The United Arab Emirates has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country until further notice, as US sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector trigger further restrictions on international air travel.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced that the suspension took effect on Thursday, September 24, citing US restrictions on Iranian airlines’ access to airports worldwide, according to the state news agency WAM.
The authority said it would continue providing updates to relevant agencies and the public as developments emerge, with the restrictions remaining in place until normal air services between the two countries can resume.
It also urged passengers and the wider public to rely on official sources for information about the suspension.
The decision follows a new round of US sanctions that threaten foreign airports, fuel suppliers and aviation service providers with financial penalties for assisting Iranian airlines. Washington sanctioned 27 additional Iranian carriers earlier this month, expanding restrictions intended to limit Iran’s access to international aviation services.
The UAE joins Azerbaijan and Georgia, which have also confirmed suspensions of Iranian airline services. Flights to Oman’s Muscat airport and Iraq’s Baghdad airport have been halted, although services to Najaf in Iraq were still operating on Wednesday. Türkiye has imposed narrower restrictions, with Iranian carrier Mahan Air suspending flights to the country at Ankara’s request, while other Iranian airlines have continued operating some services to Istanbul.
