UAE Suspends Iranian Airlines from Operating Flights to and from the Country Effective September 24, Following US Ban on Iranian Carriers

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority announced on September 24, 2026, that flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE have been suspended until further notice, according to Gulf News, The National, and Gulf Today. The GCAA stated the decision was taken in response to a US ban on Iranian airlines operating at airports in various countries, with the authority confirming it would continue to update the public as the situation develops. No end date for the suspension has been announced. The US Treasury had announced sweeping sanctions on Iran's aviation sector on September 8, targeting 27 airlines and dozens of companies that support them, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warning on September 21 in a CNBC interview that Iranian airlines would be shut down globally from September 23 and that any airport or company servicing them would be cut off from the US dollar system.

UAE airports remain operational, with Dubai's Al Maktoum International and Zayed International in Abu Dhabi continuing to handle international services, though airline schedules remain uneven with a number of international carriers yet to resume UAE routes. Iran responded on September 24 by restricting UAE-registered aircraft from using its airspace, affecting Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Flydubai, according to multiple aviation industry sources. The suspension adds a new layer of operational complexity to the UAE's aviation sector, already navigating the wider regional security environment and the ongoing US-Iran conflict that has disrupted Strait of Hormuz shipping and driven sharp swings in oil and financial markets since late February 2026.

Sources

Sources: Gulf News, The National, Gulf Today, Reuters, Al Jazeera, Aviation A2Z, RFE/RL, IranWire, USA Herald. The Gulf News and The National reports on September 24-25, 2026, provided the GCAA statement and operational context. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's September 21, 2026, CNBC statement confirmed via RFE/RL, IranWire, Gulf Today, and USA Herald. Iran's airspace restrictions on UAE carriers confirmed by Aviation A2Z and PaddleYourOwnKanoo reporting on September 25, 2026.