Passengers travelling through major Gulf aviation hubs faced significant disruption after widespread delays and cancellations affected operations at Dubai International Airport and Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Airport.

A total of two hundred and fifteen flights were delayed, while nine services were cancelled, causing ripple effects across regional and international travel networks.

The disruption impacted several leading airlines, including Emirates, FlyDubai, Gulf Air and other regional carriers that rely heavily on the two airports for transit and long-haul connectivity.

Airport authorities confirmed that a combination of operational constraints and adverse conditions forced adjustments to flight schedules, prompting airlines to ground aircraft, delay departures and reroute passengers.

Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, experienced congestion that led to knock-on delays for connecting flights across Asia, Europe and Africa.

At the same time, King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia reported interruptions that affected both domestic and international services, compounding challenges for travelers moving through the Gulf.

Airlines activated contingency measures, including rebooking passengers, deploying additional ground staff and issuing travel advisories to manage the situation.

Despite these efforts, many travelers reported extended waiting times and missed connections as airport operations worked to return to normal.

Authorities at both airports said services were gradually stabilising, while airlines urged passengers to check flight status updates before travelling.

The episode underscores the vulnerability of global air travel to sudden operational disruptions at major transit hubs and the wide-ranging impact such events can have on passengers and airlines alike.