Travelers and businesses across the Middle East face growing travel disruptions after the United Arab Emirates suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines. The Emirati General Civil Aviation Authority announced the halt following sweeping United States Treasury sanctions aimed at isolating Iran’s commercial aviation sector worldwide.
The decision hits a crucial travel corridor, as Dubai serves as a major commercial hub with multiple daily flights to Iran, hosting a large Iranian expatriate community and active business ties. On Thursday morning, an Iran Airtour flight from Tehran to Dubai was abruptly canceled shortly before departure. The UAE joins several neighboring nations—including Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkmenistan—that have recently restricted Iranian air carriers under US pressure.
The flight ban comes amid broader economic measures by Emirati authorities, including a move by the UAE central bank to block transactions involving Iran’s Bank Melli over alleged rule violations. The US Treasury measures target 27 Iranian airlines and supporting businesses, warning foreign airports and aviation services that continuing to serve Iranian aircraft risks losing access to the global US dollar system.
Iranian officials said negotiations are under way to resolve the flight suspensions. Majid Akhavan, a spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, stated that diplomatic and aviation talks are seeking to restore air links to the UAE. While some Iranian carriers continue operating routes to Turkiye, China, and Armenia, the mounting restrictions leave travelers with increasingly limited options to fly in and out of Iran.