Dubai-Abu Dhabi news highlights: Etihad, Emirates begin limited ops from UAE, Abu Dhabi flight lands in Delhi

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum reached Dubai Mall at 9pm on March 2.

“The leadership remains close to the people,” the Dubai Media Office wrote on X.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: India's biggest airline, IndiGo, has announced that it will be running four flights from Saudi Arabia's Jeddah to Hyderabad, Mumbai and Ahmedabad on Tuesday (March 3).

“These flights are being arranged to cater to customers who were already booked on our flights and have been unable to travel due to the prevailing circumstances,” it said in a statement.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Finnair said it has suspended flights to and from Doha and Dubai, "due to the heightened safety situation in the Middle East."

It added that Doha flights are cancelled from Feb 28 to March 6, and Dubai flights from Feb 28 to March 28. The airline said passengers affected will be contacted.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Four evacuation flights operated by Etihad Airways, carrying stranded Indians from UAE's Abu Dhabi, landed in different Indian cities on Sunday evening.

Among these, flight EY 216 to Delhi landed at around 8 pm, EY204 to Mumbai landed around 7:40 pm, EY334 to Kochi (Cochin) landed at around 10.10 pm, and EY238 to Bengaluru landed at 9:45 pm.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: EaseMyTrip will operate special charter flights from UAE's Fujairah to Delhi and Mumbai on March 3 between 7 pm and 9 pm to help stranded passengers return to India. The company said seats are limited and will be allotted on a first-come basis, urging those in urgent need to contact immediately.

The company also shared that passengers can call or WhatsApp +971 50 526 4083 or +971 52 375 8896 for bookings and further details.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Emirates will deploy its flagship Airbus A380 aircraft on the Mumbai and Bengaluru sector. "EK500 is scheduled to depart Dubai at 2000 hours to arrive in Mumbai at 12.35am (on March 3). The return flight EK501 is scheduled to depart for Dubai at 12.20 am,” a ministry official said.

“Emirates’ EK568 is scheduled to depart Dubai at 11.35 pm to land at Bengaluru at 2.40 am, while EK569 is scheduled to return at 4.30 am. Services to Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft in a similar overnight pattern. Departures from Dubai to these three places are scheduled between 9 pm to 9.30 pm local time, with arrivals into India shortly after 2 am. Read more here

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Etihad operated evacuation flights from Abu Dhabi to India on Monday.

• Flight EY 216 to Delhi landed at around 8 pm.
• EY204 to Mumbai landed around 7:40 pm.
• EY334 to Kochi (Cochin) landed at around 10.10 pm
• EY238 to Bengaluru landed at 9:45 pm.

After days of disruption triggered by airspace closures in parts of West Asia following the US-Middle East conflict, Etihad and Emirates restarted operating flights to various parts of the country on Monday.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Etihad flight from Abu Dhabi landed in New Delhi on Monday night, carrying passengers who were stuck due to the Middle East tensions.

Ethiad plane EY216 landed in Abu Dhabi at 3:42 pm and landed in New Delhi at 8:31 PM.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Italy said Monday it was helping evacuate hundreds of citizens from the United Arab Emirates, estimating there are currently around 30,000 Italian nationals in the country.

Speaking in the Italian Senate, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said a group of 98 Italians had left the UAE for Oman on Sunday and were due to arrive in Rome later on Monday, AFP reported.

Another group of around 200 Italian students who had been stranded in Dubai are due to be evacuated on a UAE flight to Milan on Tuesday.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Emirates, flydubai on Monday announced resumption of limited flights starting from March 2.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Qatar's air force shot down two aircraft inbound from Iran on Monday, Doha's defence ministry said in a statement after the Islamic republic earlier targeted gas facilities in the Gulf state.

"Qatar Emiri Air Force successfully shot down two (SU24) aircraft coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran. They also successfully intercepted seven ballistic missiles through air defences, and intercepted five drones by Qatar Emiri Air Force and Qatar Emiri Navy Forces, which targeted several areas in the state today," the defence ministry said.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: IndiGo plans to operate 10 special relief flights from Jeddah to various Indian cities on March 3 to bring back passengers stranded due to the Middle East conflict.

The civil aviation ministry on Monday said it was closely monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of the Middle East and its impact on international flight operations, PTI reported.

• Special repatriation flights began operating from UAE airports to help stranded passengers depart.
• Limited operations resumed at Dubai airports (DXB & DWC) with a small number of permitted flights.
• Flydubai operated a limited number of evening flights from Dubai.
• Emirates resumed a limited number of flights from Dubai in the evening, prioritising earlier bookings.
• Several Etihad special-service flights departed from Abu Dhabi International Airport, with around 15 passenger aircraft taking off within a three-hour window.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: The Israel-US strikes on Iran, and Tehran's retaliatory measures in several Gulf countries, have triggered anxiety and fear among families of Odia workers stranded in conflict-hit West Asia, with many appealing to authorities for safe evacuation.

