Flydubai and Etihad Airways have both extended the cancellation of flights to Saudi Arabia after repeated Houthi strikes on Saudi airports, most notably King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Flydubai said its flights to Abha, Dammam and Riyadh will remain cancelled through October 14, 2026. Etihad confirmed it has cancelled round-trip flights between Abu Dhabi and Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh for October 12 and 13, warning that further schedule changes remain possible. The cancelled Etihad services include flight numbers EY575, EY573, EY576, EY574, EY601, EY603, EY602, EY604, EY559, EY555, EY560, EY556, EY551 and EY552.
Both carriers are urging passengers to check their flight status directly before heading to the airport. Flydubai has directed affected travellers to the Manage Your Booking section on its website to review refund or rebooking options, while Etihad has pointed customers to its own booking channels or travel agents for updated guidance.
The disruption comes amid escalating regional tension between Houthi forces in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, with Saudi airports repeatedly targeted in recent weeks. King Khalid International Airport is one of the principal gateways into the Saudi capital, and any disruption to its operations ripples across Gulf aviation routes that connect through Riyadh.
Travellers flying via the UAE to Saudi destinations — particularly on the Abu Dhabi-Dammam, Abu Dhabi-Riyadh, Abu Dhabi-Jeddah and Dubai routes — should expect further schedule revisions until the security situation at Saudi airports stabilises. Neither airline has given a firm date for a full resumption of normal operations.