Monday, 9:51am

Flight operations in Dubai faced disruptions Monday morning, with airlines issuing urgent travel updates for passengers departing from Dubai International Airport (DXB).

Emirates said it expects to operate a limited schedule beginning at 10:00am Dubai local time, though some flights scheduled for the day have already been cancelled.

In an operational update, the airline said affected passengers would receive direct communication regarding cancellations and rebooking options. Travelers have been urged to confirm the status of their flights before heading to the airport.

“Please check flight status on emirates.com, to ensure your flight is operating before heading to the airport,” the airline said in a statement.

Passengers who need to change their travel plans can amend bookings or rebook flights online within 72 hours of their original departure time through the airline’s booking management tools.

flydubai temporarily suspends operations

Meanwhile, flydubai announced a temporary suspension of flights to and from Dubai International Airport, adding to the disruption for travelers.

The airline advised customers scheduled to travel Monday not to go to the airport until they receive confirmation that their flight will operate.

“The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority,” flydubai said, noting that updates will be issued as soon as more information becomes available.

Passengers are also encouraged to check flight status updates and ensure their contact details are current through the airline’s booking system.

Air India and Air India Express will together operate 58 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from West Asia on March 12, expanding connectivity between India and key destinations in the Gulf.

The airline group confirmed that both carriers will deploy a mix of scheduled services and additional ad hoc flights across the region, including operations to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

As part of the expanded schedule, Air India and Air India Express will each operate a non-scheduled round-trip flight to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, departing from Mumbai and Kozhikode respectively.

Scheduled flights to Jeddah and Muscat

Alongside the special operations, the two carriers will continue scheduled services on key routes linking India with Saudi Arabia and Oman.

A total of 10 flights will operate to and from Jeddah, while Air India Express will operate eight scheduled flights to and from Muscat.

Air India will run one round-trip from Delhi and two round-trips from Mumbai to Jeddah, while Air India Express will operate one round-trip each from Bengaluru and Kozhikode to the Saudi city.

Air India Express will also maintain scheduled operations to Muscat, with one round-trip each from Delhi and Mumbai and two round-trips from Kozhikode, according to the airline group.

Additional non-scheduled flights planned

Beyond scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express plan to operate 40 additional non-scheduled flights to and from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, subject to slot availability and prevailing conditions at departure airports.

The airline group said the additional services are being operated with the necessary permissions from Indian and local aviation regulators.

Summary of scheduled, non-scheduled, and temporarily suspended operations on March 12, 2026

Global services continue as scheduled

The airline group said that all Air India flights to and from North America, Europe, Australia and other regions will continue to operate as scheduled.

In addition, 78 extra flights will run between March 10 and March 18 to destinations including Europe, the United States, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, helping manage passenger demand during the period.

Rebooking and passenger support

Passengers affected by routes where Air India Group’s scheduled services remain temporarily suspended can rebook their travel for a later date at no additional cost or opt for a full refund, the airline said.

Air India passengers can submit rebooking or cancellation requests through the airline’s website at http://airindia.com. For additional assistance, travelers may contact the airline’s 24-hour customer support hotlines at +911169329333 or +911169329999.

Air India Express passengers departing from the UAE can also rebook their flights without additional charges on the airline’s additional commercial services operating from any UAE station to destinations in India.

The airline group said it is proactively reaching out to impacted travelers using the mobile numbers registered with the airline to provide rebooking options and updates.

Passengers are encouraged to ensure that their current mobile numbers are updated in airline records so they can receive timely notifications.

Air India Express customers with active bookings can also rebook their travel through the airline’s AI-powered digital assistant Tia on WhatsApp at +91 63600 12345.

The airline group added that it is continuing to explore opportunities to operate additional ad hoc flights to and from West Asia, depending on regulatory approvals and airport slot availability.

Tuesday, 10:00am

Flight operations across parts of the Gulf remain disrupted as airlines work to restore services following the temporary closure of Qatari airspace, prompting major carriers to implement limited schedules and passenger support measures.

Qatar Airways confirmed that its scheduled operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of the country’s airspace. The airline said flights will fully resume only after the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority declares that the skies over the country are safe to reopen.

“Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe full reopening of Qatari airspace by the relevant authorities,” the airline said in an update.

However, the airline has received temporary authorisation to operate a limited number of flights through designated corridors in order to help stranded travelers reach their destinations.

