The UAE could see limited flight delays and changing weather conditions over the coming days, with reduced visibility, possible rainfall and temperatures reaching 42°C in inland areas, according to the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the National Center of Meteorology (NCM).

The GCAA said on Saturday, October 17, that seasonal weather conditions could reduce horizontal visibility in parts of the country, potentially affecting flight operations.

The authority said the impact on flights would depend on prevailing weather conditions and operational safety requirements.

“Such impacts are part of the operational challenges associated with these weather conditions,” the GCAA said, according to a WAM report.

Read more-UAE weather: NCM forecasts possible rain, fog and dusty conditions from Oct 16 to 20

Airlines and airport operators are implementing measures in line with established operational procedures and aviation safety requirements, the authority added.

Passengers have been advised to follow updates issued by their airlines and airports through official channels for information on any changes to flight schedules.

Temperatures to reach 42°C as rain clouds develop

The NCM forecast partly cloudy skies across the UAE on Saturday, with convective clouds expected to develop over eastern areas in the afternoon, bringing the possibility of rainfall.

The weather is being influenced by an extension of a surface low-pressure system, accompanied by an upper-air low-pressure system, according to the centre’s latest bulletin.

Inland temperatures are expected to range from 37°C to 42°C, while coastal areas and islands could record highs of 35°C to 40°C. Temperatures in mountainous areas are forecast to remain between 28°C and 33°C.

Humidity is expected to rise overnight and into Sunday morning in some coastal and inland areas, increasing the likelihood of fog or mist.

Winds will generally range from 10 to 25 km/hr, occasionally reaching 40 km/h. Stronger gusts could stir up dust, particularly when cloud activity increases.

Sea conditions are forecast to be slight to moderate at times in the Arabian Gulf and slight in the Oman Sea.

Rain chances to persist through Wednesday

The unsettled pattern is expected to continue into next week, with further chances of rainfall across parts of the country.

On Sunday, October 18, convective clouds could develop over northern and eastern areas during the afternoon, potentially bringing rain. Humidity overnight and on Monday morning may also lead to fog or mist in some coastal and inland locations.

On Monday, October 19, rainfall is possible over eastern and southern areas. Fog or mist could develop in parts of the west overnight and into Tuesday morning, while winds may reach 40 km/h.

The NCM expects further convective cloud development over eastern and southern areas on Tuesday, October 20, with possible afternoon showers. Winds could reach 50 km/h at times, raising the risk of blowing dust.

By Wednesday, October 21, skies are expected to remain fair to partly cloudy, although rainfall remains possible in eastern and southern areas.

Humidity could increase overnight and into Thursday morning, bringing another chance of fog or mist across some coastal and inland areas.

The NCM expects sea conditions to remain slight in both the Arabian Gulf and the Oman Sea from Sunday through Wednesday.

The UK government has advised against all but essential travel to Saudi Arabia, extending its warning to the entire kingdom as escalating missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement threaten airports, energy infrastructure and major cities.

In an update issued on Friday, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said British nationals should avoid non-essential travel anywhere in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

The government also maintained its stricter warning against all travel within 10 kilometres of the Saudi-Yemen border.

The expanded advisory comes amid mounting security concerns following a series of Houthi attacks, including a deadly strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10 that killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300 others.

The FCDO warned that airports, military installations, ports and energy infrastructure remain particularly vulnerable, naming Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Abha, Jizan, Najran and Yanbu among the locations facing heightened threats.

British nationals have also been advised to stay away from King Khalid International Airport until it is deemed secure and to follow instructions from Saudi authorities.

Flight disruption continues across Saudi Arabia

Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has faced an extended suspension of operations following the attacks, with an aviation notice issued earlier this week indicating that the airport would remain closed until 9pm GMT on October 17.

International carriers, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and several European and Asian airlines, have cancelled or suspended services to Saudi destinations.

The FCDO has urged British nationals already in Saudi Arabia to check their flight status before heading to airports and consider travelling overland to neighbouring countries if they wish to leave, provided it is safe to do so.

Read more: Saudi flight cancellations: Latest list of affected airlines and routes

Travellers have also been warned to check entry requirements and border-crossing arrangements before attempting such journeys.

Travel insurance and safety concerns

The UK government cautioned that travel insurance could be invalidated if travellers visit destinations against FCDO advice.

British nationals have been urged to avoid military facilities and oil infrastructure, monitor local emergency alerts and seek shelter indoors if instructed by Saudi authorities.

The latest guidance is available on the UK government’s official Saudi Arabia travel advice page.

Latest update: 17 October 2026, 8.12am UAE time

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Flight cancellations across Saudi Arabia continue to disrupt travel on Saturday, October 17, as Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport approaches its scheduled closure deadline and several airlines extend suspensions into next week.

