United Airlines will no longer fly to Dubai until March 2027

United Airlines resumes some flights to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV) this week as security restrictions in Israeli airspace were eased. United Airlines confirms two-day Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Tel Aviv will resume on September 8 on Boeing 787 aircraft. UA expects Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) will follow this winter.

Dubai International Airport (DXB) the situation is different. As of mid-March, Iran was still targeting the United Arab Emirates with missiles and drones. United and many international carriers have pushed back their Dubai flight restart dates to the second half of this year. It comes down to how flight paths are managed.

Continued danger in the air over the Persian Gulf

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When military operations began in late February, air travel in the Persian Gulf faced its worst crisis since the pandemic. A massive campaign of US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran immediately closed the skies over Iran and Iraq. Gulf mega-centres such as Tel Aviv and Dubai came to a sudden halt, leaving thousands of travelers stranded. Israeli airspace and Ben Gurion Airport fully reopened on April 9 following the ceasefire following Operation Epic Fury.

Unlike past regional conflicts, where Dubai remained an untouched safe haven, DXB faced the threat of escalating hostilities directly. The UAE’s air defense systems have repeatedly intercepted ballistic missiles and drones flying over the country. Since the airport is located so close to the Persian Gulf, this threat has made it much more difficult for international aircraft to reach it.

In mid-March, a drone strike hit a fuel tank on the airport grounds, causing a massive fire that forced the airport to briefly suspend all flights. This ongoing struggle has forced Western airlines to maintain their safety bans. To make matters worse, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has repeatedly cut off fuel supplies, causing global jet fuel prices to soar.

Soft Impact of Armed Conflict

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In the first six months of 2026, DXB’s passenger numbers fell by more than 30%, resulting in an estimated 31.5 million fewer travelers, according to Fortune. Despite the ongoing danger, local airlines refused to stay put for long. By mid-June, regional carriers were pushing hard to return to the skies, restoring flight volumes to more than 80% of pre-war levels. Local giants such as Emirates quickly restored their capacity.

With so many planes confined to the few remaining safe areas of airspace, the skies are incredibly crowded. Dubai International Airport (DXB) had to reduce the number of flights allowed during peak congestion. Since airlines can’t fly in normal skies, planes have to take significant detours. Changing your route by hundreds of thousands of miles burns too much fuel and increases costs.

Before foreign airlines can expand their services, Dubai airports must systematically ease the current one-rotation-per-day limit on foreign routes. The next big test will come this November, when airlines see whether expensive war zone insurance rates finally come down. If the region remains quiet, insurance costs will drop, making it possible for international airlines to return.

A course to re-normalize air travel in the Middle East

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Now the restoration of aviation is proceeding at two completely different speeds. Local Gulf airlines are flying as much as possible, but international airlines from Europe and America are slowly starting to return. According to Gulf News, the surge in military activity in the Persian Gulf has led to extremely high levels of aviation insurance premiums against war risks.

If the cost of insurance is too high, United will lose money on the Newark-Dubai route before the plane even leaves New Jersey. This makes a delay much more attractive than flying an unprofitable route. For international airlines, like UA, to find flying to Dubai financially viable again, regional stability must persist long enough for global insurers to lower their premiums.

Airport CEO Paul Griffiths recently noted to Fortune that monthly passenger traffic is rising across the board. DXB traffic grows steadily from 3.5 million in April to 5 million by June. However, with many major Western carriers dropping the Gulf entirely from their schedules for the rest of the year, experts don’t expect air travel to return to full normalcy until early 2027.