Recovery flights scheduled from Doha

Under the temporary plan, Qatar Airways intends to operate several flights from Doha over the coming days to reconnect passengers and reduce travel disruptions.

On March 10, flights departing from Doha are expected to include services to Cairo, London Heathrow, Jeddah, Manila, Kochi, Muscat, Istanbul, Mumbai, Delhi, Nairobi, Islamabad, Madrid, Frankfurt, Colombo, Milan, and Moscow.

Additional routes are scheduled for March 11, including Toronto, Dallas/Fort Worth, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Melbourne.

Arrivals into Doha will also take place in stages. On March 10, incoming flights include services from Seoul, Moscow, London Heathrow, Delhi, Madrid, Islamabad, Beijing, Perth, Nairobi, and Istanbul.

Further arrivals are planned for March 11 and March 12, covering cities such as Cairo, Toronto, Dallas/Fort Worth, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Melbourne.

The airline emphasised that these flights are part of a temporary recovery schedule and do not represent a full return to regular commercial operations.

Travellers are also urged not to arrive at airports unless they hold confirmed tickets.

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority during this period of disruption,” the airline said, adding that it “sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused by the current situation.”

To help affected passengers, Qatar Airways said travellers with confirmed bookings between February 28 and March 22, 2026, are eligible for flexible travel options. These include two complimentary date changes of up to 14 days from the original travel date or a refund of the unused portion of the ticket.

Tuesday, 9:00am

flydubai operating reduced network

Meanwhile, Dubai-based carrier flydubai said it continues to operate flights across its network on a reduced schedule as it navigates the ongoing disruption.

Passengers booked to travel between February 28 and March 31 are permitted to rebook flights to the same destination or another location within the airline’s network up to 30 days from the original travel date without penalty charges.

However, the airline warned that customers connecting through Dubai will only be permitted to travel if their onward flights are confirmed to be operating.

Travel times may also be longer than usual due to temporary changes in flight routes.

“Flight durations and transit times in Dubai may be longer than usual due to the temporary rerouting of some flight paths,” the airline said.

The airline also stressed that travelers should not go to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking or official confirmation of a rebooked flight.

Tuesday, 08:00

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways has published its latest flight roster. Details posted below:

Monday, 10:00pm

Posted below is a latest statement from Air India on their flight status in the GCC.

Air India and Air India Express will operate their respective scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat on 10 March 2026, with the airspaces over Saudi Arabia and Oman remaining open. The two airlines will together operate a total of 14 flights to and from Jeddah and Air India Express will operate 14 flights to and from Muscat.

On 10 March 2026, Air India will operate one round-trip from Delhi and two round trips from Mumbai to Jeddah, and Air India Express will operate one round-trip each from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mangaluru, and Kozhikode.

Air India Express will also operate its scheduled services to Muscat, including one round-trip each from Delhi, Kannur, Kochi, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli.

Additional, non-scheduled flights

In addition to the scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express would operate a total of 32 ad-hoc non-scheduled flights between Indian cities and United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 10 March 2026, subject to availability of slots and other conditions prevailing at the respective point of departure at the time. These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities.

While Air India would operate 10 non-scheduled flights to and from Dubai, including three roundtrips from Mumbai and two round-trips from Delhi, Air India Express will operate one round-trip each to Dubai from Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Air India Express will operate 18 non-scheduled flights to and from other emirates of the UAE, including one round-trip each to Abu Dhabi from Bengaluru and Mumbai, one round-trip each to Sharjah from Bengaluru and Mumbai, and one-round trip each to Ras Al-Khaimah from Delhi, Bengaluru, Kochi, and two round-trips from Mumbai.

Cancellation of scheduled operations to other points in West Asia

Air India group’s scheduled operations until 13 March 2026 to and from other points in the West Asia have been cancelled. Guests booked to travel on any of the cancelled flights may conveniently rebook to a future date at no additional charge or opt for a full refund.

Air India guests are advised to raise their rebooking or cancellation requests on the airline’s website at http://airindia.com.For more information, please contact the 24×7 customer support hotline at +911169329333 or +911169329999.

Air India Express guests booked to travel from any station in the UAE can conveniently rebook their flights without additional charges on Air India Express’ additional commercial flights operating from any UAE station to any destination in India.

Example:
A guest with an active booking on a cancelled Dubai – Jaipur flight can now move their booking to a Ras Al Khaimah – Delhi flight at no extra cost.

