Should Monitor Flight Updates

Passengers planning to travel on these routes should verify their flight status before leaving for the airport.

Schedules can change because of operational requirements, aircraft availability, weather conditions, or broader airline network adjustments. Checking flight information in advance allows travellers to make alternative arrangements if required.

Key Takeaways

• A total of seven flights were cancelled at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
• The affected destinations were Riyadh and Muscat.
• Four arrivals and three departures did not operate as scheduled.
• Saudia cancelled four flights, while Etihad Airways cancelled three.
• Travellers should regularly check flight status updates and remain prepared for schedule changes on regional Gulf routes.

📊 Data Verification Notice

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.