- Air India has extended flight suspensions to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar through March 4, 2026.
- The U.S. State Department issued a DEPART NOW order for 15 nations due to escalating regional security risks.
- Over 20,000 Indian nationals remain stranded in the UAE as governments coordinate emergency military and charter evacuations.
(MIDDLE EAST) — Air India and Air India Express extended the suspension of all scheduled flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar as the Middle East aviation and security situation worsened on March 3, 2026.
The airlines halted services to and from the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam), Israel (Tel Aviv), and Qatar (Doha), with suspensions extended until at least 23:59 hrs IST on March 4, 2026.
Air India kept some long-haul services moving while Gulf routes remained grounded. It resumed select flights to North America, the UK, and Europe using “alternative routing over available airspaces in West Asia,” adding approximately 2–3 hours to flight times.
The flight disruption followed a joint U.S.-Israel military operation against Iran, referred to in official briefings as Operation Epic Fury, that began on February 28, 2026. Airspace closures and retaliatory strikes across the Gulf rippled into commercial aviation schedules and passenger movements.
Air India announced refunds and rebooking options on March 1, 2026. “We remain committed to assisting passengers with alternative arrangements, options of full refunds, or complimentary rescheduling,” the carrier said.
U.S. officials moved to organize assistance for Americans caught by the fast-changing security environment and shrinking commercial options. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a video message on March 2, 2026, saying the “safety and security of U.S. citizens is the State Department’s highest priority.”
Rubio announced the activation of a 24/7 task force to assist stranded Americans. The State Department also issued what it called a “DEPART NOW” order on March 2, 2026, instructing Americans to “DEPART NOW. using available commercial transportation due to serious safety risks.”
The emergency security update applied to 15 nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel. The advisory information appeared on the State Department’s travel site at travel.state.gov.
The Department of Homeland Security said it was coordinating with the State Department to monitor the impact on international travel. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem also pointed to the constraints created by a domestic partial government shutdown that affected travel programs.
Noem said on February 22 that DHS had to make “tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage,” referring to the suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry due to the shutdown.
On March 3, 2026, Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson confirmed the State Department was “actively securing military aircraft and charter flights” for evacuations as commercial options dwindled.
The unfolding crisis carried particular weight for Indian nationals who live and work across Gulf countries. An estimated 10 million Indian nationals reside in the region, and flight suspensions left many unable to return home, report for work, or complete short trips linked to visa status.
Approximately 20,000 Indian passengers were reportedly stranded in the UAE alone. Nearly 8,000 were in transit in Qatar, as flight connections and onward travel options tightened.
Safety concerns rose alongside logistical problems. Reports from March 2, 2026, described drone strikes hitting a labor camp in Abu Dhabi, causing panic among thousands of Indian workers.
Workers traveling on short-term assignments or making “visa runs” faced legal distress as permits neared expiry while flights remained grounded. The disruption also complicated plans for families trying to regroup across borders, particularly when connecting itineraries depended on transit through the UAE or Qatar.
Indian authorities urged rapid registration and contact with diplomatic missions for those affected. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs advised Indian nationals to register on the MADAD portal and also register with the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate.
Consular helplines circulated for affected travelers and residents. The Indian Embassy Abu Dhabi listed +971-50-8995583, the Indian Consulate Dubai listed +971-50-6734053, and the MEA 24/7 Crisis Center in New Delhi listed +91-11-23012113.
Guidance also covered people dealing with expiring permissions and immigration deadlines. The MEA advised stranded foreign nationals in India to contact the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for emergency visa extensions.
U.S. authorities, meanwhile, pointed travelers affected by delays toward the USCIS “Special Situations” page for potential filing flexibility or relief. The advisory referenced USCIS relief as an option to monitor, without detailing which categories might qualify.
Airlines and officials warned passengers not to show up at Gulf airports without firm confirmation, as access tightened. Travelers were told not to travel to airports in Dubai, Doha, or Abu Dhabi without a confirmed ticket and explicit confirmation from the airline, because airport access was restricted to confirmed travelers only.
Air India’s public travel information remained available through its travel advisory page at Air India Travel Alerts. The airline’s suspension notice and rerouting details framed the operational limits carriers faced as airspace availability changed.
The U.S. Mission to the UAE provided updates through ae.usembassy.gov, as the State Department’s posture shifted toward urgent departures and contingency evacuations. Rubio’s statement and the “DEPART NOW” instruction underscored how quickly the U.S. government judged conditions to be deteriorating.
India’s foreign ministry also maintained official updates through mea.gov.in, as consular teams handled calls from workers and passengers trying to find replacement routes, secure extensions, or coordinate with employers and sponsors.
For stranded Indian travelers, the operational reality centered on limited seats, longer routings, and frequent changes in airport access rules. For Indian workers in the Gulf, the problem compounded quickly: a missed flight could mean missed work, an expired permit, or an inability to relocate away from areas where residents reported security incidents.
Johnson’s March 3, 2026, statement about “actively securing military aircraft and charter flights” highlighted how governments were preparing for scenarios where commercial aviation could not meet demand. Air India’s offer of “full refunds” or “complimentary rescheduling” gave passengers options on paper, but many still faced immediate questions about where they could safely go, and how soon any route would reopen.
