Hundreds of Nigerian business travellers and tourists are currently stranded in Dubai and other transit hubs due to widespread flight cancellations following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
Travel agents and aviation experts confirmed that the disruptions are causing chaos, with many Nigerians also stranded back home.
Across the country, travel agencies say Nigerians planning to fly through the Gulf have been advised to suspend all bookings, as airlines continue to cancel and reschedule flights with no clear timeline for normal operations to resume
The disruption follows joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory attacks, which have forced the partial or complete closure of airspace across much of the Middle East for a third consecutive day.
The most affected airlines are the major Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways which typically handle about 90,000 passengers daily through their hubs, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The disruption also extends far beyond the region, affecting connecting passengers from Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.
Read also: Limited travel operations resume across the UAE
Jennifer Oguwike, a travel consultant at Cinderella Travels, said authorities in the UAE have moved to cushion the impact on stranded passengers.
“Across the Gulf, less than 20,000 passengers are stranded. The United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority has stated that they will cover accommodation and meal costs for affected travellers,” she said.
“The UAE government also ordered that passengers from Nigeria and other countries should hold on until the war is over, as costs will be handled by the government”, she explained. She added that hotels have been instructed not to check guests out.
She also highlighted that flights to the UK, Europe, US and Canada via the Middle East are also affected.
Another travel agent at TouchDown Travels, who spoke on anonymity, explained saying, “There are flight cancellations to Dubai, Doha and Bahrain due to the ongoing crisis in the region.”
“Airlines have issued advisories discouraging travel to these cities, and no specific date has been provided for when it will be clear to fly,” she said.
“A lot of travellers are currently stranded at Dubai Airport. While some clients have been able to reschedule their tickets for later dates, the situation remains uncertain,” she added.
As of Monday, countries including Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates had announced at least partial airspace closures. This has triggered widespread flight cancellations, diversions and suspensions, stranding tens of thousands of passengers worldwide.
While the economic impact is yet to be felt immediately, tourism and business travels have started felling the impact.
Some Nigerians who have booked flights to visit Nigeria for business trips have cancelled the flights forcing the postponement of seminars and business discussion.
For instance, the ongoing conflict has caused media workshops hosted by Nigerian corporate organisations to issue emails cancelling workshops in the region. In a note made available to the Nigerian media, a media consultant noted that the ongoing conflict has affected business travel.
“…As a result, our keynote speaker, Emeka Oparah, vice president, corporate communications and CSR at Airtel Africa, will be unable to attend media Workshop scheduled for March 4, 2026,“ the message said.
There are likely to be more of such genuine excuses over the US-Iran war.
Retaliation and aviation risks
John Ojikutu, an aviation security expert, warned of broader implications for business mobility.“Gulf crises, including geopolitical conflicts, airspace closures, and security volatility have a significant negative impact on business travel for expatriates, often forcing them into ‘work-from-home’ arrangements, causing, or limiting their mobility.
Recent events (such as those in early 2026) have shown that such crises can lead to widespread flight cancellations, severe airspace restrictions, and the need for immediate, emergency travel adjustments for foreign workers in sectors like energy, finance, and consulting”.
Global implications
Beyond stranded passengers, the crisis is raising concerns about global aviation stability, supply chains and energy markets, given the strategic importance of Gulf airspace and transport corridors.
For Nigeria, the immediate concern remains the welfare of its citizens abroad and the knock-on effect on business travel, pilgrimages, tourism and trade routes linked to the Gulf.
With no clear timeline for full reopening of regional airspace, airlines, travel agents and passengers alike remain in limbo, awaiting further updates from civil aviation authorities across the Middle East.
