Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain News Highlights: Pvt flight prices skyrocket; UAE intercepts 1,000 attacks

In a post on X, Etihad Airways said that all its scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 06:00 UAE time on Friday, 6 March.

In coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals, a limited number of repositioning, cargo, and repatriation flights are operating. Select services are available for sale on http://etihad.com for travel on 4 and 5 March, where approvals have been confirmed.

Wizz Air said on Wednesday the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is set to dent its net profit for the fiscal year 2026 by about 50 million euros ($58.19 million), pushing the figure below the carrier's previously issued forecast.

The airline said roughly one-third of the impact stems from the suspension of several scheduled routes in the region, while the rest reflects weaker macroeconomic conditions triggered by the Iran conflict.

Over 17,500 Americans have returned to the US since the Iran war began on 28 February, the US State Department said.

Qatar's Prime Minister on Wednesday condemned the Iran attack, in a call with Tehran's foreign minister, making it the first high-level contact since the US and Israel targeted Iran, AFP reported.

Qatari Premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Iran of seeking to "harm its neighbours and drag them into a war that is not theirs", on the call with Iran's Abbas Araghchi, according to a statement by Qatar's foreign ministry.

Air India on Wednesday said that it plans to start its scheduled operations to and from Jeddah to Delhi and Mumbai on 5 March.

In a post on X, the airline said, “While most of our operations to the Middle East will remain suspended till 2359 hours IST of March 5 after careful assessment of the current situation, Air India plans to commence its scheduled operations to and from Jeddah from 5 March.”

At least180 flights from three metro airports, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, were cancelled on Wednesday owing to airspace restrictions amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, news agency PTI reported.

According to a Reuters report, two Israeli airlines said they are planning to resume flights to Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv as Israel's airspace is expected to gradually reopen later on Wednesday.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged Wednesday (local time) that some Iranian air attacks may still hit their targets even as he asserted that US military superiority is quickly giving it control of the Islamic Republic's airspace.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that the Central government has advised states not to undertake individual evacuation of those stranded in the Gulf amid ongoing conflict in West Asia.

IndiGo Airlines on Wednesday said that it has cancelled over 500 flights to West Asia in the past four days due to the evolving airspace conditions over Iran and other Gulf countries.

On Wednesday, more passengers arrived home from the Gulf region as further flights resumed five days into the war triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran, AFP reported.

In a post on X, Etihad Airways said, “All Etihad’s scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 06:00 UAE time on Friday 6 March.”

Amid airspace restrictions, SpiceJet on Wednesday said that it is cancelling 28 flights between India and UAE

Oman Air Cargo on Wednesday announced that it will add network capacity to various destinations, including India, soon.

The Oman Air Cargo is a key cargo carrier in the Middle East that suspended flights to and from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Dubai amid regional airspace closures.

According to an AP report, governments across the world are now struggling to bring back their stranded citizens in the Middle East as tensions escalate.

On Wednesday, many families gathered in Kashmir's Srinagar to make an appeal to the government for the immediate evacuation of Kashmiri students currently stranded in Iran.

Bollywood Actor Lara Dutta on Wednesday said that she is in Dubai with her daughter, Saira, amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Describing the past few days as “stressful”, in a video, Dutta said, "Lots of fighter jets flying overhead, lots of loud booms. Though we live in a villa in a very safe neighbourhood, the windows shake, the house and the doors rattle, and it's unnerving. But I haven't felt unsafe, not even once."

On Wednesday, Bahrain said that residents could register as volunteers to aid war efforts in sectors such as health, engineering, logistics, and administration, as Iran pressed on with its Gulf retaliation campaign.

Emirates on Wednesday announced that all scheduled flights to and from Dubai remain suspended till 7 March amid airspace closures.

Maharashtra government intensifies efforts to bring stranded Indians back from West Asia amid conflict

Tehran's IRGC on Wednesday (local time) issued a warning as the Middle East conflict escalates, saying that it was prepared for the "complete destruction of the region's military and economic infrastructure."

