Middle East flights LIVE: Dubai update issued by Emirates as Iran attacks Abu Dhabi, Qatar

3 mins ago13:17 Emily Wright

Scottish tourist, Victoria Cameron, from Larkhall, who had been travelling home from New Zealand via Dubai when flights in the Middle East were grounded, has described the terror she witnessed among locals.

On Saturday (February 28), she was queuing to get into her hotel when the first Iranian missiles struck the city, and she first believed they were fireworks.

"The third one came above us and we started screaming," she said, according to the BBC.

"Then the staff said 'run, run, leave your suitcases'. They rushed us all to the side of the hotel.

"Our phones were going off, saying 'emergency, emergency'. We were crying, we were shaking."

Her flight was cancelled just 15 minutes before it was due to take off and she was forced to abandon her luggage at the airport when it was evacuated.

26 mins ago12:54 Charlie Bradley

The statement on X said: "You should stay indoors or go to the nearest safe building.

"Stay away from windows. An interior stairwell or a room with as few windows as possible may offer additional protection."

The embassy is advising British citizens to follow the instructions of the local authorities in the UAE.

33 mins ago12:47 Charlie Bradley

Brits trying to leave the Middle East have branded the situation a "total shambles" and said some people were having "panic attacks".

Speaking to Sky News, one Brit said: "[The] check-in process took about four hours due to technical issues. We then got taken to the plane on a bus but had to stay on it for about one-and-a-half hours.

"No consular staff were present airside. They just left us. People started getting very agitated, banging windows, panic attacks.

"There are dozens and dozens of vulnerable people, young children and families."

49 mins ago12:31 Emily Wright

Thousands are left stranded in a frightening situation in the Middle East as it nears a week since the conflict began.

Flights are gradually being reintroduced by Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia. 17,498 passengers have been returned on 60 flights, according to a media briefing earlier this week.

The latest updates from these airlines, as well as Qatar Airways, can be found here:

Emirates, Etihad and Flydubai flights update as 1,000s stranded in UAE

60 mins ago12:20 Emily Wright

In its latest statement, Abu Dhabi Media Office said: "Zayed International Airport (AUH), in direct coordination with the Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Center - Abu Dhabi (ADCMC), has resumed limited flight operations following a period of disruption in a significant display of resilience from Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem.

"Efforts were conducted over the past few days under strict coordination on safety protocols and in close cross-sector collaboration to ensure comprehensive support. This unified response included the provision of more than 4,300 complimentary hotel rooms across 74 hotels for approximately 7,000 passengers, ensuring those affected by scheduling changes were accommodated in comfort.

"Joint efforts with relevant authorities across the emirate facilitated a seamless support network, including shuttle services, refreshments, hospitality, medical care and retail vouchers to support passenger wellbeing during this transition.

"Abu Dhabi Airports is committed to its one priority: the wellbeing of its guests and staff. Passengers holding confirmed tickets are requested to contact their airlines for the latest flight schedules and are urged to travel to the airport only after receiving specific guidance on when to arrive at AUH for departure.

(Image: Getty)

1 hour ago12:15 Emily Wright

A flight chartered by the UK government to bring back some Britons stranded in the Middle East did not depart on Wednesday as planned.

Problems with getting passengers on board meant the plane, which had been due to leave Oman's capital Muscat, stayed grounded, according to Home Office minister Alex Norris.

He added that he did not know what time the flight would now leave on Thursday after its delay.

The Foreign Office has also confirmed two additional chartered flights, set to depart by the end of the week.

Foreign Office officials said 138,000 British nationals in the Gulf had registered their presence, of whom 112,000 were in the United Arab Emirates.

1 hour ago12:12 Emily Wright

Dubai Airport said "most flights remain suspended" as thousands of passengers remain stranded. The airport is open, but only for those passengers who have received a confirmed departure time directly from their airline.

The airport said that if you have received a confirmed departure flight from your airline, you should also check which Terminal your flight is departing from.

It added: "Limited airport operations have resumed with a small number of flights operating from DXB and DWC.

"Schedules remain subject to change."

(Image: Getty)

1 hour ago12:06 Emily Wright

According to FlightRadar24, the last plane to depart Dubai International Airport (DXB) was Emirates flight EK131 to Moscow (DME), which left at 4.15pm local time. It is scheduled to arrive in Russia at 8.50pm local time this evening.

Before this, the last plane to leave Dubai was also an Emirates flight EK175, heading to St. Petersburg (LED), which left at 3.55pm local time.

Emirates flight EK5 to Heathrow Airport, scheduled to depart 10 minutes ahead of EK131, has been cancelled.

1 hour ago12:04 Emily Wright

A US Air Force Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, which departed Tel Aviv just after 11am local time is currently the most tracked flight on FlightRadar24.

According to the site, erratic paths are tell-tale signs of GPS interference. It noted high levels of jamming and spoofing in the UAE.

The Stratotanker is currently flying over the Persian Gulf, just off the coast of Kuwait. Another jet is close by, with a third making its way to the area.

1 hour ago11:57 Emily Wright

The UAE's Defense Ministry has said that Iranian ballistic missile and six drones impacted country on Thursday (March 5).

In a statement shared on X, the ministry said: "UAE air defenses detected today (March 5, 2026) 7 ballistic missiles, where 6 ballistic missiles were intercepted and destroyed, while 1 ballistic missile fell within the country's territory. Additionally, 131 drones were detected, with 125 drones intercepted, while 6 fell within the country's territory.

"Since the start of the blatant Iranian aggression, a total of 196 ballistic missiles have been detected, with 181 ballistic missiles destroyed, while 13 of them fell into the sea, and 2 missiles fell on the country's territory. Additionally, 1072 Iranian drones were detected and 1001 of them were intercepted, while 71 drones fell within the country's territory, and 8 cruise missiles were also detected and destroyed.

"These attacks resulted in 3 deaths of Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationalities, and 94 cases of minor injuries of Emirati, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, and Turkish nationalities.

"The Ministry of Defense affirms that it is on high alert and readiness to deal with any threats and to firmly counter everything that targets undermining the state's security, ensuring the preservation of its sovereignty, security, and stability, and protecting its interests and national capabilities."

(Image: Getty)

1 hour ago11:53 Emily Wright

(Image: Flightradar24)

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2 hours ago11:48 Emily Wright

Emirates is to operate a limited flight schedule until further notice as airspace in parts of the region gradually reopens.

In a statement, an airline spokesperson said: “Emirates can confirm that it is currently operating a reduced flight schedule until further notice. This follows the partial reopening of regional airspace for the safe conduct of commercial flights.

“For March 5 and 6, more than 100 flights will depart from and return to Dubai. These flights will carry people eager to reach their final destinations, as well as essential cargo such as perishables and pharmaceuticals.

“Emirates will continue to gradually build back its flying schedule, subject to airspace availability and all operational requirements being met.

“For now, customers should only proceed to the airport if they have a confirmed booking. We urge all customers to check emirates.com and our official social media channels, where we will publish the latest updates,” the spokesperson added.

(Image: Getty)

2 hours ago11:46 Emily Wright

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of flights in the Middle East amid continued chaos as Iran continues its missile strikes in the region.

Stay with us for updates on major airlines in the area, flight cancellations and those still going ahead.