Air traffic across the United Arab Emirates has returned to normal after a temporary shutdown triggered by heightened regional security concerns, authorities confirmed.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said in an update that operations across the country’s airspace have fully resumed, allowing airlines to restore schedules at major hubs. “Air traffic operations return to normal across UAE airspace,” the authority said, adding that the situation continues to be closely monitored.
The temporary closure had been implemented as a precautionary measure after assessing potential aviation safety risks amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region. Earlier in the day, the GCAA had announced a partial and temporary shutdown of airspace to ensure the safety of passengers, aircraft and crew.
The disruption follows an incident on March 16, when a fire was reported near an airport, prompting temporary suspension of flights. Several services were delayed, diverted or halted before operations gradually resumed after safety checks.
One of the affected flights was an Emirates service (EK533) from Kochi to Dubai. The aircraft, carrying 325 passengers, departed early Monday morning but was instructed to turn back mid-flight due to the temporary closure of Dubai airport. It later returned safely to Kochi.
With normal operations now restored, airlines are working to bring schedules back on track across UAE airports.
Authorities emphasised that the airspace restriction was purely precautionary, highlighting how quickly regional security developments can impact aviation in the Gulf—one of the world’s busiest transit corridors connecting Asia, Europe and Africa.