Several workers from Odisha, particularly from Ganjam and Kendrapara districts, are reportedly stuck in countries such as the UAE, Qatar and Israel following flight cancellations and rising security tensions, PTI reported.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: The US and Iran ruled out a quick end to the war as a third day of blasts rocked the Middle East from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf.

Residents in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha reported hearing blasts Monday morning and Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior sounded sirens on the island nation.

The US reported a fourth American was killed as President Donald Trump predicted the assault could continue for the next four to five weeks.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Former Bigg Boss contestant and Miss India 2020 runner-up Manya Singh has shared that she is currently stuck in Dubai after her return flight was suspended due to rising tensions in parts of the Middle East.

Manya took to her Instagram and shared a video update to inform her fans about what she is going through. In the video, she spoke about hearing "blast" sounds near her hotel and described the situation as "scary," especially since she is staying on a high floor.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: The United Arab Emirates' civil aviation on Monday said that it will begin operating ‘special flights’ across the country's airports to allow the departure of stranded passengers.

Flydubai Airlines on Monday said that it will operate a limited number of flights on the evening of March 2. The airlines also advised customers to update their contact details via the official website and check the flight status.

Emirates also announced the resumption of a limited number of flights from today evening, adding that priority will be given to those who booked earlier. Read more here.

The Indian ministry for civil aviation said that the situation in the Middle East region continues to be closely monitored to facilitate relief for passengers. It said that due to the ongoing situation, 357 flights planned for operation today were cancelled.

“We at the Ministry of Civil Aviation are closely monitoring passenger grievances through the Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) and ensuring prompt redressal on priority. A total of 559 grievances have been addressed during this period through AirSewa, social media platforms, and dedicated helpline calls, in coordination with airlines and concerned stakeholders,” it said on X

“Passengers are advised to check official airline channels for accurate updates regarding cancellations and rescheduling. For assistance, they may contact the Ministry’s PACR helpline numbers at 011-24604283 / 011-24632987,” the ministry added.

Air India Express has said that it will resume flight operations to and from Muscat starting March 3, with scheduled services to Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Tiruchirappalli.

The first Air India Express flight from Muscat will operate to Tiruchirappalli, departing at 10:25 hours local time.

Guests are advised to check the latest status of their flights on www.airindiaexpress.com and ensure that their contact details are updated to receive real‑time notifications.

"Meanwhile, flight operations to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain suspended until 23:59 hrs IST (18:29 hrs UTC) on March 3, 2026. Air India Express regrets the inconvenience caused to guests due to these disruptions and appreciates their understanding and cooperation,” an Air India Express spokesperson said.

According to Flight Radar 24, a total of 15 Etihad Airways passenger aircraft have taken off from Abu Dhabi within a three-hour window, likely helping to clear transit passengers who have been stuck there since the start of the conflict.

“Other aircraft that have departed Abu Dhabi today are 2 Etihad Airways cargo aircraft, 2 IndiGo Airbus A320s (probably empty), 1 Lufthansa A380 (after maintenance),” the Facebook post added.

According to official information from Etihad Airways all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Tuesday 3 March, with special flights scheduled.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Emirates will begin operating a limited number of flights from the evening of 2 March. Priority is being given to customers with earlier bookings. Passengers who have been rebooked onto these flights will be contacted directly by Emirates. Please do not proceed to the airport unless you have received confirmation from the airline.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Dubai Airports confirms that a limited resumption of operations will begin today evening, 2 March, with a small number of flights permitted to operate from Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC), Dubai media office posted on X.

Travellers are advised not to proceed to DXB or DWC unless they have been contacted directly by their airline with a confirmed departure time.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: UAE civil aviation on Monday said that it begin operating ‘special flights’ across the country's airports to allow departure of stranded passengers, Reuters reported.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Russian President Vladimir Putin urged a ceasefire in the Middle East during phone calls with Emirati and Qatari leaders on Monday amid the escalating war in the Middle East.

Following US and Israeli barrages on the Russian ally Iran, retaliatory strikes from Tehran have hit targets across the Gulf, forcing authorities to close airspace and stalling traffic at big hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

In a call with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both leaders "emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire and a return to the political and diplomatic process," the Kremlin said in a readout.

Dubai-Abu Dhabi news live updates: Congress' Jalna Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Kale is stranded in Dubai due to airspace closure caused by the Iran war, his brother Jagannath Kale said on Monday.

The MP had gone to Dubai with a few friends on Friday, a day before the joint US-Israel attack on Iran, his brother said.

"He was to return via Abu Dhabi on March 3. But due to the cancellation of flights, he is stuck in Dubai. He is safe and there is nothing to worry," Jagannath Kale told PTI.