Andy Mabbett · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
The United Arab Emirates has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country, effective Thursday 24 September 2026 and until further notice, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced, The National reports. The GCAA said the decision was made in compliance with a US ban on Iranian airlines using airports around the world, and no conditions or time frame were given for lifting it.
The measure is not a blanket halt to air traffic between Iran and the UAE; it applies to flights operated by Iranian carriers, Travel Daily Media notes. Anyone holding a ticket on an Iranian airline to or from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah needs to rebook, and travel agents warn of fewer options, alternative routings and potentially higher fares.
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- What: all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE suspended.
- Since: Thursday 24 September 2026, until further notice.
- Why: the GCAA cites the US ban on Iranian airlines using airports worldwide.
- Not covered: the suspension applies to Iranian carriers, not all flights between the two countries.
- Official updates: the GCAA says it will inform the public as the situation develops.
GCAA Suspension of Iranian Airlines
In its statement, carried by the state news agency WAM and Emirates 24|7, the GCAA said it will keep the relevant authorities and the public informed of any developments, pending the resumption of normal air traffic between the two countries. It urged the public to get information only from official and authorised sources.
The National says the suspension follows other UAE measures against Iran. On 22 September the UAE Central Bank barred Bank Melli Iran’s UAE branches from conducting transactions to and from Iran, and last month the UAE suspended all trade, commercial exchange and financial transactions with Iran.
The US Ban on Iranian Airlines
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said earlier in the week that Iranian airlines would be shut down around the world from 23 September. He told CNBC that when Iranian airlines land at an airport, “you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets,” or companies will be cut off from the dollar system.
The United States has imposed sanctions on all remaining Iranian airlines, Khaleej Times reports, as part of its pressure campaign on Tehran during the war that began in late February.
For background on how the sanctions have played out for passengers elsewhere, see our report on sanctions on Iranian airlines and the 23 September shutdown date.
Dubai’s Winter Season and Flight Capacity
The suspension lands as Dubai and Abu Dhabi head into the October to March high season. Dubai welcomed 869,000 international overnight visitors in August, its strongest month since the conflict began, and hotel occupancy recovered from 36 percent in March to 66 percent in August, Travel Daily Media reports. Dubai International’s airline capacity had recovered to about 84 percent of earlier levels, with passenger numbers at 78 percent, according to Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths.
Several foreign airlines, including Air France, SWISS, KLM and ITA Airways, had postponed restoring UAE services. Iran is only one source market for the UAE, but Dubai has long served Iranian business travellers and families.
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Rebooking Flights Between Iran and the UAE
If you are booked on an Iranian airline to or from the UAE, contact the airline or your travel agent about a refund or rebooking, and look at other carriers or connections via third countries that are still operating. Check your insurance and ticket conditions before buying a replacement fare. Because no end date has been set, avoid booking new travel on Iranian carriers to the UAE until the GCAA announces a change, and rely on official updates rather than social media reports.
| If you are | What to do |
|---|---|
| Booked on an Iranian airline to or from the UAE | Ask the airline or your agent for a refund or rebooking. |
| Planning Iran and UAE travel this winter | Look at other airlines or routings and expect higher fares where capacity is tight. |
| A travel agent with affected clients | Rebook onto carriers not covered by the suspension. |
| Waiting for flights to resume | Follow GCAA and WAM announcements for official updates. |
Iranian carriers grounded in the UAE. No flights to or from the UAE until further notice.
No end date. The GCAA has set no conditions or time frame for lifting the ban.
Fewer options. Rebookings and alternative routings may cost more.
Has the UAE banned Iranian airlines?
Yes. The GCAA suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE from 24 September 2026, until further notice.
Are all flights between Iran and the UAE stopped?
No. The suspension applies to flights operated by Iranian airlines, not to all air traffic between the two countries.
Why did the UAE suspend Iranian airline flights?
The GCAA said it acted in compliance with the US ban on Iranian airlines using airports around the world.