More than 4,000 scheduled departures from Saudi airports were cancelled or did not operate between October 8 and 15, according to the latest available aviation data, while airlines including Etihad Airways, flydubai, Air India and IndiGo have extended cancellations on affected routes.

Riyadh airport is currently scheduled to remain closed until 2100 GMT on Saturday, equivalent to 1am UAE time on Sunday, October 18. However, Saudi authorities have not confirmed when normal operations will resume.

The disruption follows repeated missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement. On Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said Riyadh airport had been targeted 20 times this month, killing 17 people and injuring 333.

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, approximately 46 per cent of the 8,883 scheduled departures across Saudi Arabia between October 8 and 15 were cancelled or marked as not operating.

The latest figures also show that 552 of 1,178 scheduled departures on October 15 were affected, representing 46.9 per cent of services.

Riyadh remained the worst-affected major airport, with 298 of 366 scheduled departures cancelled or not operating on October 15, equivalent to 81.4 per cent.

Other major airports have also experienced significant disruption. Dammam recorded 60 cancellations out of 131 scheduled departures on October 15, while Jeddah saw 87 of 385 departures affected.

Here is the latest airline-by-airline update.

Emirates: Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam flights affected

Emirates continues to face disruption across its Saudi Arabian network, with services connecting Dubai to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam among those affected.

Flights EK815, EK817 and EK819 between Dubai and Riyadh, alongside return services EK816, EK818 and EK820, have featured in cancellation listings during the week.

Selected Dubai-Jeddah flights have also been affected, including EK801, EK803 and EK805, while services to Dammam have experienced repeated schedule changes.

According to Cirium data reported on Friday, all eight Emirates departures from Saudi airports scheduled for October 15 were cancelled or did not operate.

However, passengers should note that flight statuses have changed frequently.

Dubai-Dammam service EK821, for example, has appeared as both scheduled and cancelled on different dates during the disruption.

The airline has not suspended its entire Saudi network, and a cancellation on one date does not necessarily mean subsequent services will be affected.

Passengers are advised to check individual flight numbers directly with Emirates before travelling.

Etihad Airways: Riyadh and Dammam cancellations through October 18

Etihad Airways continues to suspend services between Abu Dhabi and several Saudi Arabian destinations.

According to the airline’s latest official travel advisory, the following cancellations remain in effect:

• Riyadh: All flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are cancelled through Sunday, October 18.
• Dammam: All flights between Abu Dhabi and Dammam are cancelled through Sunday, October 18.
• Jeddah: Flights EY601 from Abu Dhabi and EY602 from Jeddah are cancelled through October 18.
• Jeddah: Flights EY603 from Abu Dhabi and EY604 from Jeddah are cancelled through Monday, October 19.

Etihad said the situation remains dynamic and further schedule changes are possible.

Affected passengers are advised to check the latest updates through the airline’s official flight-status page and review their rebooking options before travelling to the airport.

flydubai: Riyadh, Dammam and Abha flights cancelled until October 19

Dubai-based flydubai has extended cancellations affecting Riyadh, Dammam and Abha up to and including Monday, October 19.

The airline confirmed the extended suspension in a statement issued earlier in the week, citing the continuing regional situation.

Affected services have included Dubai-Riyadh flights FZ841, FZ847 and FZ855, alongside their corresponding return services.

Other Saudi destinations, including NEOM, Al Jouf, Ha’il and Hofuf, have also appeared in flight cancellation listings during the disruption.

However, not all flydubai services to Saudi Arabia have been suspended.

Selected routes to Jeddah, Madinah, Tabuk and Gassim have continued to appear on published schedules.

flydubai said it was monitoring developments closely and would notify affected passengers of any changes to their bookings.

Passengers should verify their flight status through the airline’s official website and ensure their contact details are up to date.

Air Arabia: Sharjah services remain affected

Air Arabia continues to face disruption on several routes connecting Sharjah with Saudi Arabia.

Cancellations during the week have affected services to Riyadh, Abha, Dammam and Taif, with further disruption reported on flights to Jeddah, Jizan and Tabuk.

Affected flight numbers earlier in the week included:

• Riyadh: G9151, G9154, G9152 and G9155.
• Abha: G9195 and G9196.
• Dammam: G9160 and G9161.
• Taif: G9187 and G9188.

These flight numbers have been affected during the disruption and should not all be treated as confirmed cancellations for Saturday, October 17.

Some previously cancelled services have appeared on subsequent schedules, although this does not guarantee that they will operate.

Passengers should confirm the latest status of individual flights directly with Air Arabia before heading to the airport.

Qatar Airways: Riyadh and Dammam services suspended

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam because of the regional security situation.

The Doha-based carrier has not announced a confirmed resumption date for the affected routes.