Air India and Air India Express are proactively reaching out to impacted guests using the mobile numbers registered with the airline to provide rebooking options. Guests are requested to ensure their current and active mobile numbers are updated with the airline to receive these important notifications.

Air India Express guests with active bookings can also rebook their flights through the airline’s AIpowered digital assistant Tia, available on WhatsApp at +91 63600 12345.

Air India group is exploring every opportunity to operate other additional ad-hoc flights to and from destinations in West Asia.

Monday, 11:00am

Major Gulf carriers including Qatar Airways, Oman Air and Gulf Air announced operational changes over the weekend, while key airports in Saudi Arabia warned travelers of possible disruptions. The situation has led to temporary suspensions, limited operating corridors and revised schedules as aviation authorities monitor developments across the region.

Airlines say the changes are being implemented to ensure safety while minimising disruption for passengers affected by the closures.

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority during this period of disruption,” Qatar Airways said in a statement. The airline added that it “sincerely apologise[s] for the inconvenience caused by the current situation, which is beyond our control, and thank[s] our passengers for their patience and understanding.”

Qatar Airways outlines limited flight operations

Qatar Airways said its scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace and will only resume fully once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms that the airspace has safely reopened.

However, the airline has received temporary authorisation to operate within limited corridors, allowing a restricted number of flights to operate in the coming days. These flights are intended primarily to assist passengers who were stranded due to the disruption and help reunite them with family members.

Flights departing from Doha on March 9 include services to Seoul, Moscow, London Heathrow, Delhi, Madrid, Islamabad, Beijing, Perth, Nairobi and Istanbul.

Additional departures scheduled for 10 March include Cairo, London Heathrow, Jeddah, Manila, Kochi, Muscat, Istanbul, Mumbai, Delhi, Nairobi, Islamabad, Madrid, Frankfurt, Colombo and Milan.

Inbound flights to Doha are expected to mirror that schedule, with arrivals on March 10, from Seoul, Moscow, London Heathrow, Delhi, Madrid, Islamabad, Beijing, Perth, Nairobi and Istanbul, followed by arrivals on March 11, from Cairo, London Heathrow, Jeddah, Manila, Kochi, Muscat, Istanbul, Mumbai, Delhi, Nairobi, Islamabad, Madrid, Frankfurt, Colombo and Milan.

Despite these arrangements, Qatar Airways stressed that the flights should not be interpreted as a full return to regular operations.

“These flights do not constitute a confirmation of resumption of scheduled commercial operations,” the airline said.

Passengers have also been asked not to travel to the airport unless they hold a confirmed ticket.

Saudi airports issue passenger advisories

Airports across Saudi Arabia have also warned travelers about possible schedule changes as the regional situation continues to evolve.

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah advised passengers to verify their flight status directly with airlines before heading to the airport.

“Due to the ongoing developments in the region that may affect the schedule of some flights, passengers are kindly advised to contact their airlines directly to confirm the latest updates regarding their flights before heading to the airport,” the airport said in a travel advisory.

The airport also urged passengers to rely on official communication channels for accurate information and assistance.

Similarly, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh issued a travel alert on 8 March advising travelers to check directly with their airlines if their destinations could be affected by current events.

“Passengers traveling to destinations impacted by current events are urged to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight updates before leaving for the airport,” the airport said.

Oman Air cancels multiple regional routes

Oman Air also announced widespread cancellations as a result of ongoing airspace closures across the region.

The airline said that from Monday, 9 March through Sunday, 15 March 2026, all flights to and from several destinations will be suspended.

Affected routes include Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad and Khasab.

“Additional flights have been added to accommodate our guests,” the airline said in an update on its website.

Passengers have been advised to check the airline’s website regularly for updated schedules and to manage their bookings through its online platform or mobile application.

The airline added, “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.”

Gulf Air suspends operations amid Bahrain airspace closure

Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air also confirmed that its operations have been temporarily suspended due to the closure of airspace in the Kingdom of Bahrain and surrounding areas.

The airline said services will resume once Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs confirms that it is safe to reopen the affected airspace.

Passengers holding tickets for travel up to March 21 2026 are being offered flexible options, including free rebooking onto Gulf Air flights until May 16, 2026 or the option to request a refund.

Impacted passengers will be notified directly through the contact details listed in their booking, the airline said.

Travelers who booked through travel agents are advised to contact their agents directly, while those who booked through the airline can modify itineraries through the call center, website or mobile app.

