Widespread disruption and suspension of Emirates flights; what is happening

In the last two days, the UAE faced widespread disruption of flights; The Civil Aviation Organization called this situation part of the seasonal operational challenges and announced the registration of hundreds of delays and dozens of cancellations.

According to the report of Ambassador Arjan, according to today's report of Ambassador Arjan of the Emirates (WAM), on October 16 and 17, 2026, (yesterday and today), the United Arab Emirates faced extensive disruptions in flights due to thick fog and a severe decrease in horizontal visibility.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation of the Emirates stated that this situation is part of the seasonal operational challenges and the relevant actions are carried out within the framework of standard safety procedures.

According to meteorological data, on the morning of yesterday, October 16, horizontal visibility at Dubai International Airport dropped to 100 meters between 05:15 and 06:20, forcing incoming flights from Mumbai and Cairo to wait in the air, causing chain delays throughout the morning.

The National Meteorological Center of the UAE has issued a red alert for areas of Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

Reports indicate that Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport had 109 delayed flights and 2 canceled flights, and Sharjah International Airport had 105 delayed flights and 7 canceled flights.

The reason for this situation is seasonal fog. As we approach the end of October to early December, nighttime humidity in the UAE increases and the air cools, and radiation fog easily forms, severely reducing horizontal visibility. This year the fog has appeared earlier than usual.

But the more important thing is that this atmospheric disturbance happened at the worst possible time. Since the escalation of security tensions in the region and the war, the airports of the Emirates and especially Dubai have been under additional pressure.

Statistics show that the passenger traffic of Dubai International Airport in the first half of 2026 decreased by 31.3% to about 31.5 million people, while it was about 46 million people the previous year. Cargo traffic has also decreased by 29%.

This means that the UAE's aviation infrastructure, which was once a global transit hub, is now dealing with a multi-layered crisis with a sharp drop in demand and weather disturbances.

Currently, aviation authorities have stated that this phenomenon is within the scope of seasonal operational impacts and passengers should be informed about the status of their flight through official channels.