Dubai Airport Is Open Today —Flights Are Moving and Here's What Travelers Need to Know

Dubai Airport Status Right Now: A Quick Look

Current conditions at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) as of March 6, 2026:

• Airport status: Open and operating with an expanding flight schedule

• Flights operating: Emirates is targeting 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations today. flydubai, Etihad, and Air Arabia are also operating limited services.

• Flights facilitated this week: More than 1,140 flights have been handled in the past 84 hours, providing about 105,000 outbound seats to more than 80 countries.

• Emirates network: Nearly 60 percent of the airline’s global route network is operating as of March 7, with a return to 100 percent expected within the coming days.

• Etihad: Limited operations resumed on March 6, currently serving 25 international destinations.

• flydubai: A reduced schedule resumed on March 5.

• Air Arabia: Flights remain suspended until 3 p.m. UAE time on March 9, although a limited number of services continue to operate with direct notification to passengers.

• Sharjah International (SHJ): Most flights remain suspended. Terminal entry is restricted to confirmed passengers only.

• UAE airspace: Airspace is not fully open. Flights are operating through restricted corridors via Saudi and Omani airspace.

• Passenger access: Terminals remain restricted to confirmed passengers. Travelers without a confirmed booking may be turned away at the entrance.

• Advice from officials: Do not travel to the airport unless your airline has directly confirmed your flight.

Source: Screenshot from Dubai Airports Website March 6, 2026

The Numbers on March 6

Emirates carried approximately 30,000 passengers out of Dubai on March 5 alone, and by March 7 the airline expects to operate 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations, representing almost 60 percent of its global route network.

Dubai Airports says more than 1,140 flights have now been handled at DXB and DWC in the past 84 hours. Between March 2 and March 5, more than 500 outbound flights provided 105,000 seats to over 80 countries, and that number is continuing to climb each day.

Source: Screenshot from Dubai Airports Website March 6, 2026

The Latest on Every Airline Flying From Dubai

Here is where each airline stands as of March 6.

Emirates

By March 7, Emirates will operate 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations, representing almost 60 percent of its route network.

In the United Kingdom alone, the airline will operate 11 daily flights across five airports. Additional capacity is being deployed across India, with 22 daily flights serving all nine Indian gateways. In the United States, Emirates is currently operating to seven American gateways.

The airline anticipates a return to 100 percent of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and operational requirements. Customers with earlier bookings are being prioritized.

Travelers should check availability at emirat.es/bookflights and flight status at emirat.es/flightstatus before leaving for the airport.

Source: Screenshot from Emirates via X, March 6, 2026

flydubai

flydubai resumed a reduced schedule on March 5, operating from Terminals 2 and 3 at DXB, prioritizing customers affected by the disruption.

Operations to some destinations continue to be impacted where airspace restrictions remain in place. Customers booked to travel within the next 72 hours can rebook on an alternative flight up to 20 days from the original travel date free of charge.

Etihad

Etihad resumed limited commercial operations from March 6. Guests holding tickets issued on or before February 28, with original travel dates up to March 21, may rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights up to May 15.

Passengers on all Etihad flights until March 10 may request a refund via the online form at etihad.com/en/help/refund-form.

Travelers should check flight status at etihad.com before heading to the airport.

Air Arabia

Air Arabia flights to and from the UAE remain temporarily suspended until 3pm UAE time on March 9.

A limited number of flights continue to operate in coordination with authorities. Passengers scheduled on operating flights will be notified directly.

Sharjah International Airport

Most flights remain suspended, with terminal entry limited to confirmed passengers only.

What International Carriers Are Doing

The picture beyond UAE-based airlines is more mixed. If you are trying to get home on an international carrier, it is worth knowing exactly where each one stands.

British Airways remains unable to operate flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, and Doha. The airline scheduled additional flights from Muscat to London Heathrow on March 6 and 7, though those flights are now fully booked.

Passengers are advised to contact the airline directly about any additional services.

