Is it safe to fly to Dubai right now? Flights are running, and Dubai International, one of the world's busiest airports, has operated without major delays this week, according to flight tracking. But the US government wants Americans to stay on guard. On Friday, the US Embassy in the United Arab Emirates warned Americans in the Middle East to "exercise heightened vigilance" because of the threat of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, and said flight cancellations, airspace closures and other travel disruptions are possible.
That's not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to plan a little differently. Here's what the warning actually says, which airlines are flying to Dubai and what to do before you book.
What the US Is Saying
The embassy's alert points to the Houthis, the rebel group in Yemen that has fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia's airports in recent weeks, and to what it calls Iranian efforts to target US government officials in the region. It warns that the situation "could escalate rapidly." It doesn't report any problem at Dubai's or Abu Dhabi's airports, and it isn't telling Americans to leave. The advice is practical: check your flight with your airline or on the Dubai Airports website, have a backup plan, keep your phone charged and stay away from windows if there's ever an aerial attack.
The State Department's travel advisory for the UAE is still at Level 3, "Reconsider Travel," the second-highest of its four levels. Level 4 is "Do Not Travel." Britain takes a softer line. Its government no longer advises against travel to Dubai, though it calls the region "unpredictable" and says the risk of sudden escalation is high. It's not exactly the vacation brochure, but it isn't a "stay home" either.
Dubai has been through a lot this year. Iranian missiles and drones hit the UAE after the US and Israel struck Iran in late February, and Dubai's airport was hit twice in March, briefly halting flights. A ceasefire has mostly held since April, but the Houthis' attacks on Saudi Arabia's airports this fall, and Iran's own list of places it says it could attack, have kept airlines and travelers on edge. Then, hours after Friday's warning, the US carried out what President Trump called “minor strikes” on Iran's Qeshm Island. Flights across the Gulf kept running normally on Saturday.
Which Airlines Are Flying to Dubai
Dubai's own airlines, Emirates and flydubai, are flying, and Emirates has reportedly rebuilt most of its global network after a brutal year that cost it a fifth of its passengers. British Airways restarted its daily London to Dubai flight on Nov. 3, its first since February.
Plenty of big airlines are still staying away, though. Based on their latest schedules:
- Air France: reportedly canceled through at least Nov. 11
- Lufthansa, SWISS and Eurowings: due back Nov. 25
- ITA Airways: suspended through Nov. 30
- Cathay Pacific: suspended through Jan. 31, 2027
- Singapore Airlines: suspended through Feb. 28, 2027
- KLM and Finnair: suspended through March 27, 2027
- Air Canada: suspended through the end of March 2027
- Virgin Atlantic: suspended until October 2027
Count it up and six of those nine airlines won't be back until 2027, with Virgin Atlantic staying away for almost another full year. That's the most telling number in this story. Airlines build schedules months ahead and hate canceling flights they've already sold, so when this many of them push Dubai into next spring or later, they're telling you they don't expect the Gulf to feel normal anytime soon. Friday's US warning didn't change that math. It just backed it up.
For Americans, that makes Emirates' nonstop flights from US cities the simplest way in, with BA through London as a backup. If you're used to a dozen ways to get to Dubai, it's a shorter menu this winter. Flights from Europe and Asia are also still taking longer routes around closed airspace, so expect some trips to run longer than they used to.
Should You Still Go?
I used to go to Dubai so many times a year, and my last trips were in January and again in February. I miss it a lot, and I'd absolutely go now. I'd just be careful, and not because of Dubai itself. It's because air travel in this part of the world can get disrupted fast, and the airspace around the region is honestly a little sus right now.
For most travelers, that's the right way to think about it. Flights are moving through Dubai every day, and the airport has been running normally. But warnings like Friday's are a reminder that things in this region can change quickly, and this year they have, more than once. Airlines in the Gulf have canceled flights with little notice before, and that's the realistic risk for most travelers: not danger at the airport, but a trip that gets scrambled at the last minute.
If you're connecting through Dubai rather than visiting, the same logic applies. A missed connection in Dubai can mean a long wait for the next seat, especially with fewer airlines flying there.
Before You Book
A few things make a Dubai trip a lot less stressful right now. Book a fare you can change or cancel for free, because schedules in the Gulf have shifted again and again this year. Sign up for the State Department's free STEP program, which lets the embassy reach you with alerts if something happens while you're there. And check your flight the day before and again the morning you leave, either in your airline's app or on the Dubai Airports website.
It's also worth reading your travel insurance closely. Many policies don't cover cancellations caused by war or terrorism, so check the fine print before you count on it. And if your flight does get canceled, here's what you're owed.
