Following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, airspace closures across the Middle East have led to massive disruptions and cancellations of commercial flights.
Real-time flight tracking service FlightRadar24 on Saturday showed airspace closures across the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Several major airports have suspended operations until further notice, including Dubai International Airport (DXB), the second busiest airport in the world — Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi and Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha.
Although many other airports in the Middle East remain open, passengers should check with individual airlines for the latest updates before heading to the airport, as cancellations may vary.
Both Gulf and international airlines flying through the region have issued travel waivers in light of the conflict, allowing passengers to easily change or cancel flights. Each travel exemption varies by airline, with additional information available on each airline’s website:
Travelers with upcoming hotel reservations in affected areas of the Middle East should first check the hotel’s website for updates and information on how reservations may be affected. Please note that some properties in the region may be actively managing the crisis. according to a BBC reportFairmont The Palm Hotel in Dubai has been affected. Calling these hotels directly should be the last option.
The Points Guy has reached out to representatives from Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott, and we will update this post with any details.
Related: When Plans Go Awry: Your Guide to Booking Refundable Travel
Travelers who purchased travel insurance before the conflict began should be able to recover travel expenses if they decide to cancel an upcoming trip. Check out TPG’s complete guides to travel insurance and credit cards that include trip cancellation and interruption insurance:
