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Air Canada suspends flights as Canadians urged to 'avoid all travel' to U.A.E.

National Trending Staff
National Trending Staff
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Mar 2 2026, 6:43 pm
Air Canada suspends flights as Canadians urged to 'avoid all travel' to U.A.E.
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Air Canada has suspended flights to and from the U.A.E. after a flurry of missile attacks rocked the tourism and commerce hotspot.

Canadians who have flights booked to or from Dubai and other surrounding destinations like Qatar and Saudi Arabia are being advised to avoid travel amid escalating attacks between Iran and the United States.

The Government of Canada updated multiple travel advisories over the weekend, urging Canadians to avoid all travel to the following countries due to “ongoing hostilities in the Middle East”: United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran. Travel advisories for Saudi Arabia and Oman suggest avoiding non-essential travel.

This comes after the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on Iran over the weekend, killing Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In turn, Iran has retaliated, targeting U.S. bases and assets across the Gulf states.

The attacks have effectively shut down air travel in the region, with Iran reportedly striking transportation hubs like the Dubai International Airport. On Feb. 28, several sources on social media shared footage of the airport in Dubai “damaged” by drone strikes from Iran.

So far, there have been three widely reported casualties, and multiple people have been injured in the missile attacks in the U.A.E.

“Emirati airspace is closed. Make sure your travel documents and those of your spouse and children are up to date and secure at all times,” reads Canada’s travel advisory for the U.A.E. “Missiles, drones and other projectiles could strike targets at any time. The security situation could deteriorate significantly without notice.”

Air Canada issued a travel notice on Monday for Canadians with upcoming flights booked to the region.

“Due to the military situation in the Middle East, all flights to and from Dubai (DXB) and Tel Aviv (TLV) are currently suspended. If you are in either of these regions, please do not head to the airport. Your safety is our top priority,” stated the airline.

All of the airline’s flights from Canada to Dubai and Israel have been cancelled until March 22, with service to resume on March 23.

If your flight is affected by the suspensions, Air Canada is allowing you to change your flight for free. If your flight is cancelled, the carrier said it will contact passengers directly with options, so make sure to keep an eye on your email.

Canadians who have flights to the region that haven’t been suspended, but want to change their travel plans, can make voluntary changes to their itinerary if they bought an Air Canada ticket no later than Feb. 28, 2026, for travel to, from or through one of the following airports between now and March 15, 2026:

  • Abu Dhabi (AUH)
  • Amman (AMM)
  • Beirut (BEY)
  • Dammam (DMM)
  • Dubai (DXB)
  • Erbil (EBL)
  • Tel Aviv (TLV)

“If you’re scheduled to travel during the affected period, you can retrieve your booking to change your flight, free of charge, to another date between now and March 31, 2026, subject to availability in the cabin you originally purchased. Outside of those dates, any fare difference will apply,” stated the airline.

For more details, read the full travel notice.

What to do if you’re stuck in the U.A.E. or any of the affected regions

dubai iran

Yatrik Sheth/Shutterstock

According to the travel advisory, the federal government’s ability to provide consular services to Canadians during an active conflict is limited, “with priority given to the provision of essential services.”

“Prepare contingency plans that don’t rely on the Government of Canada’s assistance for departure,” it reads.

The government said sheltering in place may be your safest option. However, if you wish to leave, the advisories for the respective countries share options for land border crossings.

For the U.A.E., the following land border crossings are available:

  • To Saudi Arabia:
    • Al Batha/Al Ghuwaifat
  • To Oman:
    • Hatta/Al Wajajah
    • Khatma Malaha
    • Sharjah/Fujairah
    • Khatm Al Shikla (Al Ain)

For Canadians in Qatar, the Abu Samra/Salwa land border crossing to Saudi Arabia is open.

Canadians travelling internationally can sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA), a free and confidential service that notifies Canadian citizens outside the country of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home.

If you need emergency consular services, you can reach out to the Canadian government’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre.

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