With airspace closures grinding flights to a halt, both Gulf giants promise to foot the bill for those stuck in their countries.
Hotels told to keep guests safe and sound
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced it will cover all accommodation and food costs for passengers stranded because of the ongoing airspace closures. The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism ordered hotels to extend stays “until guests are able to depart.”
“The cost of the extended stay will be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi,” the circular confirmed.
Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism also instructed hotels to flex booking rules for affected travellers. A spokesperson said, “Dubai has a strong track record in handling global disruptions, prioritising care while keeping world-class standards.”
So far, around 20,200 passengers have been hit by cancellations or rescheduling in the UAE alone.
Qatar joins the relief effort
Qatar Tourism echoed the UAE, urging hotels to extend stays for stranded visitors and promising to cover any extra costs. A statement said, “Safety, security and wellbeing of all visitors remain among our highest priorities.”
Regional flight chaos continues
The UAE has suspended all commercial flights but started running limited emergency flights to clear the backlog. Airlines like Emirates and Etihad are reaching out directly to customers. Passengers not contacted are advised to stay home and avoid airports.
- Etihad flights to/from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 4 March, 2pm local time.
- Emirates extended its pause until 3 March, 3pm local time.
- Qatar’s Hamad International Airport also halted all flight operations. Qatar Airways plans to update travellers by 4 March.
- Kuwait closed its airspace after a drone strike injured nine workers at Kuwait International Airport.
Meanwhile, Oman Air and Saudia have cancelled multiple regional routes until early March as uncertainty looms.
This is a developing story as the Gulf nations rally to support stranded travellers during this turbulent time.
