United Arab Emirates partially restricts airspace following security incidents

On May 5, 2026, the General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates announced a partial closure of its airspace until May 11, 2026. This decision follows reported Iranian drone and missile attacks that occurred on Monday, May 4. The United Arab Emirates authorities stated that their defense systems successfully intercepted these threats. As a consequence of the security measures, commercial flights have been restricted to specific entry and exit points. Many flights were diverted to Muscat, Oman, or redirected through Saudi Arabian airspace. The official Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) classified the Emirates flight information region as partially closed. These restrictions were implemented shortly after the country had previously lifted earlier precautionary measures. The operational changes remain in effect to ensure civil aviation safety.