UAE flight updates July 16, 2026 bring two significant new developments for travelers flying from Dubai — Singapore Airlines has extended its Dubai flight cancellations all the way to October 24, and British Airways has given passengers an additional week of flexibility with its Middle East policy now valid until October 31. These extensions signal that major international carriers remain cautious about the Gulf region even as ground-level tensions show some signs of easing.

The UAE flight updates July 16 picture also includes ongoing Bahrain route disruptions for Etihad, continued Air Suvidha 2.0 requirements for India-bound passengers, and Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport continuing a recovery from back-to-back missile and drone attacks.

New This Week: Singapore Airlines and British Airways

These are the two headline changes in the UAE flight updates July 16 that were not in place yesterday.

Singapore Airlines announced that flights between Singapore and Dubai have been cancelled until October 24, 2026. Affected passengers can request a full refund on the unused portion of their ticket directly through Singapore Airlines.

British Airways has extended its Middle East flexibility policy until October 31, 2026 — giving Dubai passengers booked with British Airways an additional week beyond the previous October 25 deadline to cancel or change their travel plans without penalty.

Both extensions confirm that October is now the earliest realistic window for normalization of European carrier operations on Gulf routes.

Etihad: Bahrain Route Disrupted on July 16

A notable disruption in the UAE flight updates July 16 involves Etihad Airways on the Abu Dhabi–Bahrain route.

Flight EY647 from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport to Bahrain International Airport returned to Abu Dhabi on July 16 due to Bahrain airport closure. As a result, both EY647 (AUH to BAH) and EY648 (BAH to AUH scheduled later the same day) were cancelled.

Etihad also confirmed that flight EY440 from Abu Dhabi to Manila on July 15 was delayed due to a technical issue, causing EY441 (Manila to Abu Dhabi on July 16) to be delayed as a result. Passengers are advised to check their contact details on file with Etihad for updates.

Emirates, by contrast, reported no major cancellations or delays — it is currently flying to 137 destinations across 72 countries and has reached a landmark of 100 aircraft refurbished under its retrofit programme, the largest known airline retrofit globally.

India: Air Suvidha 2.0 Still Mandatory

The Air Suvidha 2.0 mandatory health declaration for all passengers flying to India remains fully in effect — and this applies to every Indian passport holder flying home from the UAE.

Complete the Self-Declaration Form at airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival in India. Show the downloaded QR code at the health desk or immigration counter on landing. No paperwork is needed on arrival — the digital form is sufficient.

The form was introduced in response to the WHO declaring the Ebola/Bundibugyo outbreak in the DR Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The portal is free. Any website charging a fee for this form is a scam.

Saudi Arabia: Abha Recovering, But Advisories Remain

Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport, which was targeted by Houthi missiles and drones for two consecutive days this week, is in recovery mode. While Riyadh and Jeddah airports continue to operate, some flydubai, Qatar Airways, and Saudia flights from Abha remain cancelled — travelers must verify their specific itinerary before heading to the airport.

Canada advises a high degree of caution nationwide in Saudi Arabia and against non-essential travel within 80km of the Yemen border.

The United States maintains a Level 3 “reconsider travel” advisory for Saudi Arabia, with a strict Do Not Travel order for the Yemen border region, Qatif, Abha, and nearby restricted zones.

UK Advisory: Situation Remains Unpredictable

The UK’s FCDO updated its Middle East travel advice this week — acknowledging the US-Iran memorandum of understanding but warning that the security situation remains unpredictable and hostilities could resume with little warning.

The FCDO noted that Iran has previously targeted civilian infrastructure across the region including airports, ports, hotels, and energy facilities. British travelers are advised to monitor local developments, avoid military and security sites, keep travel documents up to date, and maintain valid travel insurance — policies may be invalidated if travelers go against official government advice.

Gulf Carriers: Full Status July 16

Gulf Carrier	Status — July 16
Etihad Airways	BAH route disrupted — EY647/648 cancelled. EY440/441 to Manila delayed
Emirates	Operating — 137 destinations, 72 countries. No disruptions reported
flydubai	Ramping up — arrive 4 hours early, check in online
Air Arabia	Expanding — new Rome and London Gatwick services active
Qatar Airways	160+ destinations from Doha. Philadelphia resumes August 1
Oman Air + SalamAir	192 extra Muscat–Salalah flights for Khareef season
Gulf Air	Gradually restoring routes post-Bahrain airspace reopening
Saudia	Limited daily Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman services
flynas	New Riyadh–Aleppo from August 1. Munich and Budapest added
Kuwait Airways	Operating — London, Istanbul, Mumbai, Delhi, Colombo, Manila
Jazeera Airways	Restoring routes — intermittent Kuwait airspace closures possible

