Hundreds of thousands of travellers faced severe disruption on Sunday as airspace closures across the Middle East continued following the US and Israeli attack on Iran. Key transit hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha halted operations, leaving many stranded or diverted.
The UK government is planning one of its largest evacuations, with over 76,000 British citizens registered in affected areas. Most are in the UAE, primarily holidaymakers and travellers. The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, Israel and Palestine, and against non-essential travel to the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
More than 3,400 flights were cancelled across seven main airports in the region on Sunday. Major airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad suspended operations, affecting approximately 90,000 passengers daily. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic also cancelled flights.
Iran's retaliatory strikes damaged Dubai International Airport and the Burj Al Arab hotel, injuring four people. An incident at Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport resulted in one death and seven injuries, according to a now-deleted post from Abu Dhabi Airports.
Iranian airspace remains closed until at least Tuesday morning, with potential further disruptions from fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Airlines urged passengers to check flight status before travelling, with some offering waivers for rebooking.
