UAE airlines including Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have announced flexible rebooking and refund options following regional flight disruptions. Passengers are advised to check flight status updates and contact their airline or travel agent for assistance.
Many travellers were left stranded on Monday as they waited for confirmation on whether they would be permitted to board their flights. Several passengers who had booked their tickets before the recent escalation involving Iran have since had to cancel or delay their travel plans.
The UAE’s airspace remains partially open, with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirming that certain “exceptional” flights have resumed departures. On Tuesday morning, five Emirates flights departed Dubai for Jeddah, Manchester, London, Paris and Frankfurt, according to flight tracking data.
For passengers who made bookings prior to the continued tensions, UAE airlines have introduced flexible options to help them manage their travel arrangements.
Below is a summary of the rebooking and refund policies announced by the UAE carriers:
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Etihad Airways has extended its suspension of commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi until Wednesday, March 4 at 2pm. The airline has instructed passengers not to travel to the airport unless specifically advised, in order to prevent overcrowding.
Customers who purchased tickets on or before February 28 for travel up to March 7 are eligible to rebook free of charge on Etihad-operated flights until March 18, 2026.
Passengers scheduled to travel until March 7 may also apply for a refund through Etihad’s online refund form or via their travel agent. Those who booked through agents must contact them directly.
Etihad has urged travellers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and ensure their contact details are up to date to receive timely notifications.
Emirates has restarted a limited number of services. The airline is prioritising customers with earlier bookings and will contact those successfully rebooked. Travellers are advised not to proceed to the airport unless they have received confirmation.
All remaining scheduled flights are suspended until further notice. Emirates continues to assess the situation and will revise its operating schedule as necessary.
Passengers can reschedule their travel to another flight to the same destination for journeys on or before March 20. Those who booked through travel agents should contact them directly, while customers who booked with Emirates can reach out to the airline.
Refund requests can be submitted through the airline’s refund form for direct bookings. Customers who used travel agents must coordinate refunds through them.
flydubai has also resumed limited operations, with flight schedules subject to ongoing adjustments.
Passengers due to travel within 72 hours (as of Monday evening) can rebook a flight to the same destination within 20 days of their original departure date at no extra cost via the “Manage your booking” section.
Alternatively, customers may contact the flydubai call centre, visit a travel shop, or get in touch with their travel agent for rebooking or refund assistance.
Air Arabia has announced the suspension of its flights to and from the UAE until Wednesday, March 4 at 3pm.
Passengers scheduled to travel within the next 24 hours will be contacted directly with alternative arrangements if they booked with the airline. Those who made reservations through travel agents are advised to contact their agent for further support.
Source: khaleejtimes
Image source: arabianbusiness
