Latest: Many Middle East flights still grounded as strikes on Lebanon intensify
Airlines have cancelled flights scheduled to take off on Thursday in response to rising tensions across the Middle East after Iran's major rocket attack on Israel.
With Israel's threat of retaliation leaving the region on the brink of an already devastating war escalating, airlines have taken action with passenger safety in mind after Israel, Iraq and Jordan closed off their airspace.
Dubai carriers Emirates and flydubai cancelled all flights to Iraq, Iran and Jordan scheduled for Thursday. Emirates also cancelled flights to the UK, Oman and Kuwait. Emirates later added that all flights to and from Iraq, Iran and Jordan scheduled for Friday and Saturday are also cancelled.
The airlines have confirmed that those booked on the flights will be assisted with travel arrangements, with passengers advised to check the latest flight information with their carrier.
Flydubai said on Thursday that it would resume flights to Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan from Friday.
"We are monitoring the situation closely and will amend our flight schedule if required," a flydubai spokesperson said.
"Flydubai operates within flight paths approved by the regulator and the safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority."
Flights to Beirut have also been disrupted, with Emirates extending the suspension of routes to and from the Lebanese capital until October 8, and flydubai has suspended flights up to October 7, as Israel began an incursion in the south of the country.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways resumed its flights to Tel Aviv on Thursday. “The airline is closely monitoring the situation and remains in constant communication with relevant authorities and security intelligence providers,” its representative said.
Gulf airlines halt flights
Air Arabia flights to Beirut from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi remain suspended and Egyptair said it was suspending flights to Beirut indefinitely. Jordan's flag carrier Royal Jordanian said flights to Beirut were not operating “due to the current situation”.
Iran Air and Iraqi Airways have also suspended flights to the Lebanese capital “until further notice”, local news agencies reported.
On Thursday, Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation said airlines were now permitted to resume flight operations, which were temporarily grounded following Iran's missile strike on Israel on Tuesday.
Bahrain's flag carrier Gulf Air and Doha-based Qatar Airways have taken similar steps because of security concerns. The National has contacted Saudia and Gulf Air for comment.
Lebanon's Middle East Airlines is the only airline operating from Beirut. Many countries, including Britain, the US, France and Ireland are calling on their citizens to leave. On Saturday, the European Commission and the EU Aviation Safety Agency issued conflict zone information bulletins recommending that airlines avoid operating in the airspaces of Lebanon and Israel “at all flight levels”.
Cancelled Emirates flights
- EK945/EK946 Dubai – Basrah – Dubai
- EK2444/EK2445 Dubai – Basrah – Dubai
- EK941/EK942 Dubai – Baghdad – Dubai
- EK2072/EK2073 Dubai – Baghdad – Dubai
- EK977/EK978 Dubai – Tehran – Dubai
- EK971/EK972 Dubai – Tehran – Dubai
- EK979/EK980 Dubai – Tehran – Dubai
- EK904/EK905 Dubai – Amman – Dubai
- EK2056/EK2057 Dubai – Amman – Dubai
- EK837/838 Dubai – Bahrain – Dubai
- EK855/86 Dubai – Kuwait – Dubai
- EK31/32 Dubai – London Heathrow – Dubai
- EK866/867 Dubai – Muscat – Dubai
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Best Agent: Jorge Mendes
Best Club : Liverpool
Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP
Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart
Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)
Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)
Best Women's Player: Lucy Bronze
Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi
Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)
Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs
FIXTURES
Saturday, November 3
Japan v New Zealand
Wales v Scotland
England v South Africa
Ireland v Italy
Saturday, November 10
Italy v Georgia
Scotland v Fiji
England v New Zealand
Wales v Australia
Ireland v Argentina
France v South Africa
Saturday, November 17
Italy v Australia
Wales v Tonga
England v Japan
Scotland v South Africa
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Saturday, November 24
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Scotland v Argentina
England v Australia
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Ireland v United States
France v Fiji
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Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
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