If you are flying today, Sunday 25 October 2026, check your booking before you leave home. The disruption picture changed again overnight. Indian carriers have extended their Saudi Arabia suspensions further into November. Wizz Air has cancelled its entire winter season to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, starting today. At the same time, European routes are coming back. Lufthansa resumes Dubai to Munich today, with Frankfurt following tomorrow. The day’s message is therefore mixed: new cancellations on some routes, genuine recovery on others.
This guide covers everything confirmed as of Sunday morning, 25 October 2026. It starts with what changed today. Then it lists the winter-season cancellation and the returning European services. After that, it recaps what remains cancelled from yesterday’s update. Finally, it gives your passenger rights and a checklist to use before heading to the airport. The situation is fluid. Consequently, treat this as your starting point. Then verify your own flight with your airline directly.
What changed today for Saudi Arabia flights?
The biggest new development today comes from Indian carriers. Three airlines have extended suspensions on Saudi routes, and the new dates stretch well into November. Here is each announcement in turn.
Air India and Air India Express: Riyadh and Dammam until 7 November
Air India and Air India Express have extended the suspension of flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam until 7 November 2026. Services to and from Jeddah will remain suspended until 31 October 2026. The airlines announced the extension in a joint advisory shared on X on Saturday. They cited the prevailing situation in the region. Previously, the two airlines had cancelled their Saudi services until 24 October. The new dates therefore push the disruption at least two more weeks forward.
For affected passengers, the airlines have offered flexibility. Passengers holding confirmed bookings issued on or before 24 October may choose flexible rebooking options. Alternatively, they may opt for a full refund upon cancellation of their bookings. If you hold such a ticket, contact the airline or your travel agent. Do not wait for the airline to contact you, since rebooking capacity on alternative services is limited.
IndiGo: Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until 31 October
IndiGo has extended the cancellation of all its flights to and from Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah until Saturday, 31 October 2026. The airline announced the extension in a travel advisory posted on X on Saturday. It said passenger and crew safety remains its top priority. In addition, it said it remains in close coordination with the relevant authorities.
This is the second extension in two days. On Friday, IndiGo had announced that Riyadh flights would remain cancelled until 31 October, while Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah would be suspended until 27 October. The Saturday update brought all four cities into line at 31 October. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed the revised timelines in a statement on Saturday.
Akasa Air: Jeddah until 10 November, Riyadh until 30 November
Akasa Air has gone further than the other Indian carriers. On Friday, the airline extended the suspension of its Jeddah flights until 10 November. Its Riyadh flights will remain suspended until 30 November. For passengers booked on these routes, that means a full month of disruption on the Riyadh service. If you are booked with Akasa, check whether your travel dates fall inside the suspension window. If they do, contact the airline now for rebooking or refund options.
What help exists for stranded Umrah pilgrims?
The disruption has hit Umrah pilgrims particularly hard. In response, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah has issued a detailed advisory. The consulate said it is actively extending assistance through round-the-clock control rooms in Jeddah and Makkah. Supported by local Indian community associations and volunteers, the mission is facilitating food, essential medicines and immediate relief wherever required.
Furthermore, the consulate said it remains in continuous contact with Indian airlines regarding passenger refunds. It is also connecting Indian Umrah tour operators with airlines that continue to operate flights to India. However, alternative travel arrangements remain subject to seat availability, applicable airfares and specific airline guidelines. The consulate urged all affected travellers to remain in regular communication with their airlines, travel agents and Umrah service providers. If you are affected, save the consulate’s advisory and keep your booking documents ready.
Why has Wizz Air cancelled its whole winter season?
Wizz Air has cancelled all flights to and from Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the winter season, running from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027. The decision covers a planned restoration of 12 routes and 49 weekly flights across nine European cities, representing around 470,000 seats. The airline had announced last month that it was resuming flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Earlier this week, it said it would delay some Abu Dhabi routes until January. Now the entire winter programme is off.
The airline gave a clear commercial reason. Regional airspace restrictions extended on 30 September require significantly longer routings to these destinations. Those longer routings increase flight times and costs. As a result, both A321neo and A321XLR operations are commercially unviable under current conditions, according to the airline’s statement to The National. The airline added that it will continue to monitor developments and reassess operations as safety guidance and operating conditions evolve.
What should Wizz Air passengers do?
