UAE temporarily closes airspace as Middle East war forces wider flight disruptions

United Arab Emirates on Tuesday announced temporary but complete closure It closed its airspace as a precaution during the ongoing Middle East war.

The General Civil Aviation Authority said the closure was “an extraordinary precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and air crews and protecting UAE territory amid rapidly evolving regional security developments.”

This move was made following a comprehensive review of security and operational risks and in coordination with relevant national and international institutions, the official said. He added that maintaining airspace security and protecting the UAE’s sovereignty remain their top priorities and updates will be provided as the situation develops.

The move comes after Dubai International Airport restarted a limited flight schedule on Monday morning following a drone strike that hit a fuel depot, triggering a fire. No injuries were reported in the attack, which was the fourth drone-related incident at the airport, officials said.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said in an update on Monday that its air defenses had intercepted more than 300 ballistic missiles and 1,600 drones since the war entered its third week.

The outage comes amid wider flight cancellations and rerouting in the Middle East as airlines reassess their operations in the region’s increasingly unstable airspace.

British Airways It said on Monday it was extending a temporary disruption to its Middle East flight schedule due to ongoing uncertainty, affecting flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv.

The airline said it is constantly reviewing the situation and is in direct contact with affected customers to offer them travel options.

The IAG-owned airline operated eight relief flights from Muscat, Oman, and added flights to and from Singapore and Bangkok to support affected passengers.

— CNBC’s Emma Graham contributed to this report.