On November 13, 2026, flights between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia experienced significant disruptions as several airlines cancelled or suspended services amid escalating regional security concerns.
UAE-based carriers such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia cancelled multiple flights to Saudi Arabia, notably affecting routes to Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah. Etihad Airways suspended all passenger and cargo flights between Abu Dhabi and both Riyadh and Dammam through November 19, although selected Abu Dhabi-Jeddah flights resumed on November 6. Emirates reported cancellations on selected Dubai-Riyadh and Dubai-Dammam flights, with some Jeddah services operating. flydubai partially restored its
Saudi network with scheduled flights to Gassim, Ha’il, Jeddah, and Madinah, while other Saudi destinations remained unavailable. Air Arabia cancelled flights between Sharjah and Abha and between Sharjah and Riyadh.
Indian carriers also maintained restrictions: IndiGo suspended flights to Jeddah and Madinah until November 21, and to Riyadh and Dammam until November 30. Air India and Air India Express cancelled flights to and from Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam through November 14. Akasa Air suspended all flights to Riyadh and Jeddah until the end of November.
Qatar Airways resumed daily flights to Riyadh starting November 13 and to Dammam from November
14 but continued to suspend flights to Abha and Taif. Gulf Air returned to operations at Riyadh Airport. Other international carriers extended flight suspensions: Air France suspended Riyadh flights through December 12; British Airways delayed its London-Riyadh service resumption until January 11, 2027; Cathay Pacific suspended Riyadh flights until January 31, 2027; Delta Air Lines postponed its Atlanta-Riyadh route launch until March 2027; Lufthansa suspended Riyadh flights until November 18 and Dammam flights until November 30; Philippine Airlines suspended Riyadh flights until November 29; Scoot cancelled Singapore-Jeddah flights until December 2; ITA Airways cancelled Riyadh flights until November 18; KLM
suspended Riyadh and Dammam flights until November 27; Kuwait Airways cancelled Riyadh flights until airport operations resume; Singapore Airlines postponed its non-stop Riyadh route launch until March 28, 2027; SriLankan Airlines’ Riyadh flights remained suspended.
Saudi airlines flyadeal and Saudia redirected Riyadh flights to Qassim Airport, arranging bus transfers from Riyadh city. Passengers were advised to confirm airport and transfer details prior to travel.
Multiple governments have issued travel advisories highlighting the heightened risk to aviation in the region. The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advised against all but essential travel to most of Saudi Arabia, citing threats
to airports and infrastructure and anticipating further flight disruptions. The United States State Department urged Americans to reconsider travel to the UAE due to terrorism and armed conflict risks caused by Iranian-backed Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s critical infrastructure. Canada’s Global Affairs warned of missile and drone attack risks affecting airports, and Australia’s Smartraveller service advised avoiding travel to major Saudi airports, including Riyadh, Dammam, and Abha, due to ongoing security incidents and airspace closures.
Passengers on flights scheduled for November 13 should not assume confirmed bookings guarantee departure as cancellations and disruptions continue. Airlines offer rebooking and refund options,
but travelers must verify flight status and airport operations to avoid affected routes and altered departure points. The security situation has required airport operational changes, including the transfer of Riyadh-bound flights to alternative airports with dedicated ground transport arrangements.
Regional instability persists amid ongoing conflict, including repeated drone and missile strikes by Yemen’s Houthi forces on Saudi installations such as the East-West oil pipeline and the Yanbu oil facility. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reportedly destroyed a US early-warning radar system in Bahrain, escalating tensions. The United Nations extended sanctions on the Houthi movement. US officials have issued warnings against Iranian aggression
toward senior American personnel, underlining the elevated security risks facing civil aviation.
Meanwhile, fragmented reports indicate over 820 US flights were delayed and 65 canceled across various American airports on November 13, 2026, according to secondary sources, though detailed information on specific airports or airlines affected remains unavailable. The causes and broader patterns of US flight disruptions on this date have not been fully disclosed.