Sunday, 19:00

Qatar Airways outlines limited flights from March 9 to 11

Qatar Airways has released further details on a limited number of flights operating to and from Doha’s Hamad International Airport between March 9 and 11.

Flights departing Doha (HIA)

March 9: Seoul (ICN), Moscow (SVO), London (LHR), Delhi (DEL), Madrid (MAD), Islamabad (ISB), Beijing (PKX), Perth (PER), Nairobi (NBO)

March 10: Cairo (CAI), London (LHR), Jeddah (JED), Manila (MNL), Cochin (COK), Muscat (MCT), Istanbul (IST), Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), Nairobi (NBO), Islamabad (ISB), Madrid (MAD), Frankfurt (FRA), Colombo (CMB), Milan (MXP)

Flights arriving in Doha (HIA)

March 10: Seoul (ICN), Moscow (SVO), London (LHR), Delhi (DEL), Madrid (MAD), Islamabad (ISB), Beijing (PKX), Perth (PER), Nairobi (NBO)

March 11: Cairo (CAI), London (LHR), Jeddah (JED), Manila (MNL), Cochin (COK), Muscat (MCT), Istanbul (IST), Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), Nairobi (NBO), Islamabad (ISB), Madrid (MAD), Frankfurt (FRA), Colombo (CMB), Milan (MXP)

The airline stressed that the flights do not represent a resumption of normal scheduled operations. Passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport unless they hold a valid confirmed ticket.

Qatar Airways said it will provide a further operational update on March 9.

Sunday, 16:00pm

Sunday, 12:00pm
Oman Air has announced the cancellation of several flights amid ongoing airspace closures. Affected routes include flights to and from Amman (AMM), Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Dammam (DMM), Kuwait (KWI), Copenhagen (CPH), Baghdad (BGW), and Khasab (KHS).

The airline said these cancellations will be in effect from March 9 through March 15 2026.

Sunday, 7:20am

Air India and Air India Express have provided a latest update on their flight status in the region. Posted below is a statement:

With airspace over Saudi Arabia and Oman remaining open, Air India and Air India Express continue to operate their scheduled services to and from Jeddah and Muscat. Air India is maintaining scheduled flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah and back. Air India Express continues scheduled operations connecting Muscat with Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Kannur, as well as services between Jeddah and Bengaluru, Kozhikode and Mangaluru.

Given the continued airspace restrictions in other parts of West Asia, both airlines are operating additional non-scheduled flights on 8 March, with approvals from the Indian and local authorities. Air India will operate additional non-scheduled flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Dubai and back, while Air India Express will operate 30 additional flights between India and UAE cities – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.

The following scheduled flights are planned to operate on 8th March 2026:

The following additional non-scheduled flights are planned for 8 March. Since these flights are intended primarily for stranded travellers, priority will be given to guests holding existing bookings with either carrier.

All scheduled flights of Air India Express to and from Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Kuwait, and Riyadh stand cancelled until 13 March, while Air India’s scheduled flights to and from Dammam, Doha and Riyadh remain cancelled until 10 March. Guests booked to travel on any of the cancelled flights may conveniently rebook to a future date at no additional charge or opt for a full refund.

Air India guests are advised to raise their rebooking or cancellation requests on the airline’s website at http://airindia.com. For more information, please contact the 24×7 customer support hotline at +911169329333 or +911169329999.

Air India Express guests booked to travel from any station in the UAE can conveniently rebook their flights without additional charges on Air India Express’ additional commercial flights operating from any UAE station to any destination in India.

Example:
A guest with an active booking on a cancelled Dubai – Jaipur flight can now move their booking to a Ras Al Khaimah – Delhi flight at no extra cost.

Air India and Air India Express are proactively reaching out to impacted guests using the mobile numbers registered with the airline to provide rebooking options. Guests are requested to ensure their current and active mobile numbers are updated with the airline to receive these important notifications.

Air India Express guests with active bookings can also rebook their flights through the airline’s AI‑powered digital assistant Tia, available on WhatsApp at +91 63600 12345.

Air India group is exploring every opportunity to operate other additional ad-hoc flights to and from destinations in West Asia.

Air India’s services to Europe (including the United Kingdom) and North America are operating as per schedule since 2 March 2026 on safe alternative routes. Due to the extended routing in the current circumstances, flights from India to North America are making technical stops at Rome (Fiumicino) or Vienna before continuing to the respective destinations.