International Carriers: Full Status July 16

International Carrier	Status — July 16
Singapore Airlines	Dubai cancelled until October 24 — full refunds available
British Airways	Dubai suspended — flexibility extended until October 31
Air Canada	Dubai and Tel Aviv suspended until October 24
Lufthansa Group	Dubai suspended until September 13. Other Gulf routes until October 24
KLM	Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam suspended until August 23
Air France	Dubai, Riyadh, Tel Aviv, Beirut suspended — ongoing
Cathay Pacific	Dubai and Riyadh suspended until August 31
Air Astana	UAE flights suspended from July 13 — refunds/rebooking until July 31
Turkish Airlines	Dubai resumed — 14 weekly. Iran suspended
Air India / Air India Express	Operating — Air India Express launched Navi Mumbai–Abu Dhabi July 15
IndiGo	Gulf routes continuing from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru
Philippine Airlines	Manila–Dubai suspended until October 2. Manila–Doha resumed
Cebu Pacific	Manila–Dubai resumed — 4x weekly
Royal Jordanian	Operating — free changes or refunds available
Iraqi Airways	Phased restart — domestic and select international

What Indian Travelers in the UAE Must Do Right Now

For Indian nationals in the UAE, the UAE flight updates July 16 require three specific actions.

Flying to India? Complete Air Suvidha 2.0 at airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in within 24 hours before arrival. Free — ignore any website charging a fee. Show QR code at health desk on landing.

Booked on Singapore Airlines to Dubai? Contact Singapore Airlines directly for a full refund on your cancelled booking. Cancellations now extend to October 24.

Booked on British Airways from Dubai? You have until October 31 to cancel or change without penalty under BA’s extended flexibility policy.

Air India and IndiGo are both operating Gulf routes as scheduled. Air India Express launched its first Navi Mumbai–Abu Dhabi direct on July 15. IndiGo continues flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to Gulf destinations.

Remember UPI does not work in the UAE — carry UAE Dirhams or use a zero-forex international card for airport expenses. For travel insurance covering flight cancellations and regional disruptions, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance provides comprehensive coverage at affordable daily rates.

FAQs — UAE Flight Updates July 16

Q: Has Singapore Airlines extended its Dubai cancellations?

Yes — Singapore Airlines announced on July 16 that flights between Singapore and Dubai have been cancelled until October 24, 2026. This extends the previous suspension window significantly. Affected passengers can request a full refund on the unused portion of their ticket directly through Singapore Airlines’ website, app, or customer service. No rebooking fee applies to changes made due to these cancellations.

Q: Are Etihad flights to Bahrain operating on July 16?

No — Etihad flight EY647 from Abu Dhabi to Bahrain returned to Abu Dhabi due to Bahrain airport closure on July 16, and both EY647 and the return service EY648 were cancelled. Bahrain’s airport has been intermittently affected by regional security conditions. Etihad also confirmed delays on EY440 and EY441 on the Abu Dhabi–Manila route due to a separate technical issue. Passengers on affected flights should check Etihad’s official app for rebooking options.

Q: Which airlines are still operating from Dubai to Europe and Asia right now?

As of July 16, most European carriers have suspended Dubai routes — British Airways until October 31, Lufthansa Group until September 13–October 24, KLM until August 23, Air France ongoing, Cathay Pacific until August 31, and Singapore Airlines until October 24. Turkish Airlines is operating Dubai with 14 weekly flights. Emirates and flydubai continue to operate their full schedules from Dubai International Airport. For Asia connections, Air India, IndiGo, and Cebu Pacific are operating normally on their UAE routes.

Final Word

The UAE flight updates July 16 are defined by a clear pattern — international carriers are extending their Gulf suspensions deep into October while UAE carriers continue to expand and operate at full summer capacity. Singapore Airlines to October 24, British Airways to October 31, Lufthansa to October 24, Air Canada to October 24 — the picture is consistent and the message is that normalization of international airline operations on Gulf routes is still months away.

For Indian expats in the UAE, Air India and IndiGo remain fully operational on India routes. Complete Air Suvidha 2.0 before every India flight, check your specific carrier status before heading to any airport, and carry travel insurance that covers the current disruption environment.

Also Read:

• UAE Travel Advisory July 2026 — Full Airline Status
• Abha Airport Attack Flights — flydubai and Air Arabia Cancel
• Air Suvidha 2.0 — Mandatory Form for All India Flights

Official Sources:

• Gulf News — UAE Flight Updates July 16
• Air Suvidha 2.0 Official Portal