Flights to and from Amman in Jordan are also affected. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s latest conflict zone information bulletin recommends that airlines do not operate within Jordanian airspace. What should Wizz Air passengers do? The airline says customers can choose between WIZZ credit and, if eligible, a cash refund. Passengers can rebook through their WIZZ account or the airline’s flight status tools. However, the airline’s refund covers only the flight. If you have already paid for hotels or tours, check those cancellation terms now.
What does this mean for winter travel from the UAE? Budget options to Europe have narrowed sharply. Travellers who booked cheap winter sun or a stopover in the Gulf will need alternatives. The returning European services in the next section offer some replacement capacity. However, replacement seats will not match Wizz Air’s low fares. Book early if you need to travel this winter.
Which Europe routes are returning to Dubai?
Not everything is moving in the wrong direction. Airlines are restoring services to Dubai International Airport ahead of the winter holiday season. Up to 36 weekly flights between Dubai and Europe are set to return from late October through December. Services to Athens and Manila are also being restored. Here is the timetable confirmed by Gulf News.
Lufthansa resumes Dubai to Munich flights today, 25 October, with Dubai to Frankfurt services following on 26 October. SWISS returns with daily Dubai to Zurich flights from 27 October. Eurowings resumes Dubai services from Berlin, Stuttgart and Cologne-Bonn from 1 November. Austrian Airlines brings back Dubai to Vienna flights from 12 December. Aegean Airlines resumed Athens to Dubai services on 23 October, with daily flights planned from 26 October. The airline has a codeshare agreement with Emirates.
Philippine Airlines has also resumed Dubai to Manila services. That matters for the large Filipino community in the UAE, as well as for travellers connecting onward through Manila. For schools following the UAE Ministry of Education calendar, the winter break runs from 14 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, with classes resuming on 4 January. That window will be the busiest travel period of the season. If you are planning around it, our guide on the next public holiday in the UAE can help you time trips around the days when airports are busiest.
Other international carriers remain suspended for longer. Singapore Airlines has cancelled Dubai flights SQ494 and SQ495 through 1 December. British Airways plans to resume Dubai services on 3 November, while its Abu Dhabi services stay suspended until winter 2027-28. Cathay Pacific has cancelled Dubai and Riyadh passenger flights through 31 January 2027, with rebooking, rerouting and refunds available. The pattern is consistent: recovery is happening route by route, not all at once.
What is still cancelled from yesterday’s update?
Yesterday’s Gulf News update listed extensive cancellations by UAE carriers, and those remain the baseline for today. Travellers should assume they still apply unless their airline has announced otherwise. You can read the full detail in our UAE flight updates for 24 October. Here is the summary.
Etihad Airways has cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh through Thursday, 5 November. Emirates has listed cancellations on several Dubai to Saudi Arabia services, including Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh routes. flydubai has suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha until 29 October. Air Arabia has cancelled services from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi on multiple routes. Some flydubai services to Jeddah, Madinah, Gassim and Tabuk remained scheduled on Saturday. However, schedules change daily. Therefore, verify your exact flight number with the airline.
Two further points from yesterday still matter. First, Emirates says its codeshare operations with flydubai to and from Tel Aviv remain suspended until further notice. Second, flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE remain suspended until further notice, including Iran Airtour services to and from Dubai. Neither position has been reversed in today’s reporting.
What is happening at Saudi airports today?
Khaleej Times’ live coverage on Sunday morning reported warning sirens sounding briefly in Riyadh. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh, and separately reported interceptions of missiles towards Taif and Yanbu. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh issued a passenger update on Sunday morning. The airport had previously reopened on 18 October after an earlier closure. However, no formal all-clear from Saudi Arabia’s aviation authority has been published in the reporting checked for this guide.
What does this mean for UAE travellers? It means the Saudi situation remains fluid. Airlines are extending suspensions rather than restoring services. The pattern of extensions, seen repeatedly since early October, suggests further changes are possible. If you must travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, book flexible or refundable fares. Avoid tight connections. Check the status again in the days before departure, and again on the day itself.
What are your passenger rights in the UAE?
Cancellations are stressful enough without confusion about what the airline owes you. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) has issued a clear reminder. Check your ticket conditions before flying. Also review rebooking and cancellation policies and baggage allowances. Airlines must explain delays or cancellations and provide assistance under the applicable rules.
