Air Arabia removed a series of scheduled services linking the UAE with Kuwait as aviation authorities continued to navigate airspace challenges across the region. The budget airline halted departures such as G9068, G9124 and G9121 from Sharjah along with their return legs while also cancelling Abu Dhabi flights 3L020, 3L022 and the corresponding returns according to its operational updates. Passengers holding reservations were directed to verify status through the carrier’s website or mobile application before travelling to either airport. The move formed part of a wider pattern of adjustments that saw similar steps taken by Emirates and Etihad Airways on overlapping dates.
Regional aviation monitors traced the interruptions to a temporary closure of Kuwait International Airport on July 18 prompted by reported missile and drone threats. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued bulletin CZIB 2026-07 on July 14 that recommended operators avoid or exercise extreme caution in the airspace over the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar through at least July 29. That guidance reflected an escalation in US-Iran tensions that resumed in early July and quickly affected civil flight paths throughout the Gulf. Air Arabia’s decision aligned with those alerts while preserving operations on other international routes.
The carrier advised customers to explore rebooking or full cash refunds for cancelled journeys and reminded travellers to update contact information to receive real-time notifications. Similar messages appeared in statements from competing airlines that also scrubbed segments to Kuwait and Bahrain. Industry sources indicated the affected flights carried both business travellers and leisure passengers many of whom sought alternative connections through unaffected carriers or later dates.
Emirates separately cancelled four daily rotations each way between Dubai and Kuwait on the same two days including services EK853 through EK860 according to its published schedule revisions. Etihad Airways withdrew EY653 and EY654 between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait while maintaining most of its broader network. These parallel reductions underscored the pressure on regional connectivity as regulators and operators monitored evolving security assessments on an hourly basis.
Kuwait airport authorities restored limited activity after the initial suspension but continued to coordinate closely with neighbouring states on airspace management. Data from flight-tracking platforms showed that while some Air Arabia services resumed later in the week others remained subject to short-notice changes through the end of July. The episode highlighted the vulnerability of tightly integrated Gulf aviation markets to external geopolitical shocks.
Travellers planning UAE-Kuwait journeys in coming days were urged to consult airline applications directly rather than rely on third-party aggregators. Air Arabia reiterated that its customer service teams stood ready to facilitate transfers to available flights or process compensation where regulations applied. The situation remained fluid with fresh updates expected as regional authorities reviewed the latest threat intelligence.
