UAE Reopens Its Airspace After Temporary Closure
March 16, Kathmandu – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reopened its airspace on Tuesday after a temporary closure that lasted nearly two hours. The closure was implemented as a security precaution amid ongoing missile and drone attacks by Iran during the third week of conflict involving the US and Israel.
According to the UAE Ministry of Defense, by Monday the air defense system had intercepted and destroyed over 300 ballistic missiles and more than 1,600 drones.
The Civil Aviation Authority stated that after a thorough evaluation of operational and security conditions and coordination with relevant agencies, the decision was made to reopen the airspace. The authority also confirmed continuous real-time monitoring is in place to maintain the highest levels of aviation security.
The authority explained that the full closure, which lasted approximately two hours, was an extraordinary cautionary measure to ensure the safety of flights, crews, and UAE territory amid rapidly evolving regional security developments.
Earlier, drone attacks at Dubai International Airport had disrupted flight services. Limited flight schedules resumed on Monday following a fire at a fuel storage facility. Officials confirmed there were no human casualties in the incident. This marked the fourth drone-related incident at the airport.
Heightened security tensions in the Middle East have led to cancellations and route changes for various international flights.
Meanwhile, British Airways announced on Monday an extension of temporary reductions to its Middle East flight schedules. This affected flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Oman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv in Israel.
The airline stated it is continuously reviewing the situation and is contacting affected passengers to provide alternative travel options.
British Airways also noted that eight relief flights have been operated from Muscat, Oman, to assist passengers, and additional flights to Singapore and Bangkok have been added.
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