Saturday, 2:00pm

Starting today, March 7, flight operations have partially resumed at both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Some flights are now operating; however, schedules remain subject to change.

Travellers are strongly advised not to go to the airport unless their airline has confirmed their flight. Airlines will contact passengers directly with updated flight information to ensure safe and timely travel.

Passengers are encouraged to regularly check with their airline for the latest updates and follow all travel advisories to avoid inconvenience.

Qatar’s air navigation partially restored

In Qatar, the Civil Aviation Authority has announced a partial resumption of air navigation through designated contingency routes, operating with limited capacity in coordination with the Qatari Armed Forces. This phase includes passenger evacuation flights and essential cargo services.

According to the Qatar News Agency, the move ensures the continued provision of critical air services amid regional disruptions, a WAM report said.

Airlines resume limited services

Several airlines have begun restarting operations on a limited scale:

Air Arabia is operating select flights to and from the UAE. Passengers whose flights were previously canceled can rebook if they have not yet used modification or refund options.

Flights are available via the Air Arabia website, mobile app, or travel agents. “Customers whose flights remain cancelled will be notified directly via email and SMS with alternative options. Please don’t go to the airport unless you have been notified directly or hold a confirmed booking on the published flights,” the airline stated.

Saudia has partially resumed services to and from Dubai starting March 7, operating flights SV596 (Riyadh to Dubai), SV588 (Jeddah to Dubai), SV597 (Dubai to Riyadh), and SV589 (Dubai to Jeddah). Flights will initially operate on a limited schedule, with additional services expected to be restored progressively. Passengers may book through saudia.com
or the Saudia mobile app.

Gulf Air continues to suspend operations due to closed airspace in Bahrain and the region. Passengers can rebook flights or request refunds for tickets with original travel dates up to March 10, 2026. The airline emphasised checking flight status and keeping contact details updated to receive timely notifications.

Authorities across the UAE and Qatar advise travelers to monitor airline updates and refrain from going to airports unless confirmed bookings are in place. Airlines and aviation authorities are actively coordinating to restore services safely while prioritising passenger security.

Saturday, 11:39am

Emirates has resumed its flight operations today. Passengers with confirmed bookings for this afternoon’s flights are advised to proceed to the airport. This also applies to travellers transiting through Dubai, provided their connecting flights are operational.

Passengers are encouraged to check the flight schedule for upcoming departures and to book seats as needed. Emirates continues to monitor the situation closely and will adjust its operational schedule accordingly.

The airline expressed gratitude to customers for their patience and understanding, emphasizing that the safety of passengers and crew remains the highest priority.

Important notice: All city check‑in points across Dubai remain temporarily closed until further notice.

Customer advisory

Emirates customers with travel booked between February 28 and March 31 have the following options:

1. Rebooking on an alternate flight: Passengers can rebook to travel to their intended destination on or before April 30. Travelers who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent, while those who booked directly with Emirates can reach out to the airline.

2. Requesting a refund: Passengers who booked directly with Emirates can request a refund by completing the refund form. Those who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent for assistance.

Passengers are advised to verify their contact details via Manage Your Booking to ensure they receive timely updates.

Some flights were diverted from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) early on Monday after a fire near the airport prompted authorities to temporarily suspend operations as a precaution.

According to updates from the Dubai Media Office, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced a temporary suspension of flights at DXB to ensure the safety of passengers and airport staff.

“Travellers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates regarding their flights,” authorities said, adding that further updates would be provided through official channels.

The disruption followed an incident in which a fire broke out after an impact to one of the fuel tanks in the vicinity of the airport.

Dubai Civil Defence said its teams responded quickly and were able to contain the blaze.

Emergency teams confirmed that the situation remained under control and that the fire had not spread.

Two weeks after the onset of regional conflict on February 28, a significant divergence has emerged between Dubai’s physical real estate market and its listed equities.

While property transaction volumes staged a sharp recovery in the second week of March, the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) continued to reprice risk, with real estate stocks extending their slide on heavy trading volumes.

Transactional liquidity defies initial shock

Following an initial “risk-off” pause, the physical property market demonstrated a notable bounce-back.

According to Dubai Land Department (DLD) records analysed by The Real Estate Reports, total transaction value on a headline basis, including land transactions, surged to Dhs15.66bn in the week of March 9–15. This represents a 51 per cent increase in value and a 58 per cent jump in transaction counts over the previous week.