On Wednesday, Akasa Air said that the airline will operate a special flight from the UAE today to ensure the safe return of passengers and crew impacted by the ongoing conflict. It added that it will also run select services to and from Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan's largest gas distributor is likely to cut supplies to some of its industrial customers as conflict in West Asia upends supply. The conflict has caused the most extensive disruption to the global energy trade since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

On Wednesday (local time), the first repatriating flight brought back French citizens stranded in the Middle East due to the war, AP reported.

French officials booked nearly 100 seats on board for vulnerable people on a priority list, Eleonore Caroit, the minister responsible for French nationals abroad, said.

Airlines across the world are suspending more flights to additional destinations across the Middle East as the expanding war moves into its fifth day

News agency PTI reported that amid the ongoing conflict, Qatar has shut its LNG production after several of its facilities came under attack. The decision could disrupt supplies to India and squeeze feedstock availability for domestic sectors.

New Delhi, which depends on Doha for its long-term LNG contracts for a key share of its gas needs, has seen a temporary suspension of cargoes, leading to supply cuts up to 40% for a range of industrial consumers.

The UK government said that it has chartered a commercial flight out of Oman on Wednesday to help British nationals who want to leave the conflict-ridden region. The flight will leave from Muscat at 2300 local time (1900 GMT) on Wednesday for British nationals who are keen to return home. 

Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that the state government expects that the stranded Indians will be back in two to three days from West Asia.

He made these remarks during the Budget Session and added that the Central government is taking initiatives to bring them back

Kuwait's health ministry said Wednesday an 11-year-old girl was killed after being hit by falling shrapnel following waves of Iranian attacks across the Gulf.

The United States on 3 March issued a travel advisory warning Americans to “not travel” to Iran, Iraq and several other Middle East countries, in “light of evolving dynamics” in the region.

Check full list of countries and emergency helpline numbers here.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi stocks tumbled on Wednesday as they reopened after ​a two-day halt following Iran's unprecedented wave ‌of missile and drone attacks on the Gulf nation, reported Reuters.

The closure froze trading in billions of dollars' ​worth of listed assets as investors awaited clarity on ​the scale of damage from the ⁠weekend strikes, which hit airports, ports and ​residential areas across both emirates.

A total of 164 tourists from Maharashtra stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict have returned home in two flights arranged by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, a Shiv Sena functionary said on Wednesday.

Two aircraft carrying 76 and 88 tourists landed here Tuesday night. These included 84 students from the Pune-based Indira School of Business Studies and residents from Thane, Ahilyanagar and Pune, the functionary said, as per news agency PTI.

"The Shiv Sena was successful in bringing back many residents from Maharashtra who were stranded in Dubai," Shinde said in a post on X, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their leadership.

At least 4 people were killed in an Israeli strike on an a building, Lebanon's state media said on Wednesday after Tel Aviv launched strikes and issued an evacuation order for several villages.

"The initial toll is four killed and six wounded, and work is underway to rescue families from under the rubble," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said, as per a report by news agency AFP.

India has set up a special control room in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, as the conflict in the US-Israel-Iran enters its fifth day. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued emergency contact numbers to assist Indian in the affected area.

Check details here.

Demand to leave the Middle East started spiking Friday onwards, and with flight services now disrupted across major airports in the region, wealthy flyers are turning to private charter flights in efforts to leave the conflict-hit region. Consequently, prices have skyrocketed, crossing $200,000.

Read more

SpiceJet will operate eight special flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday to facilitate the return of Indian nationals stranded there amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, a press release by the airline said on Wednesday.

According to the release, all eight flights will operate from Fujairah. The airline will operate four special flights to New Delhi, three special flights to Mumbai and one special flight to Kochi, providing additional capacity to help stranded passengers return home at the earliest.

The US on Wednesday said that non-emergency staff had been granted permission to leave Saudi Arabia and Oman, reported news agency AFP.

The department "authorized non-emergency US government employees and US government employee family members to leave" Saudi Arabia and Oman "due to safety risks," the US embassies in Riyadh and Muscat said in advisories on their websites.

