02/03/2026
As you would have seen, this weekend's escalation of regional hostilities in the Middle East has resulted in several countries having to close their airspace.
Current airspace status:
• UAE — partially closed (precautionary security measure)
• Qatar — effectively closed due to active missile threats
• Bahrain — effectively closed due to active missile threats
• Kuwait — closed
• Israel — closed to all civilian air traffic
• Iran — fully closed
• Iraq — fully closed
• Jordan — fully closed
All statuses are subject to change at any time.
Airlines currently affected
The carriers most directly impacted at this stage are Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways. That said, European and other international carriers routing through Gulf airspace are also being affected, so check every airline featured in an affected itinerary, not just the obvious ones.
We encourage our clients to contact their travel insurance company to find out about any cover they might receive, but do warn that most will exclude acts of war.
Clients stuck in the Middle East
DIRCO has provided a list of contact information for South African embassies throughout the Middle East here:
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