However, a closer look at the data suggests this recovery was primarily volume-driven. When excluding land plots to remove the volatility of high-value land deals:

• Built Value (Ex-land): Grew 13 per cent to Dhs8.26bn.
• Transaction Volume: Rose 56 per cent to 4,327 deals.

The discrepancy between the modest value growth and the surge in volume indicates that while the market remains operational, the average ticket size has softened, a typical signal of a market functioning under a more cautious, broader-based participation.

Off-Plan Remains the Market Anchor

The structural integrity of the market appears to have held. Off-plan sales continued to command the “lion’s share” of activity, accounting for 63 per cent of built property value in Week 2, compared to 66 per cent in the week immediately following the conflict’s start.

The most visible shift within this segment was a rotation toward villas. Off-plan villa sales rose to approximately 23 per cent of the segment’s value (up from 16 per cent), while the ready market similarly saw increased interest in landed homes over commercial assets.

This suggests selective risk-taking by buyers who are prioritising tangible residential assets over more sensitive commercial segments.

The Equity Disconnect: DFM Extends Slide

The resilience in physical transactions stands in stark contrast to the Dubai Financial Market. Since trading resumed on March 4, aided by a temporary 5 per cent limit-down threshold to prevent panic — equities have undergone a sustained de-risking phase.

The DFM General Index (DFMGI) fell 5.7 per cent in the second week of March on a turnover of 1.52 billion shares, nearly double the volume of the prior week. The pain was most acute in the Real Estate Index (DFMREI), which slumped 13.8 per cent last week.

Sentiment vs. The Real Economy

The data highlights a widening gap between sentiment-driven equities and “real economy” property transactions. In the stock market, liquid shares are being sold as investors demand a higher risk premium for regional exposure. In the physical market, the normalisation of mortgage registrations, which nearly doubled to 1,053 in Week 2, suggests that the “plumbing” of the industry remains intact.

While the physical market shows signs of a recovery in activity, the heavy-volume sell-off on the DFM suggests that financial markets may be pricing in a more prolonged period of uncertainty.

For now, Dubai real estate is proving it can operate under pressure, even as its listed counterparts absorb the brunt of the geopolitical shock.

• Ali Shahin is the founder of the The Real Estate Reports and Real Estate Reports Pro, independent platforms that dive into the data driving the property sector in the UAE.

UPDATE: After a period of downtime over the weekend, the Fazaa website has been back to normal this week. Read more by clicking here.

The website for the Fazaa Programme is experiencing extremely high traffic after the UAE announced free discount memberships for resident families as part of the Year of the Family 2026 initiative.

Visitors attempting to access the registration page on Sunday evening were placed into a virtual waiting line, with estimated wait times exceeding one hour and 30 minutes, according to a message displayed on the website.

“We are experiencing a high volume of traffic and using a virtual queue to limit the amount of users on the website at the same time,” the notice said.

“This will ensure you have the best possible online experience.”

The site also warns users not to close their browser, as the page will automatically refresh once it is their turn to access the platform.

The surge in demand comes after authorities announced that resident families across the UAE will be eligible to receive free Fazaa discount memberships, granting access to deals on travel, dining, shopping and entertainment across the country.

The membership will remain valid throughout 2026, which has been designated by the UAE as the Year of the Family.

Read more: Free Fazaa cards for UAE families: How to apply for the discount membership

How to apply

Families can register through the official Fazaa website, where applicants must submit personal details and upload Emirates ID copies for all family members.

To qualify, applicants must have at least one child, according to the programme guidelines.

Successful applicants receive a confirmation email and can activate their digital Fazaa membership through the mobile application.

Strong consumer demand

The rush to apply reflects strong demand for discount platforms across the UAE.

Earlier this week, Dubai-based lifestyle platform The ENTERTAINER said its own community initiative saw 250,000 memberships claimed within four hours after launch.

Read more: ENTERTAINER CEO reveals 250,000 free memberships claimed across GCC in hours

Speaking to Gulf Business, founder and CEO Donna Benton said the campaign exceeded expectations.

“The campaign has been phenomenal and has gone above and beyond. Our aim was to encourage support for our world-class hospitality industry – and our wildest expectations have been surpassed,” Benton said.

Discounts have been offered by other attractions in Dubai in recent days, including the likes of Atlantis Aquaventure and Miracle Garden.

