UAE / Oman / Qatar Airspace Precautionary Measures & Client Support as a result of the USA / Iran conflict
Update DK 13/3/26
Not a lot positive to add. The situation changes day to day. Anything from mid-April onwards is pure speculation, no one knows.
The Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia remain popular, but with direct flights rather than Middle East transits. As such, fares on non-stop flights have increased, and availability has decreased.
If you are still booked with a transit stop in the Middle East, please check your insurance, as many policies have been revised following UK FCO advice.
The Caribbean is also showing demand as an alternative destination. Most hotels have come out with additional promotional offers, excluding peak demand periods over Easter and any island-specific festivals (i.e., St Lucia Jazz Festival, 3-10 May). Flight availability is tight, with many of the lower booking classes unavailable.
For those already booked and travelling from mid-April onwards, we are happy to move your deposit to an alternative Chic destination, at a higher or lower applicable price. Or we are happy to hold your deposit until March 2027.
You will be aware that the UAE / Oman / Qatar has closed its airspace (as of 01 March, but this is under constant review by the relevant authorities) as a precaution amid regional tensions.
The General Civil Aviation Authority and the relevant ministries have reiterated that public safety is the top priority.
Practical advice for our Clients
- Follow official guidance. See https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice followed by the country. The British Government has requested that anyone currently in any of the countries in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, or Israel register their presence so they can receive direct updates. You can find this information, including the registration links, on the official FCDO travel advice page: Foreign travel advice – GOV.UK
- With most of our clients the final destination will be in SE Asia or the Indian Ocean, but the arrangement might involve a transit flight connection, so look up the transit country.
- Please continue to listen to local authority advice and consult relevant embassies/consulates for the most up-to-date travel and safety guidance.
- Use airline channels for the latest operational updates
- Please refer to the airline’s official advisories and service and airport update pages. See contact list below
- Keep schedules flexible where possible
- Given the fluid situation, we recommend building in extra flexibility around arrival/departure timings and pre-arranged plans.
- Maintain reachable client contact details
Here is a list of useful contact information
Official UAE , Oman & Qatar Airport Sources
- Dubai Airports Official Website: dubaiairports.ae – The “Flight Status” section provides real-time arrivals and departures.
- Abu Dhabi Airport: Check the official Zayed International Airport website or their social media. @AUH: https://www.zayedinternationalairport. ae/
- Oman Muscat Airport: https://www.omanairports.co.om/en/news
- Qatar Airways: Follow @qatarairways on X or visit their Travel Alerts page.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Qatar: Airline-Specific Updates
Since individual flight status is managed by the carriers, use these direct links:
- Emirates: Check the Emirates travel updates page or their mobile app and website: https://www.emirates.com/english/help/travel-updates/?utm_medium=social_organic&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=travelupdates-global&utm_content=global
- Etihad: Visit etihad.com/en/manage/flight-status
- Qatar Airlines. Visit https://www.qatarairways.com/en-gb/homepage.html
- British Airways. https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/travel-news/
- Oman Air: https://www.omanair.com/en_gb
The situation is changing almost minute by minute. The above is intended as guidance for those travelling within the first weeks of March.
It is too early to speculate about what might happen from mid-March onwards, especially if your travel plans are for spring/summer and beyond.
Our emergency contact numbers shown on our travel documents are, of course, open.
DK/3/2026
“There’s no such thing as the best hotel, just the right one…”
Click for Booking Terms, Price Guides & Flight Information
All price guides are Per Person Sharing Double Room (Entry level), based on travel between May and/or June when prices are generally at their lowest and include promotional offers.
Supplements will probably apply at other times, particularly mid-summer in the Med, and for rooms and/or transfers arranged for single travellers.
For example, the Caribbean and Indian Ocean prices for winter can be approximately double the May – June level and about 50% more in Asia.
For the Mediterranean & Canary Islands, Caribbean, Arabia and the Indian Ocean (except Sri Lanka) price guides generally include airfare and transfers.
*For Sri Lanka and Far East we show a per person per night hotel guide, excluding air fare, as arrangements tend to be individually tailored multi-centre itineraries.
Please refer to Travel Advice on our home page or look at www.fco.gov.uk as the Foreign Office may have issued specific destination information on safety and terrorism.
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