Middle East airports closed and thousands of travelers stranded after attack on Iran

Associated Press (AP)CenterEN 6 min read 100% complete by By CARA RUBINSKY, MARC LEVY and JOSH FUNKMarch 1, 2026 at 10:23 AM

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Following an attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, several Middle Eastern countries, including Israel, the UAE, Qatar, and Syria, closed their airspace, disrupting air travel across the region and beyond. Over 3,400 flights were canceled on Sunday across seven airports, including major hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Manama, leaving thousands of travelers stranded or diverted. Emirates Airlines and Qatar Airways suspended flights, and Israeli airline El Al prepared to repatriate stranded citizens. Airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reported injuries and fatalities from attacks, while Kuwait International Airport also reported strikes. The UAE condemned the attacks, attributing them to Iranian ballistic missiles, though Iran did not publicly claim responsibility.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Etihad 40% Syria ×240% Doha ×250% United States 50% Qatar Airways ×250% Emirates Airlines ×260% Qatar ×460% Abu Dhabi ×360% Dubai ×470% United Arab Emirates ×570% Israel ×480% Iran ×690%

Keywords

airport closures 90% flight cancellations 80% middle east 80% airspace closure 70% attack on iran 70% stranded travelers 60% dubai international airport 50% aviation 40%