Etihad Airways has extended its flight cancellations between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait until 24 July. The airline confirmed the extension on Sunday. The suspension began on 19 July. It affects multiple daily services on the route. Hundreds of passengers have been left scrambling for alternatives.

Emirates and Air Arabia have also cancelled flights to Kuwait. Both carriers have so far only confirmed disruptions for 19 and 20 July. Flydubai said its Kuwait schedule is operating as normal. It offers one of the few remaining direct options for travellers between the UAE and Kuwait this week.

What passengers should do

Etihad said affected passengers will be rebooked onto the next available flight once services resume. Travellers can also request a full refund or a travel credit through the airline’s website or contact centre. The airline has not said how long refunds will take to process. Standard timelines for UAE carriers typically range from seven to 14 business days for credit card bookings.

Emirates advised passengers booked on cancelled flights to contact their travel agent or the Emirates call centre for rebooking options. Air Arabia has not yet published detailed guidance for affected customers, though its website allows passengers to manage bookings online.

For context, UAE consumer protection rules require airlines to offer either a full refund or an alternative flight when they cancel a service. Passengers who booked through a third-party travel agent may need to deal with the agent directly rather than the airline.

Why flights are grounded

The cancellations follow an operational disruption at Kuwait International Airport. The exact cause has not been specified, though local media reports point to technical issues affecting air traffic management systems. The airport has not issued a public statement on when normal operations will resume.

Kuwait is a key regional route for UAE carriers. Emirates typically operates five daily flights between Dubai and Kuwait. Etihad runs up to four daily services from Abu Dhabi. Air Arabia and flydubai each serve the route multiple times a week. The route is heavily used by business travellers and families. Kuwaiti nationals also visit the UAE regularly for medical care, shopping, and leisure.

What this means for travellers this week

Etihad is grounded until at least 24 July. Emirates and Air Arabia have yet to confirm whether their cancellations will extend. Passengers holding tickets for the coming days face uncertainty. Flydubai remains the only UAE carrier with an unaffected schedule on the route. However, seats are likely to fill quickly as displaced passengers seek alternatives.

Travellers who need to reach Kuwait urgently may also consider routing through nearby Gulf hubs such as Bahrain or Doha, though this adds travel time and cost. No other UAE airports — including Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah — have reported disruptions on Kuwait-bound services.

Check before you travel

Passengers with bookings to or from Kuwait in the coming days should check their flight status directly with their airline before heading to the airport. Most carriers are updating their websites and apps in real time.

  • Emirates: emirates.com or the Emirates app
  • Etihad: etihad.com or the Etihad app
  • Air Arabia: airarabia.com
  • flydubai: flydubai.com

No other UAE carriers have reported disruptions on the Kuwait route.

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