Is Dubai International Airport Open on April 7? The EASA Decision Is 3 Days Away — Here's What You Need to Know

What Changed at DXB Since Last Week

A few things have shifted since the April 3 article that are worth knowing about specifically today.

Emirates quietly rolled out a new booking incentive. Anyone purchasing a NEW Emirates ticket from April 2 onward gets one complimentary date change across all cabin classes, within ticket validity. Fare differences may apply. This is on top of the existing crisis waiver for passengers already booked between February 28 and April 30. It's a signal that Emirates is trying to rebuild booking confidence, essentially saying, even if you're not sure about your travel plans right now, go ahead and book.

Air India and Air India Express have scaled back their UAE operations today. They operated 34 flights on April 2, then 16 on April 7. That number fluctuates daily; routes are confirmed each day rather than published on a fixed schedule, so don't read too much into it. But it's worth knowing if Indian carriers are your primary connection into Dubai right now.

Qatar Airways made something clearer that was fuzzy in earlier reports: the Doha-Dubai route is not currently operating. Qatar Airways is rebuilding its broader global network and expects to reach 120-plus destinations by mid-May, but the Doha-Dubai leg specifically remains suspended. If you need to connect through Doha to get to Dubai, that isn't a current option.

And Singapore Airlines is now confirmed to suspend its SQ494/SQ495 Dubai route through May 31. That wasn't prominently featured in earlier updates; it's a new addition to the list of major Asian carriers that are still out.

April 10: Three Days Away and Closer Than It's Ever Been

We first flagged April 10 in the April 3 article. Back then, it was a week out, important but not yet urgent. Today, it's three days away, and the weight of it is different. Every European carrier that's been grounded since late February has this date circled. Their war-risk insurers have this date circled. If you have a booking on British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, or Air France for any time in the next few weeks, your fate is essentially tied to what EASA announces on Thursday.

Here's how it works. EASA's Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB 2026-03-R5) advises European-regulated operators to avoid UAE airspace entirely. European carriers can't simply decide to ignore it; their insurance coverage is directly tied to whether EASA has assessed the airspace as safe to operate in. When EASA reviews the bulletin on April 10, it has two options: lift or modify the advisory, which opens the door for insurers to restore coverage and carriers to begin planning returns. Or it extends the bulletin, which almost certainly means current suspension dates get pushed further out.

The Iranian Nationals Travel Restriction

This one didn't get enough coverage in the daily updates and it matters for a specific group of travelers. As of April 1, Iranian nationals are barred from entering or transiting through UAE airports unless they hold a UAE golden visa. There are limited exceptions: spouses or children of UAE nationals, and certain professional categories including athletes, bank executives, doctors, engineers, investors, senior professionals, and traders.

Who's Flying and Who Isn't — April 7, 2026

Here’s where the major airlines stand as of today:

Emirates: 150 departures scheduled from DXB today. Serving roughly 70% of pre-conflict capacity. New tickets purchased from April 2 onward include one free date change across all cabins (fare difference may apply). Existing crisis waiver: booked Feb 28 through Apr 30, rebook by June 15 or request a full refund at emirates.com. City check-in in Dubai still closed — use Terminal 3 desk only. Arrive 4 hours early if departing from a US gateway.

flydubai: 73 departures scheduled today, operating at about 40% of pre-conflict capacity. Check your specific flight at flydubai.com before leaving — schedules change at short notice. Arrive at least 4 hours before departure. Rebooking at (+971) 600 54 44 45.

Etihad: About 80 destinations from Abu Dhabi, roughly 80 to 98 daily departures. Tickets for travel Feb 28 through Apr 15 can be refunded or rebooked free until May 15 at etihad.com/manage.

Air Arabia: Operating routes from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah through April 15 with gradually increasing frequencies. Also launched a nonstop Sharjah to London Gatwick service March 29, running 14 flights per week on the A321LR. Refund, rebook, or credit voucher available.

Air India & Air India Express: Operating 16 flights to the UAE today, down from 34 on April 2. Routes confirmed daily — the number changes. Free rebook or full refund available. 24/7 support: +91 11693 29333.

IndiGo: Operating select flights to the region today, including routes between Indian cities and UAE airports. Check your status through your registered contact details before leaving home.

Qatar Airways: Doha-Dubai route confirmed not operating as of today. Broader Qatar network is rebuilding toward 120-plus destinations by mid-May. Waiver covers bookings Feb 28 through Jun 15 — two free date changes up to October 31, or refund on unused ticket value.

Middle East Airlines: Running scheduled services between DXB and Beirut.

China Southern Airlines: Select routes from Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Check the airline's website for the current schedule before departing.

Air France: All Dubai and Riyadh flights suspended through April 19. Outcome tied directly to EASA April 10 review. Free rebook to May 17 or one-year voucher on Air France, KLM, or Delta. Check airfrance.com directly.

