The Middle East is grappling with the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, with the involvement of the United States. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched a “massive” sixth wave of retaliatory strikes in the region following the killing of its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The airspace closure over the Middle East was extended for a second day on Sunday, disrupting flight movements across the globe. Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, which serve as a super connector, have been severely affected due to escalating tensions in the region.
When Israel exchanged missile fire on March 1, Iran attacked US military bases and Israeli assets in the Persian Gulf. The Indian Embassy in Dubai issued a security advisory urging that “all Indian nationals in the UAE are advised to avoid unnecessary travel, exercise due caution, be vigilant, follow security instructions and advisories as and when issued by the UAE authorities and the Embassy”.
The emergency contact numbers below have been issued:
Dubai airspace remains closed. Passengers stranded in the Gulf must contact their respective airlines for updates. SpiceJet has canceled all flights to and from the UAE on March 2. IndiGo has canceled several flights scheduled for Monday due to airspace restrictions. Emirates has suspended all operations to and from Dubai until 15:00 (UAE time) on 2 March. Etihad Airways has suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 2am (UAE time) on Monday. Air India has canceled several international flights scheduled for March 1.
A list of airline contacts is provided below:
AI WhatsApp: +91 96670 34444
- Air India 24/7 Customer Care: +91 116 932 9333 / +91 116 932 9999
- Indigo: +91 124-4973838 / 124-6173838
As the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and Consulate General in Dubai continue to function normally, it has advised Indian nationals not to believe “rumours and false reports about the security situation in the country and follow official instructions from UAE Embassy/Consulate/Government Offices for updates”.
It lists the following official procedures that Indian nationals must follow to get the latest and accurate updates
With more than 1,000 flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi canceled and hundreds more diverted from the world’s most critical air corridors, dozens of Indian nationals were affected via the UAE. Dubai – the world’s busiest international travel hub, handling more than 1,000 flights a day, was closed after suffering damage during Iran’s overnight retaliatory strikes on the Gulf states.
