UAE suspends all Iranian airline flights to and from the country

The United Arab Emirates has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country, cutting a busy travel corridor as United States sanctions on Tehran's aviation sector take effect. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority announced the measure on Thursday in a statement carried by the Emirati WAM news agency.

Key facts

• What: All flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE are suspended.
• Who decided: The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority, announced on Thursday.
• Why: US sanctions preventing Iranian airlines from using airports around the world.
• Also affected: Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan have restricted or suspended access for Iranian airlines.
• Still operating: Some smaller Iranian airlines continue flying to China and Armenia, and some routes to Turkiye remain open.

What is changing?

The General Civil Aviation Authority said it was suspending every flight operated by Iranian airlines into and out of the UAE. It based the decision on the US sanctions that bar Iranian airlines from using airports around the world.

The effect on travellers was already visible on the first day. An Iran Airtour service from Tehran to Dubai was cancelled shortly before its scheduled departure on Thursday morning, after tickets had already been issued, according to the AFP news agency.

Why is this happening?

The US Treasury announced sweeping sanctions on Iran's aviation sector earlier this month, targeting 27 airlines and dozens of companies that support them. The measures aim to cut off Iran's air links entirely, and warn that any airport or company still servicing Iranian carriers risks being cut off from the US dollar system.

The UAE has joined Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan in restricting or suspending access for Iranian airlines. Dubai is a major destination for Iranian carriers, with multiple daily flights, a large Iranian community and close business links.

Majid Akhavan, spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, said Turkmenistan also turned back a flight from Tehran to Dushanbe on Thursday. Turkkenistan's refusal to allow the Iranian aircraft through its airspace meant the flight could not continue and had to return, he told the Iranian IRNA news agency.

What this means for travellers

Passengers booked on Iranian airlines to or from the UAE should expect cancellations, and at least one flight has already been turned back after tickets were issued. Travellers using Iranian carriers should check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.

Some air links out of Iran remain: several smaller Iranian airlines continue flying to China and Armenia, which have resisted US pressure, and routes to Turkiye stay open for some carriers.

Akhavan said diplomatic and aviation talks are under way to remove the restrictions and restore flights to the UAE. No timeline for those talks has been announced.