Lufthansa Group has suspended flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi until March 10. Flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut remain suspended until March 22 and March 28 respectively, while services to Tehran remain suspended until April 30. Flights to and from Larnaca in Cyprus are scheduled to resume March 7.

Air India has suspended most Middle East flights until March 10, though limited services to Muscat and Jeddah have resumed after airspace over Oman and Saudi Arabia was assessed as safe.

Virgin Atlantic has been operating scheduled services between London Heathrow and Dubai since March 3, making it one of the few international carriers consistently flying the route.

What the Numbers Tell Us About the Recovery

The scale of what DXB has pulled off in the past week is worth pausing on.

At a media briefing on March 3, it was announced that 17,498 passengers had been returned on 60 flights in the initial phase, with a target of 80 flights per day carrying 27,000 passengers in the next stage. The actual numbers have now significantly surpassed that target, with over 105,000 outbound seats provided between March 2 and March 5 alone.

Under normal operations, Emirates flies to 140 destinations worldwide. Reaching 83 destinations and roughly 60 percent of network capacity within a week of a near-total shutdown is a remarkable operational achievement. The airline’s goal of returning to 100 percent of its network within the coming days, if achieved, would represent one of the fastest aviation recoveries in recent history.

The broader regional picture is still catching up. Updated data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that between February 28 and March 5, more than 25,000 of 44,000 scheduled Middle East flights were cancelled.

Full regional normalization will likely take longer, particularly for airports in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, where airspace restrictions remain more significant.

Whether you are departing today, this weekend, or traveling in the coming weeks, here is the checklist that applies right now.

• Do not go to the airport without a confirmed booking from your airline


• Check Emirates flight status at emirat.es/flightstatus


• Check Etihad flight status at etihad.com


• Monitor your email. Airlines are notifying confirmed passengers directly

• Confirm your terminal before leaving, as some operations have shifted between DXB terminals


• If you need an Etihad refund, use the online form at etihad.com/en/help/refund-form


• If you are still stranded and cannot secure a commercial seat, contact your country's embassy about charter or repatriation options


For the most up-to-date information, travelers are encouraged to monitor the following official accounts on X:

The hardest part of this week now appears to be behind most travelers. Emirates approaching full network operations and DXB processing tens of thousands of passengers again means the path home is clearer today than it has been at any point since February 28.

Check your booking, confirm your flight, and then head to the airport.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dubai Airport Is Open Today —Flights Are Moving and Here's What Travelers Need to Know

Is Dubai Airport open today?

Yes. Dubai International Airport is open and operating with a growing number of flights. Over 1,140 flights have been facilitated at DXB and DWC in the past 84 hours, and the number is increasing every day.

Are Emirates flights operating today March 7?

By March 7, Emirates expects to have 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations, representing almost 60 percent of its global route network, with service to seven US gateways, 11 UK flights across five airports, and 22 daily India flights across nine gateways. Gizmodo

Can I go to Dubai Airport without a confirmed flight?

No. Dubai Airports and all airlines are still advising that only passengers with confirmed bookings should travel to the terminal. Travelers without confirmation may be turned away at the entrance.

When will Emirates return to its full flight schedule?

Emirates anticipates a return to 100 percent of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements.

Is UAE airspace fully open?

Not yet. Airspace remains under restricted conditions as of March 7, with flights operating through limited corridors. Airlines continue to monitor and adjust as conditions evolve.

Can I get a refund on my cancelled Emirates flight?

Yes. Emirates is offering rebooking on alternate flights for travel on or before April 30 and refunds for direct bookings via the Emirates website. Passengers who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent directly.

Can I get a refund on my cancelled Etihad flight?

Guests on all Etihad flights until March 10 may request a refund via the online refund form at etihad.com/en/help/refund-form. Guests with tickets issued on or before February 28 for travel up to March 21 may rebook free of charge onto Etihad flights up to May 15.

What is the best alternative if I can't fly from Dubai directly?

Muscat in Oman remains the most reliable alternative hub, with multiple airlines operating commercial and relief flights from there. Oman Air has also announced additional flights from Muscat to London, Istanbul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Cairo, and Mumbai running from March 7 onward.