Passengers travelling from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah face cancellations on several Saudi routes as airport disruption continues, with Riyadh among the hardest-hit destinations.
DUBAI, October 12, 2026: Travellers flying from the UAE to Saudi Arabia are facing widespread flight changes, with Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia listing cancellations on several services to Riyadh, Dammam and other Saudi destinations for October 12 and 13.
The disruption follows renewed attacks affecting Saudi aviation facilities, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reported that the Riyadh airport was targeted again on October 11, with injuries reported and damage assessments and safety inspections under way. GACA also reported an attack targeting Dammam airport later that day. [1]
For UAE residents with upcoming travel plans, the immediate concern is whether their specific flight will operate. Airline schedules remain subject to change, and a route’s normal operating pattern should not be taken as confirmation that an individual service will depart.
Which UAE airlines have cancelled Saudi flights?
Emirates
Emirates has listed cancellations affecting Dubai–Riyadh, Dubai–Dammam and Dubai–Jeddah services on October 12 and 13. Some flights to Medina have also been listed as cancelled.
The affected services include EK815, EK819 and EK817 on the Riyadh route, alongside EK823, EK827 and EK821 for Dammam. The airline has attributed the cancellations to operational reasons and advised customers to check their updated itineraries through its official website.
Passengers should verify their flight number and departure date before travelling to Dubai International Airport.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways has reported cancellations on routes connecting Abu Dhabi with Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah.
The affected services on October 12 include EY575, EY576, EY573 and EY574 for Dammam; EY601, EY602, EY603 and EY604 for Jeddah; and EY559, EY560, EY555 and EY556 for Riyadh.
Further cancellations are listed for October 13, although the affected flights vary by route and date. Etihad has cautioned that the situation remains dynamic and that additional schedule changes are possible.
Passengers departing from Zayed International Airport should check the airline’s latest flight-status information rather than rely on an earlier booking confirmation.
flydubai
flydubai has listed cancellations on its Dubai–Dammam and Dubai–Riyadh services for October 12 and 13.
The affected flights include FZ883, FZ869, FZ863 and FZ867 on the Dammam route, and FZ847, FZ841 and FZ855 on the Riyadh route.
The airline’s published update indicates that services from Dubai to Jeddah, AlUla and Neom are operating as usual. However, passengers should confirm their own flight status because operational conditions can change.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia has also listed changes affecting some flights from Sharjah to Saudi Arabia.
The affected services include flights to Abha, Gassim, Riyadh and Taif. The specific flight numbers and dates differ, so passengers should consult Air Arabia’s official flight-status service before leaving for Sharjah International Airport.
These cancellations do not mean that every UAE–Saudi Arabia flight has been suspended. The status of each route and departure must be checked separately.
Riyadh remains the main centre of disruption
Data cited by Gulf News from aviation analytics company Cirium shows the scale of the disruption on Sunday, October 11.
Of 354 scheduled departures from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, 353 were cancelled or did not operate. At Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport, 56 of 123 scheduled departures were affected.
Jeddah also recorded disruption, with 98 of 370 scheduled departures cancelled or not operated. The figures cover cancellations and flights that did not operate; they should not be interpreted as a count of confirmed security-related cancellations alone.
The pattern reflects the wider effect on Saudi air travel, where airlines and airport operators must respond to changing security conditions and inspections. The latest operational picture may differ from the figures recorded on Sunday.
Why are flights being disrupted?
Saudi aviation authorities have confirmed attacks affecting airport facilities in Riyadh and Dammam. The incidents have prompted safety assessments and coincided with extensive changes to airline schedules.
Reuters reported on October 12 that aviation operations in Riyadh had been severely affected following attacks on King Khalid International Airport. International airlines have also adjusted services amid security concerns in Saudi airspace. [2]
Not every cancellation should automatically be attributed to a specific attack. Airlines may also list operational reasons, and the cause of an individual flight change should be confirmed through the carrier’s own notice.
The safety of passengers, crew and airport personnel remains the central consideration when airlines assess whether to operate a service.
What UAE travellers should do now
Passengers scheduled to fly from Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah to Saudi Arabia should take these steps before travelling:
- Check the exact flight: Use the airline’s official website or app to review the flight number and departure date.
- Check again before leaving: A previous status update may no longer reflect the latest operational decision.
- Follow rebooking instructions: If a flight is cancelled, contact the airline or the travel agent that issued the ticket to confirm the available options.
- Check connecting journeys: If the Saudi flight is part of a longer itinerary, confirm whether the disruption affects onward travel.
- Keep contact details updated: Monitor airline emails, text messages and app notifications for itinerary changes.
Emirates passengers can use the airline’s flight-status and booking-management services. Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia also publish flight information through their official digital channels.
No single update guarantees that all services to Saudi Arabia will operate or remain cancelled throughout the day. Travellers should rely on the latest information for their own booking before heading to the airport.
Q1. Which UAE airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia?
Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia have reported cancellations or schedule changes affecting selected Saudi routes on October 12 and 13, 2026. The affected flights vary by airline, destination and date.
Q2. Are flights from Dubai to Riyadh cancelled?
Several Emirates and flydubai services between Dubai and Riyadh are listed as cancelled for October 12 and 13. Passengers should check their specific flight number for the latest status.
Q3. Are Abu Dhabi flights to Saudi Arabia affected?
Yes. Etihad has listed cancellations affecting selected services between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah. Check Etihad’s official flight-status service before departure.
Q4. Are all UAE flights to Saudi Arabia cancelled?
No. The reported changes affect selected flights, not necessarily every service or route. Flight availability and operating status can change throughout the day.
Q5. Why are UAE-Saudi flights being cancelled?
The disruption coincides with attacks affecting Saudi airport facilities and subsequent safety assessments. Individual airlines may cite operational reasons, so the specific cause of each cancellation should be checked with the carrier.
Q6. Are flights to Jeddah also affected?
Yes. Emirates and Etihad have listed cancellations on selected Jeddah services. Other flights may still operate, so passengers should confirm their departure individually.
Q7. What should passengers do if their flight is cancelled?
Check the airline’s notification and contact the carrier or booking agent for rebooking and itinerary options. Passengers should also confirm whether onward or connecting flights have been affected.
Q8. Where can UAE travellers check the latest flight status?
Use the official airline website or app. Emirates provides a flight-status checker; Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia passengers should use their respective official channels.
