Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Travellers flying between the UAE and Saudi Arabia faced cancellations on Friday, October 9, after disruption at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport affected airline schedules. Emirates cancelled three Dubai–Riyadh services, while Etihad Airways confirmed six cancellations on its Abu Dhabi–Riyadh route for Friday and two more for Saturday, October 10.
The disruption follows reported attacks on Saudi airports, which have caused damage and widespread interruptions to air services in the kingdom. Passengers travelling through Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport should check their individual flight status before leaving for the airport.
Etihad has confirmed the affected services in an update on its official flight-status website. The airline said further schedule changes remained possible because the situation was still developing.
Which UAE–Riyadh flights have been cancelled?
Emirates cancelled flights EK815, EK817 and EK819 between Dubai and Riyadh on Friday, according to the flight-disruption report published by Gulf News. The airline said the cancellations were for operational reasons and that it was working to rebook affected passengers.
Etihad Airways published the following list of cancelled services between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport:
Friday, October 9
- EY551: Abu Dhabi to Riyadh
- EY552: Riyadh to Abu Dhabi
- EY555: Abu Dhabi to Riyadh
- EY556: Riyadh to Abu Dhabi
- EY559: Abu Dhabi to Riyadh
- EY560: Riyadh to Abu Dhabi
Saturday, October 10
- EY551: Abu Dhabi to Riyadh
- EY552: Riyadh to Abu Dhabi
Etihad has advised passengers to check its website for the latest information and said its teams were assisting customers affected by the cancellations.
The schedules listed above reflect the published disruption notice. Travellers should confirm their own booking because changes can occur after an initial announcement.
Why are flights being disrupted in Riyadh?
Riyadh’s aviation disruption follows a reported escalation in attacks on Saudi Arabia. Reuters reported on October 8 that a Saudia Airlines aircraft was badly damaged after catching fire while parked at Riyadh airport. Reuters cited people briefed on the incident and reported that debris from intercepted projectiles had also struck a medical complex and a kindergarten in the Saudi capital.
Reuters also reported that airlines, including Lufthansa and Air India, had suspended services to Riyadh following the attacks.
The security situation has affected flight schedules beyond individual UAE–Saudi services. However, passengers should not assume that every delay at Dubai or Abu Dhabi airports has the same cause. Airlines may list cancellations or delays for separate operational, technical or scheduling reasons.
The distinction matters for travellers making onward connections, particularly those with separate tickets or journeys involving more than one airline.
What should UAE travellers do before going to the airport?
Passengers with bookings to or from Riyadh should take a few precautions before travelling.
Check the flight directly with the airline. Emirates passengers can use the official Emirates flight-status service. Etihad passengers can consult the Etihad flight-status page.
Review connecting flights. A cancellation on one part of a journey can affect onward travel, hotel bookings and airport transfers. Contact the airline or travel agent if the disruption affects a connecting itinerary.
Check messages and booking details. Make sure the airline has the correct email address and mobile number so that notifications about cancellations, rebooking or schedule changes can reach you.
Confirm before departing for the airport. A flight that appears in an older itinerary may no longer operate as originally scheduled. Check the latest status on the day of travel.
Passengers should contact the airline or their travel agent for specific rebooking and refund options. Available arrangements depend on the ticket, booking channel and applicable conditions.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi airport updates
The Riyadh cancellations are part of a wider period of uncertainty for regional air travel. Dubai Airports provides flight information for Dubai International Airport, while Abu Dhabi travellers can check updates through their airline and Zayed International Airport channels.
Passengers should use official flight-status services rather than relying solely on older screenshots, social media posts or third-party tracking information. Flight schedules can change quickly, and the status of one service does not necessarily indicate whether other flights on the same route will operate.
For now, travellers booked on UAE–Riyadh services should verify their departure and return flights separately, especially if they are travelling over the weekend.
Etihad’s published notice covers the listed cancellations through October 10. Any subsequent changes should be confirmed directly with the airline.
Q1. Which UAE airlines cancelled flights to Riyadh on October 9, 2026?
Emirates and Etihad Airways cancelled Riyadh services. Emirates cancelled three flights, while Etihad listed six cancellations for October 9 and two additional cancellations for October 10.
Q2. Which Emirates flights to Riyadh were cancelled?
The published disruption report listed Emirates flights EK815, EK817 and EK819 as cancelled on October 9. Passengers should confirm their individual booking through Emirates’ official flight-status service.
Q3. Which Etihad flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh were cancelled?
Etihad listed EY551, EY552, EY555, EY556, EY559 and EY560 for October 9, followed by EY551 and EY552 for October 10.
Q4. Why were UAE flights to Riyadh cancelled?
Etihad attributed its cancellations to operational disruption at Riyadh airport. The disruption occurred amid reported attacks on Saudi airports, which Reuters reported had affected airline operations.
Q5. Are all Dubai and Abu Dhabi flights cancelled?
No. The reported cancellations concern specific services, and other flights may operate, be delayed or be changed separately. Passengers should check the status of their own flight.
Q6. How can passengers check Emirates flight status?
Passengers can search by flight number or route through the Emirates official flight-status page.
Q7. How can passengers check Etihad flight status?
Passengers can use the Etihad flight-status page, which also carries the airline’s latest travel updates.
Q8. What should passengers do if their flight is cancelled?
Check the airline’s notification and contact the airline or booking agent for available rebooking or refund options. Travellers with connecting flights should confirm how the cancellation affects the rest of their journey.