Read more: Atlantis Aquaventure, Miracle Garden roll out free tickets for UAE residents

Every financial transaction leaves a trail of data, and that data must exist somewhere. Where it resides, who governs it, and how resilient the infrastructure around it truly is have become some of the most consequential questions facing the UAE’s financial sector today.

The UAE processes billions of dirhams in financial transactions each day, while its banking sector acts as a capital gateway for businesses operating across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The Dubai International Financial Centre and Abu Dhabi Global Market together host thousands of regulated financial firms, creating one of the most active financial ecosystems anywhere in the world.

Over the past decade, cloud technology has transformed how this ecosystem operates. Banks introduced digital services at speed, expanded mobile banking platforms and modernised infrastructure that once relied entirely on internal systems. Many institutions moved quickly, concentrating a large share of their operational infrastructure within a single cloud environment because the model appeared efficient and straightforward. That convenience created a new structural exposure.

When a financial institution depends heavily on one provider for critical systems, the organisation effectively introduces a single operational dependency. If the provider experiences disruption through physical damage, a cyber incident or regulatory restrictions, the institution’s ability to serve its customers is affected immediately. In financial services, where trust is the foundation of every transaction, that exposure carries serious implications.

Sovereignty is a strategic priority

The question of digital control has therefore moved to the centre of financial infrastructure planning. Institutions and regulators increasingly recognise that economic resilience depends on infrastructure they can govern directly.

For the UAE, this issue carries national importance. The country’s Digital Economy Strategy aims for digital activity to contribute 19.4 per cent of GDP by 2031, with financial services forming a central pillar of that growth. Achieving that ambition requires infrastructure capable of remaining operational under difficult conditions, because resilience in financial systems means continuing to function through disruption rather than restoring services afterwards.

Why a second cloud pillar matters

The Central Bank of the UAE and the Dubai Financial Services Authority have strengthened guidance around cloud risk management and operational resilience, signalling concern about infrastructure concentration within a single provider. Financial institutions, therefore, face an important architectural decision.

Critical systems require a second infrastructure environment capable of supporting live operations. The environments must remain distinct, with separate infrastructure, locations and governance structures. Diversification reduces operational risk when the environments function independently.

Hybrid cloud architecture enables this structure. Sensitive financial data, including customer records, transaction histories and compliance archives, can remain within controlled environments governed directly by the institution, while cloud platforms support applications and digital services used by customers and employees.

Infrastructure designed for continuous operation

Huawei has focused its financial infrastructure portfolio on distributed computing environments that allow institutions to operate critical workloads across multiple infrastructure layers rather than depending on a single environment. Its banking infrastructure platform supports complex financial processing workloads across distributed systems, enabling institutions to maintain operational continuity even when infrastructure conditions change.

Network architecture also plays a critical role in connecting financial systems across multiple environments. As financial institutions across the UAE deepen their reliance on digital banking platforms, real-time payment systems and automated regulatory reporting, the resilience of the networks connecting these systems becomes as important as the computing infrastructure itself.

Technology providers are increasingly responding by developing infrastructure designed specifically for sectors where downtime carries financial and regulatory consequences. Companies such as Huawei, for example, have focused on building network, storage and cloud platforms intended for industries like banking, where systems must process high volumes of transactions while remaining continuously available.

Such infrastructure allows institutions to operate across distributed computing environments while maintaining stable connectivity, secure data storage and governance over critical financial information, supported by partner ecosystems that help translate global technology platforms into deployments aligned with local regulatory requirements.

For financial institutions in the UAE, this network provides access to expertise that aligns infrastructure deployments with regional regulatory and operational requirements. Jason Cao, CEO of Huawei Digital Finance BU, highlighted at MWC Barcelona 2026 that in today’s world of uncertainty, banks must build resilience across multiple dimensions, ensuring multi-active redundancy to prevent system failures, reinforcing multi-layer security against cyberattacks, and laying a solid foundation for global financial institutions to accelerate into the AI era.

Building the next phase of financial infrastructure

The UAE has spent years building one of the most advanced financial ecosystems in the region, supported by progressive regulation and strong technological ambition. The next phase of that development will depend on infrastructure capable of supporting continuous financial activity without introducing hidden dependencies.

Hybrid and multi-cloud architectures are therefore becoming essential components of financial infrastructure planning. For the UAE’s financial sector, the question is whether that infrastructure is resilient enough to carry the trust that the system now places on it.

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