The world’s busiest airport has closed and flights over the Middle East have ground to a halt leaving travelers stranded after blistering counterattacks were launched following America’s strike on Iran.
The US and Israel launched a coordinated military attack against Iran on Saturday morning, prompting counterstrikes across Middle Eastern countries housing US military bases.
The international community has been bracing for renewed action in the region after negotiations between the US and Iran in Geneva proved unsuccessful.
President Donald Trump announced the strikes overnight in the US, vowing a ‘massive and ongoing’ effort and calling for regime change in Iran.
Several Middle Eastern countries, including Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan have reported intercepted missiles in the counterattacks.
The sharp increase in military activity in the area has resulted in massive flight delays and cancellations, as officials fear commercial planes could be collateral damage while missiles are hurled through the sky.
Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), two major airline hubs, suspended all flight operations at 4pm Dubai time/7am EST.
‘Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time and to contact their respective airlines directly for the latest updates regarding their flights,’ a spokesperson for the airports said in a statement.
Flights to and from airports in the Middle East have been cancelled due to ongoing military strikes in the region. Pictured above is flight information at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday
Passengers are stranded at airports internationally as travel warnings are issued across the Middle East. Passengers in Nepal are pictured above waiting outside the airport as all evening flights to Dubai are cancelled
Emirates, FlyDubai, and Etihad Airways were the most impacted airlines. Emirates cancelled 328 flights on Saturday morning, according to FlightAware. Pictured above is a file photo of an Emirates plane at Dubai International Airport
‘We appreciate the cooperation of our guests. Further updates will be provided as we continue to monitor the situation.’
DXB is the world’s largest airport for international travel. Other countries, including Iraq, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait have also issued temporary bans affecting all commercial flights.
Live tracking data from Flightradar24 showed empty airspace above Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen, and Iran on Saturday afternoon.
Some flights passed through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The data is a stark contrast to Friday afternoon, when multiple flights were seen passing through the region.
Dubai International had the most cancellations and delays of any airport on Saturday afternoon, according to data from FlightAware.
Frustrated travelers shared video footage online of crowds packed shoulder-to-shoulder at Dubai airports.
Crowds of people crammed onto escalators in one video, as travelers aimlessly wandered around the gates in another.
Almost every seat near the gates was taken, as some passengers resorted to sitting on the floors outside a food court.
Live tracking data of flights on Saturday afternoon showed planes avoiding countries in the Middle East as military tensions escalate
The tracking data is a stark contrast with flight paths from Friday afternoon, pictured above
Abu Dhabi International, Bahrain International, King Abdulaziz International, Hamad International, Ben Gurion International, King Khalid International, and Kuwait International were also largely impacted.
The top 10 airports with the most cancelled or delayed flights were all in the Middle East for both incoming and outgoing flights.
London Heathrow Airport has also seen cancellations, with 22 flights cancelled and 53 delayed from the UK to the US.
Emirates, FlyDubai, and Etihad Airways were the most impacted airlines. Emirates cancelled 328 flights on Saturday morning, according to FlightAware.
Etihad issued an operational update on their official X account just before 11am EST, announcing that all departures from Abu Dhabi were suspended until 2pm UAE time/5am EST on Sunday.
The European Union’s aviation safety body issued warnings to all European airlines, citing a ‘high risk’ of flying.
Missiles launched into the airspace above the Middle East have the capacity to reach the same altitudes as commercial flights.
Flying over the region poses a high risk of clashing with a ballistic. Missiles can also blow up en route, making aircraft in the vicinity vulnerable to debris.
Military forces across the Middle East have intercepted missiles launched by Iran in a counterattack. Pictured above is a rocket interception seen in the skys above Abu Dhabi
Iran launched a counterattack against several Middle Eastern countries that house US military bases. A photo of a strike on a US base in Bahrain is pictured above
Reports of the US-Israeli attack on Iran occurred around 9.30am Tehran time/1am EST. Pictured above is the aftermath of one of the strikes as rescuers sift through rubble in Tehran
Commercial planes can sometimes be mistaken for military aircraft. In 2024, Russian forces accidentally shot down an Azerbaijani commercial flight.
Iranian media first reported the strikes around 9.30am Tehran time/1am EST. Trump first confirmed the strikes on Truth Social, announcing a ‘major combat operation.’
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have issued chilling messages to Iran, urging the country to ‘take over your government’ and ‘throw off the yoke of tyranny.’
Iran responded to the strikes with a chilling promise of ‘crushing retaliation,’ launching a barrage of missiles across Middle Eastern countries.
‘All occupied territories and the criminal US bases in the region have been struck by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles. This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,’ Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said.
The international community has had mixed reactions to the strikes, with some countries backing the US-Israeli effort to initiate regime change in Iran, while other officials have condemned the military action as a violation of international law.
The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting at 4pm EST to address the ongoing tensions in the region.
