Air strikes involving Israel, Iran and the US have led to thousands of flights being cancelled. Reuters
Air strikes involving Israel, Iran and the US have led to thousands of flights being cancelled. Reuters
Air strikes involving Israel, Iran and the US have led to thousands of flights being cancelled. Reuters
Air strikes involving Israel, Iran and the US have led to thousands of flights being cancelled. Reuters

Flights cancelled to the UAE: Wizz Air, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada and more suspend routes


  • English
  • Arabic

Update: Air India and IndiGo resume flights to UAE

Several international carriers have suspended flights to the UAE amid the tension between Iran and Israel.

While many flights were temporarily affected on Monday following Iran's thwarted attack on Qatar's US airbase at Al Udeid, both Dubai Airports and Abu Dhabi's Zayed International airports announced the resumption of operations later in the evening, but cautioned travellers of delays.

"Due to regional airspace closures, flights from DXB and DWC - Al Maktoum International may be impacted. Please check with your airline for the latest updates before heading to the airport, especially for guests travelling to India," Dubai Airports posted on social media on Tuesday.

Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport also urged travellers to check latest flight schedules before heading to the airport.

A number of international flights into the UAE remain cancelled or suspended as of Wednesday.

Wizz Air announced on Tuesday that it is cancelling all flights to and from the UAE until June 30.

“In light of the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, and due to the closure of multiple airspaces across the region yesterday evening, we diverted our flights to alternative airports,” the airline said. “The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority. We will keep you informed as the situation evolves.”

Singapore Airlines also halted its daily flight between Singapore and Dubai until Wednesday.

“Customers affected by the flight cancellations will be re accommodated on alternative flights or can seek a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket,” the airline said.

Air Canada, which suspended its daily non-stop flights between Toronto and Dubai on June 18, will continue to pause the flights up to and including August 4 “as a precautionary measure”.

The suspension could be further extended “following a safety assessment in consultation with government and other authorities,” the airline said.

Chicago-based United Airlines has also suspended flights from Newark and New Jersey to Dubai until July 3.

Dutch airline KLM is also offering rebook and refund options to passengers who were scheduled to fly between Amsterdam and Dubai between June 19 and June 29.

On Monday, the US State Department issued a security alert for all its citizens travelling abroad, saying “there is the potential for demonstrations against US citizens and interests abroad”.

“The Department of State advises US citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution. Please read carefully our Travel Advisory, country information and any recent security alerts when planning travel,” the department posted on X and on its website.

The smuggler

Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. 
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.

Khouli conviction

Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.

For sale

A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.

- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico

- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000

- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Updated: June 25, 2025, 1:17 PM`