The defence ministry of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced that it had intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles in Al-Khurj.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) announced that 9,000 Americans had returned home safely from the Middle East since the launch of Operation Epic Fury against Iran, which plunged the region into war.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump said that the US Department of State was assisting Americans in the Middle East seeking to return home.

For details on how to register for the programme, as well as helpline numbers for consular assistance, click here.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is reportedly establishing dedicated control rooms from March 4, 2026, along with helplines to assist Indians stranded in Gulf countries, as per a report by CNN News 18.

Oil prices rose more than $1 on Wednesday as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupted Middle East output and halted exports from the region, reported Reuters.

Brent rose $1.11, or 1.4%, to $82.53 a barrel, after closing at its highest since January 2025 on Tuesday. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 79 cents, or 1.1%, to $75.37, after settling at its highest since June.

Israeli and US forces struck targets across Iran on Tuesday, prompting Iranian strikes against energy infrastructure in a region that accounts for just under a third of global oil production.

The US on Tuesday (local time) released the names of four of the six service members who have thus far died in Washington's conflict with Iran, while supporting President Donald Trump's Operation Epic Fury.

According to a statement by the Department of War (formerly, the Pentagon), four Army Reserve soldiers were killed on Sunday when a drone hit a command centre in Port Shuaiba in Kuwait.

Read more

US-Bangla Airlines will operate two special flights from Dubai to facilitate the safe return of Bangladeshi nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates amid the Iran conflict.

According to a report by news agency ANI, which cited an official statement, the airline will operate special flights on the Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route to facilitate the safe return of affected passengers

The first special flight will depart from Dhaka for Dubai on Wednesday at 7:20 PM (BST) and will return from Dubai at 12:20 am (local time) for Dhaka, it said.

Another special flight will depart from Dhaka for Dubai on Thursday, March 5, at 5:15 PM (BST), and will return from Dubai at 10:00 pm (local time) for Dhaka, the statement said.

The services will be operated using a 436-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft, ensuring ample capacity to accommodate passengers requiring urgent travel. The flight numbers are: BS-341 (Dhaka to Dubai) and BS-342 (Dubai to Dhaka).

Tens of thousands of airline passengers are stranded by the Iran war that has spread across the Gulf region.

However, according to a report by AP, some wealthy travellers are getting out by paying large sums for luxury flights to Europe via airports that are safe from Iranian drone and missile attacks.

Demand for charter flights has skyrocketed, with some people paying up to 200,000 euros ($232,000) as major airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, Qatar, were closed after the start of the conflict last weekend.

Whereas normally a charter flight on a private jet that can accommodate up to 16 passengers from Riyadh to Porto in Portugal may cost around 100,000 euros (USD 115,800) these days, the cost has doubled, the news agency reported citing private jet operators.

UAE on Wednesday said that it had spoken with several nations, including Qatar, Brazil, Moldova, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Portugal, and Hungary on what it described as “blatant” missile strikes by Iran.

“H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the ministers strongly condemned and denounced the blatant Iranian attacks on the UAE and other countries in the region, stressing their categorical rejection of practices that contravene international law, and affirming the right of the targeted states to take the necessary measures to safeguard their sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and the safety of their citizens and residents,” a statement by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The UAE on Wednesday reiterated that it remained neutral in US and Israel's war on Iran, saying that it had intercepted over 1,000 attacks from Tehran since hostilities began.

“The UAE reiterates that it is not a party to this war and has not permitted the use of its territory, territorial waters, or airspace for any attack against Iran, consistent with its long-standing policy of good neighborliness, de-escalation, and its firm commitment to the Charter of the United Nations,” the statement by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

India is continuously monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of West Asia and its impact on international flight operations, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation said late on Tuesday.

As per the ministry, 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign carriers have been cancelled to date due to the ongoing Iran conflict.

“To facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, 24 flights are being operated by Indian carriers today. Further, Indian carriers are planning 58 flights on 4th March, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express,” MoCA said.

“Passengers are advised to check the latest flight status directly with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport and to rely only on official sources for updates,” it added.