Developments that affect trips from the UAE: flights through the region, entry rules for Europe and the Gulf, and the routes residents fly or drive most often. Each destination keeps its full history, newest first.
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Regional flights and airspace
Updated · 8 updates
Airports open, some disruption
UAE airports are open, but flights to Saudi Arabia are disrupted while Riyadh's airport stays closed (see the Saudi Arabia thread) and Iranian airlines are suspended. Lufthansa, SWISS, Eurowings and British Airways return to Dubai between 25 October and 3 November, while several European airlines, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific will take longer to return. The General Civil Aviation Authority has warned that reduced visibility may cause limited delays.
Reduced visibility may cause limited delays
The General Civil Aviation Authority warned on 17 October that seasonal weather and reduced horizontal visibility in parts of the UAE could cause limited flight delays. Allow extra time for the journey to the airport and follow your airline's updates before departure. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
Later return dates for Abu Dhabi routes
Austrian Airlines plans to resume its Vienna to Dubai flights on 12 December. Abu Dhabi will wait longer for several European airlines: Eurowings has suspended its Abu Dhabi flights through 24 October with no date to resume, Wizz Air has postponed selected Abu Dhabi routes from Krakow, Katowice, Sofia, Cluj-Napoca, Larnaca and Budapest to 10 January 2027, and British Airways will not return to Abu Dhabi before winter 2027 to 2028. The Dubai return dates for Lufthansa, SWISS, Eurowings and British Airways are unchanged, and the suspension of Iranian airlines remains in place. Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Earlier updates (6)
Return dates set for European airlines
Lufthansa resumes Munich to Dubai flights on 25 October and Frankfurt to Dubai on 26 October, SWISS returns to Dubai daily from 27 October, Eurowings from 1 November and British Airways on 3 November. Air France keeps its Dubai flights suspended through 24 October, Singapore Airlines until 1 December and Cathay Pacific until 31 January 2027, and the Lufthansa Group airlines remain suspended at Abu Dhabi through 24 October. Air Arabia has also cancelled some Sharjah and Abu Dhabi flights to Kuwait, so residents booked with a foreign airline or flying within the Gulf should confirm their flights before travelling. Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Saudi routes disrupted after attacks on Riyadh airport
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport suspended operations after an attack on 10 October, and UAE airlines have cancelled services to several Saudi cities until 12 to 14 October. Air Arabia has also cancelled a number of routes from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Check your flight with the airline before leaving for the airport, even with a confirmed booking. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
Foreign airlines begin to return
Lufthansa Group airlines plan to return gradually from late October and British Airways resumes Dubai flights on 3 November, while Air France, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have extended their suspensions. The UK has lifted its advice against all but essential travel to the UAE, but still warns of cancellations and airspace closures. Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Airports near normal; Israel flights suspended
Dubai International, Al Maktoum and Zayed International airports are operating at near-normal levels, with delays on some regional routes. flydubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel, and Emirates has suspended its Israel codeshare. Source: Gulf News (Jay Hilotin).
Check flight status before leaving for the airport
Airlines are cancelling some regional services at short notice. Passengers are advised to check their flight before travelling, complete online check-in and arrive at least three hours before departure, or four hours for flydubai. Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Flights by Iranian airlines suspended
The General Civil Aviation Authority suspended all flights by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE until further notice, following the US ban on Iranian carriers at airports worldwide. Source: Khaleej Times (Yasmin Hussein) and The National (News Desk).
Saudi Arabia (Umrah)
Updated · 8 updates
Riyadh closed, Saudi flights disrupted
Riyadh's airport is suspended through 17 October. Emirates has cancelled its Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam flights on 17 and 18 October but continues to fly to Madinah, Etihad's Riyadh, Dammam and some Jeddah flights are cancelled through 18 and 19 October, and Air Arabia has cut several Sharjah routes, while flydubai is operating to Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim and Taif. Residents who make Umrah more than once a year can hold a 365-day multiple-entry visa.
Emirates keeps Saudi flights cancelled to 18 October
Emirates has cancelled its Dubai flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam on 17 and 18 October, while its Madinah flights continue to operate. Etihad's Abu Dhabi flights to Riyadh and Dammam remain cancelled through 18 October, with selected Jeddah services cancelled until 19 October. Air Arabia cancelled its Sharjah flights to Riyadh, Dammam, Abha and Taif on 17 October, and flydubai flights to Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim and Taif were listed as operating that day. Riyadh's airport remains suspended through 17 October, so residents travelling for Umrah should confirm their flight with the airline before leaving for the airport. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
Emirates cancels every Saudi departure on 15 October
All eight Emirates departures to Saudi Arabia on 15 October were cancelled or did not operate, covering its Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh flights. Etihad has cancelled its Abu Dhabi flights to Riyadh and Dammam through 18 October, with selected Jeddah services cancelled through 18 or 19 October. flydubai has stopped flying to 12 Saudi destinations, including Riyadh, Dammam, Abha and AlUla, but continues some services to Gassim, Jeddah, Madinah and Tabuk, and Air Arabia has cancelled Sharjah flights to Riyadh, Abha, Dammam, Jeddah, Jizan and Tabuk. Riyadh's airport remains suspended through 17 October, so residents planning Umrah should confirm with the airline that their flight to Jeddah or Madinah is operating. Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Earlier updates (6)
Emirates cancels Dubai to Jeddah flights
Emirates cancelled its Dubai to Jeddah flights on 14 and 15 October, in addition to its Riyadh services and some Dammam flights. flydubai cancelled its Riyadh, Abha and Neom flights on 14 and 15 October and its Al Jouf, Ha'il and Hofuf services on 15 October, and Air Arabia cancelled its Sharjah flights to Riyadh, Dammam, Abha and Taif on both days. Etihad's Riyadh and Dammam cancellations run through 18 October and some Jeddah flights through 19 October. Residents travelling for Umrah through Jeddah should confirm their flight with the airline before leaving for the airport. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran) and Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Riyadh closed until at least 17 October
A notice to airmen keeps Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport closed until at least 17 October. Etihad has cancelled all Abu Dhabi flights to Riyadh and Dammam through 18 October and some Jeddah flights until 19 October, and Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have cancelled their Riyadh services on 14 and 15 October, with further cancellations to Dammam, Abha and other Saudi cities. The UK advises against all but essential travel to Jeddah, Dammam and every Saudi airport except Madinah. UAE travel agents report that many residents have put Umrah plans on hold, and airlines are offering refunds or new dates on cancelled flights. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran) and Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan) and Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan) and GOV.UK (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office).