The DCAA’s position on the process is clear. As a passenger, you should first complain to your airline or travel agent. If the response dissatisfies you, you can escalate the grievance to the DCAA within 14 days. That 14-day window matters. If your complaint to the airline goes nowhere, do not let it drift. Note the date of the airline’s final response and file the escalation while the window is open. Keep every document from your trip. Save your booking confirmation and the cancellation notice. Keep receipts for any extra costs. Record every conversation with the airline.
One more point the authorities stress: read your ticket terms before you buy, not after something goes wrong. Refundable and flexible tickets behave very differently from the cheapest promotional fares when schedules collapse. The fare rules you accepted at booking decide what the airline owes you.
What should you do before heading to the airport?
Work through this checklist before every trip this week. First, check your flight status directly with your airline. Use the airline’s own website or app and enter your booking reference. Do not trust third-party apps, old emails or screenshots. Second, make sure the airline can reach you. Schedule-change messages go by SMS and email. If your number is old, you will miss them. Emirates specifically asks customers to keep contact details updated in Manage Your Booking, and the same applies everywhere else.
Third, confirm your travel documents are in order. A rebooking to a new date is useless if your passport or visa has an issue. You can check your UAE visa status online by passport number in minutes. Fourth, have a backup plan for getting to the airport. If you are driving, remember that Dubai has announced new speed limits on five major roads from 1 November. You can check RTA fines by plate number before you set off. If you take the metro, check your nol card balance online so a low balance does not slow you down.
Fifth, allow extra time and pack patience. Disrupted days mean longer queues at check-in, security and rebooking desks. Arrive earlier than usual. Keep chargers and essentials in hand luggage. Save the airline’s customer-service number in your phone. Finally, keep an eye on the wider travel picture. Travellers heading to the northern Emirates should note that beaches in Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Sharjah are closed following this week’s oil spill. In addition, this week’s UAE weather outlook brings rain chances and gusty winds to northern and eastern areas, which can add delays on top of the cancellations.
Frequently asked questions
Are flights from the UAE to Saudi Arabia cancelled today?
Many are. Etihad has cancelled Abu Dhabi routes through 5 November. Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have listed extensive Saudi cancellations. Indian carriers have now extended their suspensions: Air India and Air India Express until 7 November for Riyadh and Dammam, IndiGo until 31 October for four cities, and Akasa until 10 November for Jeddah and 30 November for Riyadh. Some flights remain scheduled, so always check your specific flight number with the airline.
Has Wizz Air really cancelled all winter flights to the UAE?
Yes. Wizz Air has cancelled all flights to and from Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the winter season, from 25 October 2026 to 27 March 2027. The decision covers 12 routes and 49 weekly flights. Customers can choose between WIZZ credit and, if eligible, a cash refund through their WIZZ account.
Which Europe flights to Dubai are resuming?
Lufthansa resumes Dubai to Munich on 25 October and Frankfurt on 26 October. SWISS returns daily to Zurich from 27 October. Eurowings resumes Berlin, Stuttgart and Cologne-Bonn services from 1 November. Austrian returns to Vienna from 12 December. Aegean resumed Athens to Dubai on 23 October. Up to 36 weekly Dubai to Europe flights return from late October through December.
What compensation can I claim for a cancelled flight in the UAE?
Start by reading your ticket’s fare conditions, because they decide what the airline owes you. The DCAA says airlines must explain delays or cancellations and provide assistance under the applicable rules. Complain to the airline or your travel agent first. If the response is unsatisfactory, escalate to the DCAA within 14 days. Keep your booking confirmation, cancellation notice and all receipts.
Is it safe to book flights to Saudi Arabia for November?
Cancellations already extend deep into November: Etihad through 5 November, Air India until 7 November, and Akasa’s Riyadh suspension until 30 November. The airlines describe the situation as dynamic. If you must travel, book flexible or refundable fares. Avoid tight connections. Check the status again in the days before departure.
How do I check whether my flight is cancelled?
Use your airline’s own website or app and enter your booking reference. That is the only status that counts. Third-party trackers and old confirmation emails can be out of date. Also check your SMS and email for schedule-change messages from the airline. Make sure your contact details in the booking are current.
Sunday’s picture is clear enough to act on and fluid enough to keep watching. The Saudi routes face deepening cancellations. The winter budget options have narrowed sharply. The European network, however, is steadily coming back. Your best protection remains the simple habit of checking your booking on the airline’s own channels before every trip. Travel in this region has always rewarded the prepared. Right now, it rewards them more than ever.
