The UAE has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country following increased US sanctions pressure on Iran's aviation sector. The measure took effect on Thursday under a directive from the General Civil Aviation Authority. The move impacts major transit routes through Dubai and coincides with UAE central bank restrictions on Iran's Bank Melli.
Iranian leadership warned Middle Eastern countries on September 25, 2026, regarding compliance with United States aviation restrictions. Senior adviser Mohammad Mokhber stated that regional air connectivity must remain available to everyone or nobody. Tehran signaled it may impose reciprocal airspace closures on regional carriers complying with the embargo.
Senior military officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have convened over mounting airspace security threats following continued Houthi missile and drone strikes. Meanwhile, Iraq joined regional neighbors in curtailing Iranian commercial flight routes under pressure from US aviation penalties, causing widespread flight disruptions.
Philippine Airlines announced it will resume nonstop passenger services between Manila and Dubai on October 2, 2026. The route had been suspended for months due to military strikes and regional airspace hazards. Flights will initially run four times per week.
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