Etihad cancels Riyadh flights until 19 October
Riyadh's airport remains closed and Saudi Arabia has given no reopening date. Etihad has cancelled all Abu Dhabi to Riyadh flights until 19 October and selected Jeddah flights until 15 October; flydubai has cancelled Riyadh, Dammam and Abha flights until 14 October; and Emirates and Air Arabia are cancelling Riyadh services day by day. The Houthis' warning against Saudi airports exempts only Makkah and Madinah, so pilgrims flying through Jeddah should confirm their flights before they travel. Source: The National (William Mullally and Evelyn Lau) and ABC News (Reuters, AFP and AP).
Flights to Saudi cities cancelled
An attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on 10 October killed 12 people, among them Umrah pilgrims, and the airport suspended operations. Emirates cancelled several flights to Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and Madinah on 11 and 12 October, Etihad cancelled Abu Dhabi flights to Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh until 13 October, and flydubai cancelled its Riyadh flights until 14 October. Pilgrims booked for the coming days should confirm their flights before they travel. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran) and Gulf News (Khitam Al Amir).
A year of Umrah visits on one visa
Residents who travel to Makkah several times a year can now hold one Umrah visa for 365 days, spending up to 90 days in the Kingdom across all their visits. A service package on the Nusuk platform and an Umrah permit are still needed for each trip, and the visa does not cover the Hajj season. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
Use the Umrah visa within a month
An Umrah visa that is not used within one month of issue is now cancelled automatically, so apply close to your travel dates. Once in the Kingdom, the permitted stay is still three months. Source: Gulf News (Lekshmy Pavithran).
Visa-free visits for UAE citizens and more than 60 other nationalities are now limited to 30 days, and every traveller must complete the online arrival card before landing. Residents follow the rules for their own passport.
Visa-free stays halved to 30 days
Thailand reduced visa-free entry from 60 to 30 days for travellers from more than 60 countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman. The rules follow the passport, not the country of residence, and one extension can be requested in Thailand. Source: The National (Ajanta Paul).
Digital arrival card becomes mandatory
From 1 May 2025, every foreign visitor, including visa-exempt travellers, must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 72 hours before arrival. Source: Gulf News (Dhanusha Gokulan).
Residents of some nationalities, including Pakistan, need a UAE residence permit valid for at least one year to enter Georgia without a visa, and every visitor now needs health and accident insurance for the whole stay.
Health and accident insurance now required
From 1 January 2026, visitors to Georgia must hold health and accident insurance valid for the whole stay, with cover of at least 30,000 lari. Source: Gulf News (Karishma H. Nandkeolyar).
One-year residence permit needed for some nationalities
Georgia requires citizens of 16 designated countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, to hold a Gulf residence permit valid for at least one year to enter visa-free. A UAE residence on its own no longer guarantees entry. Source: Khaleej Times (Ajanta Paul).
The Entry/Exit System now registers fingerprints and a facial image at the first Schengen entry, which can mean longer queues. ETIAS is not yet in operation.
ETIAS launch date withdrawn
The EU withdrew the 2026 launch date for ETIAS, the travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors. It is not in operation, no applications or fees are needed, and the start date will be announced several months before it goes live. Source: Gulf News (Justin Varghese).
Entry/Exit System fully operational
The EU's Entry/Exit System now registers fingerprints and a facial image at the first Schengen entry and tracks the 90 days in any 180-day rule automatically. Travellers are advised to arrive early and allow extra time for connections. Source: Gulf News (Justin Varghese).
Oman by road
Updated · 1 update
Visa on arrival for residents
UAE residents can drive to Oman and obtain a 14-day visa on arrival at the border. Check that your car insurance covers Oman.
Rules for driving from the UAE to Oman
UAE residents can get a 14-day visa on arrival for 5 Omani rials (around AED 48), and pay an AED 35 exit fee at the UAE border. If your motor policy does not cover Oman, Orange Card insurance starts at around AED 106 for five days. Source: Gulf News (Zainab Husain).
GCC countries
Updated · 2 updates
Unified visa still to come
The unified GCC tourist visa, covering all six Gulf countries, is expected but has not yet launched. A one-stop border check is being piloted for GCC citizens.
One-stop travel pilot between the UAE and Bahrain
GCC states approved a one-stop travel system in which immigration, customs and security checks are completed at a single checkpoint. The UAE and Bahrain are piloting it for GCC citizens on flights from December 2025. Source: Khaleej Times (Sahim Salim).
Unified GCC visa moved to 2026
Saudi Arabia's tourism minister confirmed that the unified GCC visa, the GCC Grand Tours Visa, was postponed from its end-of-2025 target to 2026, with a phased rollout after pilot testing. Source: Gulf News (Justin Varghese).
This is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules often differ by passport, so UAE residents should confirm the requirements for their own nationality with their airline and with our team before travelling.
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