Tensions are at an all-time high as the US and Israel launch a joint attack on Iran on Saturday, February 28. With Iran launching retaliatory attacks across US bases in the Gulf region, the airspaces around the Middle East remain in turmoil. With the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Trump’s statement confirming “major combat operations” in the region, the fate of travellers and residents alike remains in a state of precarious uncertainty. Whether you are a non-resident Indian or a tourist to the region, read on to understand the state of flight cancellations, travel advisories, and safety essentials you need to keep in mind.
US-Iran War: Travel Advisory For Indian Travellers
Global airlines, including Air India, Emirates, and Indigo, have cancelled over 500 flights to and from key Middle Eastern airspaces, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Tehran, and Doha. This further includes the rerouting of flights over Central Asia and the Caspian Sea from the affected regions to Europe and the USA.
According to The Economic Times, the following flights have suspended their operations over the Gulf region or rerouted their flights completely. Furthermore, expect an additional 3-5 hours on long-haul rerouted flights and “War Risk Surcharge” on all new bookings.
Keep track of your flight over social media or their official website to get the latest status.
Air India:
It has suspended all its flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar. Additionally, it has also cancelled flights to and from Europe that use the Gulf Corridor as a layover.
IndiGo:
India’s biggest airline carrier, IndiGo, has also cancelled its flights that used the Middle East airspace, amidst the rising tensions.
Emirates:
A go-to for Indians to fly to the Gulf, Emirates has also suspended its flights to and from Dubai until further notice. If you are booked to travel before or on March 5, the preferred option is to cancel or rebook your flight.
Etihad:
Additionally, Etihad has also suspended its flights to and from Abu Dhabiuntil further notice. While the suspension is until 14:00 UAE time, March 2, keep a check on your flight status on their website.
Other airlines that have suspended operations as of March 2 are Qatar Airways, SpiceJet, British Airways, Air France KLM, and Lufthansa.
Visit your airline’s flight status page on their website, enter your flight number to check the updated information on cancellations, rerouting, and delays. Additionally, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait have also closed their airspace, while Saudi Arabia’s airspace also remains impacted. However, Jordan’s airspace remains open for now, and Royal Jordanian is currently one of the few carriers maintaining European routes (Government of the Netherlands / Ministry of Foreign Affairs Security Update, March 1, 2026)
For foreign nationals in India:
On Sunday, March 1, 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released an advisory and urged foreign nationals to approach the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Moreover, it promises extension of their visas or to regularise their stay.
Reach out to your nearest FRRO here.
Everything to know about Visa Alerts
In a crisis with rerouting and unscheduled stops, make sure you are staying inside the transit area, and your bags are checked through to India. Whereas, in case of cancelled flights and no rebooking within 24 hours, make sure to apply for a transit visa if you wish to leave the airport for nightly accommodation.
If stranded in the UAE, you can apply for a 48-hour transit visa for free or a 96-hour transit visa. However, there may be delays in processing given the current situation. Nevertheless, in the case of Turkey and Qatar, do not leave transit areas until the airline’s representative confirms a “Shore Pass” or emergency entry. As for European countries, Indian citizens require an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) for most Schengen countries. Make sure you do not leave the airport without this visa.
For Indian expats working in the Middle East on a single-entry work VISA, the MEA has issued a warning NOT leave the country for “home leave” right now. As the borders are expected to tighten or visa systems may go offline, you may be hit with a re-entry ban, risking your job and residency.
Pro-tip: If your rebooked flights have a layover exceeding 8 hours, check if the country requries transit visa for Indians.
Official emergency helpline numbers across the Middle East:
Embassy of India, Tel Aviv, Israel
Telephone: +972-54-7520711; +972-54-2428378
Email: cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
Embassy of India, Tehran, Iran
Telephone: +989128109115, +989128109109, +989128109102 and +98993217935
Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: 800-46342
WhatsApp: +971543090571
Email: pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in, ca.abudhabi@mea.gov.in
Embassy of India, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Telephone: 00-966-11-4884697, 800 247 1234
WhatsApp: 00-966-542126748
Email: cw.riyadh@mea.gov.in
Embassy of India, Doha, Qatar
Telephone: 00974-55647502
Email: cons.doha@mea.gov.in
Embassy of India, Damascus, Syria
Telephone: +963-993385973
Email: cons.damascus@mea.gov.in
Embassy of India, Baghdad, Iraq
Telephone: +964 771 651 1185, +964 770444 4899
Email: cons.baghdad@mea.gov.in, cons1.baghdad@mea.gov.in and pol.baghdad@mea.gov.in
Embassy of India, Kuwait
Telephone: +96565501946
Email: community.kuwait@mea.gov.in
Embassy of India, Bahrain
Telephone: +97338400433, +97339418071