Passengers booked on these services are advised to check for schedule changes and alternative travel arrangements directly with Qatar Airways.

International airlines: Latest Saudi flight suspensions

Several international carriers have extended cancellations or postponed planned services as security concerns continue to affect the kingdom’s aviation network.

The latest announced measures include:

• Air India: Flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah suspended until October 20, extending an earlier October 17 deadline.
• Air India Express: Services to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah suspended until October 20.
• IndiGo: Flights to and from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah cancelled through October 24.
• Akasa Air: Riyadh flights suspended through October 24 and Jeddah flights through October 21.
• Air France-KLM: Riyadh services suspended until the end of October.
• Gulf Air: Bahrain-Riyadh services cancelled through October 17 under its previously announced suspension.
• Lufthansa Group: Riyadh services were cancelled through October 16, with no subsequent extension independently confirmed at the time of this update.
• Malaysia Airlines: Jeddah and Madinah services cancelled through October 17 under its previous advisory.
• Philippine Airlines: Riyadh services suspended until November 29.
• Cathay Pacific: Resumption of Hong Kong-Riyadh and Hong Kong-Dubai services postponed through January 31, 2027.
• Delta Air Lines: Launch of its planned Atlanta-Riyadh service postponed until March 2027.

The dates reflect the latest announcements available at the time of this update and may change as airlines review security conditions.

When will Riyadh airport reopen?

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation has extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport while authorities carry out safety inspections and operational readiness assessments.

The latest published Notice to Airmen indicates that the airport will remain closed until 2100 GMT on Saturday, October 17, equivalent to midnight in Saudi Arabia at the start of October 18.

However, this is the current published closure deadline, not a confirmed reopening time.

As of early Saturday morning, no subsequent reopening announcement had been independently confirmed.

The security situation remains serious. On Thursday, Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki Al Maliki said the Houthi movement had launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport since the beginning of October.

He said the attacks had killed 17 people and injured 333.

The coalition also reported that attacks on Abha airport had killed three people and injured 28.

Meanwhile, disruption to Saudi Arabia’s aviation network has begun affecting international business and sporting events.

The Asian Tour announced on Friday that its season-ending Saudi International golf tournament, scheduled for Riyadh in November, had been postponed indefinitely.

Other affected events include the Urban Cycling World Championships, while organisers have moved the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition to December.

With several airlines maintaining flight suspensions beyond October 17, normal services are unlikely to resume across all routes immediately even if Riyadh airport reopens.

What should affected passengers do?

Passengers travelling to Saudi Arabia are advised to check their airline’s official flight-status service before leaving for the airport, particularly as cancellations, delays and last-minute schedule changes remain possible.

Travellers with connecting flights should also confirm whether changes to the first leg will affect the rest of their journey.

Air India has said affected passengers are eligible for full refunds, while Air India Express is offering complimentary rescheduling or a full refund on cancelled services.

Passengers booked through travel agents should contact their booking provider to discuss available alternatives.

• *Flight information remains subject to change. A flight appearing as scheduled does not guarantee its operation, while a previous cancellation does not necessarily mean subsequent services on the same route remain suspended.

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Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance said it welcomed competition from Elon Musk’s Starlink and that its own satellite services were also awaiting clearance, its first response to accusations that Ambani was blocking Starlink’s India launch.

Musk, the world’s richest man, has repeatedly accused the Indian government and Ambani of stalling Starlink’s years-long efforts to launch in a market of more than a billion internet subscribers. India has denied any bias in its approval process.

The Friday statement, which did not name Musk, comes days before Reliance Industries’ digital unit Jio Platforms seeks a $108bn valuation in India’s largest IPO to date.

Read more: UAE clears Starlink for satellite internet services with 10-year license

Jio houses Reliance’s telecom arm, which has over 530 million customers and is a potential competitor to Starlink in India’s internet market.

“At Reliance, we have never feared competition,” the conglomerate said on Friday, addressing “remarks about Reliance and the Indian market” in a statement it said was intended to “place the facts on record”.

India’s long wait for satellite internet

Musk’s posts on X have ranged from asking whether Ambani was the “real boss” of India to addressing him as “Prime Minister Ambani” and asking whether he would allow Starlink to compete.

The attacks mark a sharp turn for Musk, who has a warm public rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and come as New Delhi courts foreign investment and negotiates a trade deal with Washington.

India has licensed Starlink, Jio’s satellite internet arm and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb to operate services, but none has the security clearance needed to launch.

Satellite broadband could help to connect hundreds of millions of Indians who remain offline, mostly in rural and remote areas.

Musk has said he would price Starlink affordably in India to take on Jio’s low-cost internet plans. Cheap data is how Jio built its presence in ​India, and Musk has used the same strategy in markets like Kenya to ⁠disrupt local telecom players.