British Airways: Dubai, Amman, Bahrain, and Tel Aviv canceled through May 31. Abu Dhabi through October 25. Doha through April 30. Rebooking window now extended to October 31 for full refund or date change. April 10 EASA review is BA's key date.

Lufthansa Group (LH, SWISS, Austrian, ITA, Brussels): Dubai suspended through at least May 31. Eurowings through October 24. April 10 EASA review applies here. Tickets issued by March 1 for travel March 16 to 26 eligible for refund.

KLM: Not flying to or from Dubai through May 17. Rebook free or request a refund through My Trip portal. April 10 EASA review relevant here.

Singapore Airlines: SQ494/SQ495 Dubai route suspended through May 31. Affected passengers can seek a full refund of the unused ticket portion or be reaccommodated on alternative flights. Check singaporeair.com for latest status.

Turkish Airlines: No confirmed restart date. Booked before Feb 28 for travel through Apr 30? Rebook penalty-free or full refund by June 10 at turkishairlines.com.

United Airlines: Dubai flights impacted through June 15. Ticket by Feb 28 for travel March 8 through June 15? Reschedule with no change fees or fare difference. New travel after June 15: change fees waived, fare difference may apply.

Air Canada: Dubai suspended through April 30. Rebook to the same destination or reroute to Europe, the UK, India, or Africa at no extra cost.

Philippine Airlines: Manila to Dubai route (PR 658/659) suspended through at least April 30. Rebook and refund options on the airline's website.

Cathay Pacific: All Dubai flights canceled through April 30.

Wizz Air: Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman from mainland Europe suspended through mid-September.

Oman Air: Dubai and several Gulf routes suspended through April 15. European, Southeast Asian, and African network running normally.

Virgin Atlantic: Dubai seasonal service suspended. Riyadh paused and under review.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dubai Airport April 7, 2026

Is Dubai International Airport open on April 7, 2026?

Yes. DXB is open and running steadily, with no new incidents reported. Emirates has 150 departures and flydubai has 73 scheduled today — 223 combined, the highest daily total since the conflict began on February 28. Dubai Airports' advisory to confirm your flight before traveling is still active.

What happens on April 10 at Dubai Airport?

EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, reviews its Conflict Zone Information Bulletin covering UAE airspace on April 10. This bulletin is the primary reason British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, and most other European-regulated carriers remain suspended on Dubai routes — their war-risk insurers follow EASA's assessment. If the bulletin is modified or lifted, European carriers can begin planning returns. If extended, current suspension dates will likely push further out.

What is Emirates' new booking policy as of April 2026?

Emirates launched two policies. First, existing crisis waiver: customers booked for travel between February 28 and April 30 can rebook to the same destination by June 15 at no extra cost, or request a full refund. Second, new bookings: any ticket purchased from April 2 onward includes one complimentary date change across all cabin classes, within ticket validity. Fare differences may apply on the new date. If you booked through a travel agent, go through them — Emirates can only process changes on tickets it sold directly.

Is Qatar Airways flying Doha to Dubai right now?

No. The Doha-Dubai route is confirmed suspended as of today. Qatar Airways is rebuilding its broader global network and expects to serve 120-plus destinations by mid-May 2026, but the Doha-Dubai leg specifically is not currently operating. If you need to connect via Doha into Dubai, that isn't an available option right now.

Can Iranian nationals travel through Dubai right now?

Only under specific conditions. Since April 1, Iranian nationals cannot enter or transit UAE airports unless they hold a UAE golden visa, are a spouse or child of a UAE national, or fall into an approved professional category — athletes, bank executives, doctors, engineers, investors, senior professionals, or traders. Verify your eligibility directly with UAE immigration or your airline before traveling.

Is Singapore Airlines flying to Dubai in April 2026?

No. Singapore Airlines confirmed its SQ494/SQ495 Dubai route is suspended through May 31, 2026. Affected passengers can seek a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket or be reaccommodated on alternative flights. Check singaporeair.com for the latest information on your specific booking.

How many flights are actually operating at Dubai Airport today?

Emirates has 150 departures and flydubai has 73 scheduled from DXB today, April 7 — 223 combined. Etihad is running about 80 to 98 daily departures from Abu Dhabi. By comparison, Emirates alone was running 327 total flights on March 29. The recovery is real but still well below pre-conflict levels.

When will British Airways and Lufthansa resume Dubai flights?

The official suspension dates are May 31 for both British Airways and Lufthansa Group. But the real answer depends on what EASA decides on April 10. If the conflict zone bulletin is modified or lifted, European carriers including BA and Lufthansa can begin the process of returning — which would still take days to implement. If EASA extends the bulletin, those May 31 dates will likely get pushed further. Watch your airline's website in the 48 hours following April 10.