With Dubai International Airport, one of the biggest airports in the world and a key hub for global travel, temporarily suspending operations following the strike on Iran, hundreds of thousands of travellers are now stranded around the world.

DXB handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025, second only to ATL when it comes to international travel. The year before was a record-breaker too, with 92.3 million.

The global travel chaos stretches far and wide – and military evacuations aren’t immediately possible because of the closed airspaces.

The conflict has shut down airports and international airspace above Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. More than 2,800 flights were cancelled Sunday, including those in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt, and flight cancellations are expected to continue in the coming days.

Aviation data provider Cirium estimated that at least 90,000 people alone change flights daily in the airports in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi on just three airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. Cirium also reported that on Sunday, some 40% of the 3,990 flights to nine airports in the region were cancelled.

Air Canada & Emirates

As reported on March 1, Air Canada has suspended service from Canada to Israel until March 8, and to Dubai until March 3. “Affected customers will be notified of their options, which include a full refund to the original form of payment if their flight is cancelled,” Fitzpatrick said on Saturday.

Air Canada’s flexible rebooking policy now includes, in addition to Dubai and Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Dammam. The policy applies to passengers who purchased an Air Canada ticket no later than Feb. 28, 2026, for travel to, from or through DXB, AUH, TLV, BEY, AMM, EBL and DMM between now and March 15, 2026. Normally, Air Canada operates daily flights to Dubai.

Emirates had said it was suspending operations until at least 3 p.m. local time on March 3. At 9 a.m. ET this morning, Emirates said on X that it will begin operating a limited number of flights starting tonight, March 2. Passengers are advised not to proceed to the airport unless notified by the airline. “We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates,” said Emirates. “All other flights remain suspended until further notice.” Emirates normally serves Toronto and Montreal to Dubai.

Toronto’s Pearson Airport is warning of delays and cancellations due to widespread airspace closures and is advising passengers to check their flight status before coming to the airport. Other flights from Toronto cancelled yesterday included Etihad’s flight from YYZ to Abu Dhabi, and Qatar Airways’ Toronto flight to Doha.

Global Affairs Canada

Global Affairs Canada updated its travel advice for 13 countries in the Middle East and surrounding area over the weekend, advising Canadian travellers to avoid all travel to Israel and Jerusalem, as well as the UAE, and to avoid non-essential travel to Jordan due to renewed regional tensions.

Global Affairs Canada said there are 85,000 Canadians and permanent residents registered in 15 countries in the Middle East, including more than 23,000 in both UAE and Lebanon, and almost 11,000 in Saudi Arabia. Nearly 3,000 are in Iran. The numbers are estimates because registration is voluntary.

Global Travel Chaos

Britain authorities say they’re preparing for all options, including the possible evacuation of Britons in the Middle East. “We are setting up the support systems,” Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Sky News when asked if Britain was preparing for an evacuation. “We’re working on every possible option.”

Meanwhile the Czech Republic is sending two planes to Egypt and Jordan to bring home Czech nationals, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said. Four more planes are heading to Muscat and Salalah in Oman to fly home Czech travellers.

Qatar Airways said Monday its flights remain suspended, with its next update planned for Tuesday morning. Etihad Airways has halted all flights until 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday and suspended operations at its hub, Zayed International Airport.

Flight tracking site FlightRadar said on X that 15 aircraft from Etihad Airways have taken off “within a three-hour window, likely helping to clear transit passengers who have been stuck there since the start of the conflict.”

There are reports that Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) has directed hotel GMs with stranded travellers to extend their stay free of charge – and DCT Abu Dhabi will cover the bill.

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press