UAE Lifts All Aviation Restrictions Imposed Since War with Iran
Danai Nesta Kupemba
The UAE has lifted all aviation restrictions imposed since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, restoring normal flight operations after a comprehensive security assessment. The move follows a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire and signals a major recovery for Middle East aviation, which saw over 11,000 cancellations during the conflict.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced on April 12 that all flight operations in the country's airspace had returned to 'normal status' after authorities conducted a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions in coordination with relevant agencies.
The decision comes after weeks of partial or full closures of UAE airspace since late February, when the U.S. and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran. Tehran's retaliatory strikes on Gulf states forced several countries in the region to shut their airspace, severely disrupting aviation.
According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, more than 11,000 flights to and from the region were canceled in the early days of the conflict. At least eight countries, including the UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, announced partial or full airspace closures.
UAE carriers such as Emirates and flydubai had to suspend all operations, while Etihad halted all flights from Abu Dhabi. During a partial reopening phase from March 1–12, UAE airports served 1.4 million passengers with 7,839 movements, and national carriers operated at 44.6% of normal capacity.
A Pakistan-mediated ceasefire reached last month ended the conflict, paving the way for the UAE's decision to lift flight restrictions. Signs of regional aviation recovery also emerged as Qatar Airways confirmed it would resume flights to three Iraqi cities from May 10 and plans to serve over 150 destinations across six continents from mid-June.
The lifting of restrictions is a significant milestone for Dubai, home to the world's busiest airport by international passenger traffic, and Abu Dhabi. The earlier conflict heavily affected a region striving to reduce economic dependence on fossil fuels, while also limiting long-haul routes between Europe and Asia.
