Dubai International Airport, which typically handles more than 1,200 aircraft movements a day and operates around the clock, recorded just 20 flights on March 2, according to data from Flightradar24.
The total comprised 16 take-offs and only four landings, underscoring a dramatic decline in activity.
The airport, long regarded as one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, is experiencing an unprecedented slowdown as a result of the turmoil triggered by Iranian strikes and the subsequent closure of large sections of regional airspace.
To put this into perspective, the airport recorded 1,257 movements on February 27, 1,240 on February 26, and 1,236 on February 25. Over the previous week alone, there were 5,654 total movements, including 2,830 departures and 2,824 arrivals. Against those figures, Monday’s total represents an almost complete standstill.
Read also: Dubai now a ghost town as Iranian strikes rattle city
The slowdown follows escalating regional tensions, which have forced several countries to close their airspace. Consequently, airlines have been compelled to reroute, divert or suspend flights altogether. Services from Europe, Asia and India have either been cancelled mid-route or turned back after hours in the air, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
Among the four aircraft that managed to land in Dubai on March 2 was Emirates flight EK501 from Mumbai, which touched down at 5:11am. Several services operated by flydubai from Baku also arrived. Departures were equally limited, including one Emirates service to Chennai and a flight to Leipzig later in the evening.
For an airport that routinely dispatches hundreds of aircraft daily, such isolated movements reflect an aviation system operating under severe strain.
Read also: Qatar Airways, Emirates suspend flight operations amid US, Iran attacks
The disruption has continued into Tuesday, with Indian routes particularly affected. Emirates flights from Chennai, Delhi and Bengaluru were diverted back to their departure cities. Meanwhile, EK525 from Hyderabad was cancelled while en route.
In a statement, Emirates said it was closely monitoring developments and adjusting operations in line with airspace restrictions. The airline emphasised that passenger safety remained its top priority and advised travellers to check the status of their flights before proceeding to the airport.
The sharp decline in activity at Dubai’s main airport underlines the scale of the regional aviation crisis. Although authorities have indicated that operations will resume fully once airspace access stabilises, the situation remains fluid, with further cancellations and diversions likely if tensions persist.
