Travellers heading from the UAE to Saudi Arabia face another week of uncertainty as the country's main carriers extend cancellations on some of their busiest routes.

Etihad Airways has cancelled all passenger and cargo flights between Abu Dhabi and the Saudi cities of Riyadh and Dammam through Thursday, 19 November. Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have each suspended selected services, with most of their Riyadh and Dammam cancellations running until at least 13 November.

Which routes are affected

The picture varies by airline, and it is changing, so passengers should check their booking directly.

Etihad: Riyadh and Dammam flights are cancelled through 19 November. Jeddah services restarted on 6 November, with up to four flights a day.

Emirates: Flights between Dubai and Riyadh, and between Dubai and Dammam, are cancelled until at least 13 November. Several services were cancelled on 11 November, including a Jeddah flight, although other Jeddah and Medina services continue to operate.

flydubai: Four Dammam flights were cancelled. Jeddah, Medina, Tabuk and Taif flights are running. Riyadh and Abha remain suspended through 16 November.

Air Arabia: Flights to Riyadh and Abha are cancelled until at least 13 November.

The carriers describe the changes as schedule adjustments. Notices reviewed for this report do not set out a detailed reason for the Saudi cancellations.

Beyond Saudi Arabia

Saudi routes are only part of the picture. According to Gulf News, Emirates has partly resumed its Dubai–Bahrain service, but its Dubai–Kuwait route is still fully suspended. Flights to and from Tel Aviv on Emirates and flydubai are also affected, and Iranian-operated flights to the UAE remain on hold.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency continues to publish advisories covering Iran, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. They are listed as valid until 16 November unless revised sooner. The UAE's own airspace remains open, but airlines are operating under conflict-zone guidance that can change at short notice.

The disruption comes on day 257 of the wider US and Israel–Iran conflict. Gulf News reports that crude oil prices are showing some relief, which will be welcome news for airlines, whose costs are tied closely to fuel.

What it means for passengers

For many families and business travellers, the Saudi cancellations are the most immediate problem. The kingdom is among the UAE's closest trading partners and one of the most popular short-haul destinations from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Riyadh and Dammam are particularly important for corporate travel.

The sensible advice has stayed consistent:

Check your flight status on the airline's website or app before leaving for the airport.

If your flight is cancelled, ask about rebooking, alternative routes or refunds. Rules vary by airline and ticket type.

Where Jeddah, Medina or other open Saudi destinations are an option, compare availability, since several carriers are still flying there.

Consider travel insurance terms carefully, as some policies exclude disruption linked to conflict.

Keep an eye on official travel advisories and on notices from the airlines' own channels.

Outlook

The cancellation dates are rolling. Several run only to 13 or 16 November, while Etihad's now extends to 19 November. That suggests airlines are reviewing conditions every few days and are willing to extend or shorten suspensions depending on the situation.

For now, the most reliable approach for travellers is flexibility. Anyone with essential travel to Riyadh or Dammam in the coming days should consider whether another route or date might work, and should confirm their flight directly with the airline shortly before departure.