UAE suspends Iranian airline flights until further notice

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said the halt took effect on Thursday, 24 September 2026. It said the decision followed a US ban that stops Iranian airlines from using airports in various countries around the world.

Passengers should treat the change as immediate. The GCAA urged the public to rely only on official and authorised sources for updates. It said it will keep relevant authorities and the public informed as the situation develops, pending a return to normal air traffic between the two countries.

No end date was set. The authority did not list conditions for lifting the suspension.

Why the flights stopped

US pressure on Iran’s aviation sector tightened this month. On 8 September, the US Treasury Department sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines as part of a wider package aimed at the country’s aviation network, Arab News reported.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent later warned that airports and companies that still service Iranian carriers risk being cut out of the dollar system. On CNBC he said providers must not fuel those aircraft, sell tickets or offer landing services. Doing so risks being knocked out of the dollar system, The National reported.

The UAE move sits alongside similar steps elsewhere. Flights by Iranian carriers to Baghdad, Muscat and Qatar were halted this week. Georgia and Azerbaijan have also suspended Iranian airlines, according to Arab News. Some services to destinations including China and Türkiye have continued.

Iranian media said flights operated by the country’s airlines to the UAE were cancelled from midnight on Thursday. That included an Iran Airtour service from Tehran to Dubai, Arab News reported.

What travellers should do

If you hold a ticket on an Iranian airline into or out of the UAE, contact the carrier before you travel. Do not assume a schedule still stands.

Cancellations may leave passengers looking for seats on other airlines. Check visa rules and connection times carefully if you rebook through a third country.

The GCAA said it will share further updates when air traffic can resume. Until then, treat any social-media claim about reopenings as unverified unless an official UAE source confirms it.

Wider context

The flight ban follows other UAE steps that have tightened links with Iran. Last month the UAE suspended all trade, commercial exchange and financial transactions with Iran after attacks on UAE-owned tankers and Tehran’s rejection of talks with the US, The National reported.

Separately, the UAE Central Bank this week barred Bank Melli Iran’s UAE branches from financial transactions with Iran. Examinations found anti-money-laundering failures, according to The National. Bank Melli is Iran’s largest lender and has eight UAE branches, including a regional office.

None of those measures sets a date for Iranian airline flights to restart. For now, the practical rule is simple: Iranian carriers are not operating to or from UAE airports until the GCAA says otherwise.