Travellers affected by UAE flight disruptions can rebook their tickets or request refunds as major airlines introduce flexible travel policies following the March 2026 airspace closure.
Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia have resumed limited operations while offering passengers clear rebooking and UAE flight refund options. Here is a step-by-step guide based on your airline and booking type.
Step 1: Check Your Flight Status Before Going to the Airport
Before heading to any airport, check the status of your flight online. All four carriers have advised passengers not to visit the airport unless they have received direct confirmation from their airline.
Make sure your contact details are up to date in your booking so you receive schedule-change notifications automatically.
Step 2: How to Rebook Your UAE Flight
Etihad Airways
Passengers who purchased tickets on or before 28 February for travel until 10 March can rebook free of charge onto any Etihad-operated flight up to 31 March 2026.
To rebook:
- Use the Etihad website or Manage Booking page - Contact Etihad customer support - If booked through a travel agent, contact the agent directly
Emirates
Emirates has resumed limited flight operations, with passengers from earlier bookings given priority. Customers can rebook for travel on or before 20 March.
To rebook:
- Use the Emirates Manage Booking section online - Contact Emirates directly if you booked with the airline - Contact your travel agent if the ticket was issued through an agency
Passengers should wait until the airline contacts them before going to the airport.
flydubai
flydubai has partially resumed flights from Terminals 2 and 3 at Dubai International Airport. Passengers travelling within the next 72 hours can change their booking free of charge, with new travel dates available up to 20 days from the original departure date.
Rebooking options:
- Manage the booking online via the flydubai website - Call the flydubai contact centre - Visit a flydubai travel shop - Contact the travel agent who issued the ticket
Air Arabia
Air Arabia temporarily suspended many flights until 9 March at 3pm, though some services continued to operate. Passengers with cancelled flights can choose from:
- One free date change within 15 days - A full credit voucher - A full refund to the original payment method
Step 3: How to Request a UAE Flight Refund
Passengers who no longer wish to travel can request a full refund. The process depends on how the ticket was purchased:
- Booked directly with the airline: request a refund through the airline's official online refund form - Booked through a travel agent: contact the agent directly to process the refund
Etihad and Emirates both accept refund requests through their official websites.
Key Advice for Affected Travellers
- Regularly check official airline websites for the latest updates - Monitor flight status notifications on your booking - Ensure your contact details are correct in your booking record - Avoid going to the airport unless you have been directly contacted by your airline
Airlines continue to monitor the situation and will update passengers as more flights resume across UAE airports.
