How UAE airports manage to stay operational amid Iran conflict

Despite ongoing missile threats and restricted airspace, the United Arab Emirates has managed to maintain flight operations at its major airports, even after direct strikes during the early stages of the conflict with Iran. Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi were hit when Iranian attacks began on February 28, and have since faced repeated strikes as more than 2,000 missiles and drones were launched toward the country. Emirati authorities say roughly 93 percent of those threats have been intercepted.

While airports in neighbouring countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait have experienced shutdowns or major disruptions, the UAE has largely kept its aviation network functioning, according to an article by The National.

Airlines operating out of Abu Dhabi and Dubai have relied on specially approved flight “corridors” designated by aviation authorities, allowing aircraft to depart during lower-risk windows. Data from flight tracking services shows that westbound flights typically veer south immediately after takeoff to avoid Iranian airspace before continuing over Saudi Arabia.

Airspace over Oman has seen fewer threats, with Muscat’s airport remaining operational for much of the conflict. Aircraft approaching the UAE are sometimes held in patterns over Omani territory when missile risks increase.

“We’ve closed airspace, we’ve opened it as the threat level has changed," said Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports. "We’ve been able to keep aircraft in the air and obviously to route through corridors that are properly designated by GCAA [UAE General Civil Aviation Authority] and holding aircraft at outstation [non-hub airports] so they can be safely diverted if there is a threat."

Between March 1 and 12, more than 1.4 million passengers passed through UAE airports, though overall operations were running at about 44.6 percent of normal capacity, according to official figures cited by the article.

Flight data indicates that, at one point, Emirates and Air Arabia were operating at over 60 percent of their usual capacity, while flydubai and Etihad Airways were at approximately 35 percent and 30 percent, respectively. However, activity has since declined following renewed airspace closures amid additional missile attacks.

As the Emirati outlet points out, this performance stands in sharp contrast to other Gulf carriers. Qatar Airways has been operating at roughly 10 percent capacity, while Bahrain’s Gulf Air suspended flights from its home base due to airspace closures, instead running limited services from Saudi Arabia. Kuwaiti airspace also remains closed, though flights to and from Muscat have continued.

Griffiths suggested that insurance challenges are limiting some international airlines from flying to the UAE. “If foreign governments would underwrite – which surely for them should be a relatively easy thing to do – the operations of their airlines to the UAE, then obviously we’ll do everything we can to facilitate those,” he said. 

“That’s the attitude of a lot of airlines coming in, that they are getting that support from governments to underwrite their insurance policies.”

Industry experts emphasize that safety remains the top priority. “You’re talking about airlines with incredibly experienced management who’ve been through many crises and security challenges,” said aviation analyst John Strickland. “With the fundamental caveat that safety and security can be assured, they will operate what they need to do to repatriate the enormous numbers of people stuck.”

Security corridors

Flight tracking data shows that aircraft from Gulf states are avoiding northern routes after takeoff, instead approaching and departing via southern pathways. Airlines are steering clear of Iranian and Iraqi airspace, using carefully managed corridors instead, though these routes have limited capacity.

“There is no formal aviation system called ‘security corridors’,” explained Connor Hunter, director of operations at Securewest International. “In practice, what people are describing are standard air traffic service routes that are being used, prioritised or adjusted in response to the security environment.”

He added that these routes operate within established “flight information region” systems that organize airspace and provide critical data to pilots.

“The purpose is straightforward: to keep aircraft within predictable, tightly managed pathways and away from more sensitive or higher-risk areas where possible,” he said.

“These routes are not physically patrolled by fighter jets. They are protected through surveillance, air traffic control, routing discipline and close civil-military co-ordination. In this context, predictability and visibility are the real security measures.”

Despite the risks, financial pressures also play a role in keeping flights running. “If the airliners are sat on the ground, crew are sat at home, you’re having to pay for the scheduled maintenance, you’re still having to pay for the staff, if you’re cancelling tickets you’re having to refund that – the commercial imperative [to keep flying] is really obvious,” said Guy Gratton, professor at Cranfield University.

Experts cited in the report expect the conflict to remain disruptive for weeks, potentially extending up to three months even if the most intense fighting subsides sooner.

By Nazrin Sadigova