Flight Cancellations in the UAE: How Stranded Passengers Are Being Treated
Sweeping airspace closures have forced the UAE to suspend most flights, stranding more than 20,000 passengers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. In response, authorities have ordered hotels to host affected visitors at state expense, covering accommodation, meals and rebooking support to protect both travellers and the country’s hub reputation.
Sarah Mitchell
Editor-in-Chief
1 min read(Espresso)
Airspace closures linked to the Iran–US–Israel conflict have triggered mass flight cancellations across the UAE, leaving more than 20,000 passengers stranded at or near Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced that the state is “bearing all hosting and accommodation costs for affected and stranded passengers,” a pledge that covers hotel stays and meals for travellers whose flights have been cancelled or heavily rescheduled.
In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Culture and Tourism has instructed hotels to extend stays for visitors who cannot depart, confirming that “the cost of the extended stay will be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi.” In Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism has told hotels to maintain guests under their original conditions, log cases where travellers cannot pay, and invoice the government for approved extensions. Airlines and airports are simultaneously running emergency rebooking operations, turning the UAE’s hospitality sector into an extension of its crisis‑response infrastructure.
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