If you’re flying in or out of Dubai this week, the most useful thing you can do is check your booking before leaving for the airport. Air France has pushed its return to Dubai back to October 24, 2026 — eleven days later than the October 13 restart it had previously announced — while a handful of other airlines are quietly resuming or expanding their UAE schedules.

Which Dubai Flights Are Still Disrupted

Air France’s latest extension is the headline act. The carrier had only briefly resumed its Paris–Dubai route on August 26 after a long suspension, then halted it again from September 3. Per media reports, flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Dubai International Airport remain suspended through October 24. Cathay Pacific, meanwhile, has cancelled passenger services to Dubai and Riyadh through January 31, 2027 — the longest-dated suspension among major carriers serving the UAE.

Regional schedules are unsettled too: the UAE has suspended Iranian airline flights until further notice, flydubai has cancelled its Dubai–Abha service, and Air Arabia has cancelled services to Kuwait and Bahrain.

Even on airlines that are operating normally, delays are cropping up. Several Emirates, flydubai, Air India, Ethiopian Airlines and SpiceJet departures from Dubai International Airport faced delays this week. The important distinction: DXB itself remains fully open and busy — the disruption is airline-by-airline, not airport-wide.

Airlines Resuming and Expanding UAE Flights

The picture is brighter for incoming visitors. Air Astana is restarting services to Dubai from Almaty and Astana on October 1–2, and Philippine Airlines launches nonstop Manila–Dubai flights from October 2, giving travellers from Southeast Asia another direct option into the emirate.

Air France passenger aircraft parked at a Dubai airport gate
Air France has pushed its Dubai return back to October 24, per media reports.

Late October is shaping up as the real turning point. Per travel updates, Wizz Air is bringing Dubai services back on October 24–25, with Abu Dhabi following in late October, alongside KLM, Singapore Airlines and ITA Airways on the same date. Lufthansa, SWISS and British Airways follow from October 25 into early November — though BA’s Abu Dhabi service stays suspended far longer.

UAE carriers, for their part, keep adding capacity on their own terms — flydubai has been steadily growing its route network throughout the disruption, even as it trims individual services like Dubai–Abha.

One caveat: these are planning assumptions, not guarantees — airlines have repeatedly moved restart dates with only days’ notice.

What Travel Advisories Currently Say About the UAE

Official advice paints a mixed picture. The UK Foreign Office has removed its broad “all but essential travel” warning for the UAE, but still cautions travellers about possible flight cancellations and airspace disruption. The United States keeps the UAE at Level 3 — “Reconsider Travel” — and Australia advises its citizens to reconsider their need to travel.

Not every government reads it the same way: New Zealand recently lowered its UAE advisory — your own government’s guidance is the one that matters for your trip.

Travellers with luggage walking through a modern airport terminal beneath a flight departure board
Airlines advise checking flight status before heading to the airport.

What to Do If Your Flight Is Affected

A few practical steps, drawn from current airline and airport guidance:

  • Check your flight before leaving home. Use your airline’s app or website — the consistent advice is to confirm directly with the airline even if you already hold a confirmed booking. Our Dubai International Airport guide covers terminals, check-in and status tools.
  • Allow more time at the airport. Three hours before departure is the baseline recommendation; flydubai asks its passengers to allow four hours when departing Dubai.
  • Complete online check-in where available. It trims the queue on a disrupted day and often unlocks free rebooking options if your flight is affected.
  • Keep your contact details updated with the airline so disruption alerts actually reach you. Air France, for example, has been contacting impacted travellers individually and offering cancellation or postponement at no cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Air France flying to Dubai in October 2026?

Not yet. Per media reports, Paris–Dubai flights are suspended through October 24, 2026. Dates have moved several times this year — confirm directly with the airline before travelling.

When will Dubai flight schedules return to normal?

There’s no single date — returns are staggered. Many European carriers target late October to early November; Cathay Pacific is suspended into early 2027. Always check the airline’s latest schedule.

How do I check whether my flight to Dubai is cancelled?

Your airline’s website or app is the authoritative source. Airport channels and flight-status pages help too — but on a fluid day, don’t rely on third-party aggregators alone.

Is it safe to travel to the UAE right now?

Governments disagree. Read your own government’s current advisory before deciding — we covered the full country-by-country breakdown in our UAE travel advisories update.