Flights Rerouted, Canceled as Missiles Shut Down Dubai Airports

One of the world's busiest airports is shut down and flights around the Middle East are canceled as the region is rocked by air strikes in and around Iran.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Airports across the Middle East, including Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest hubs in the world, have been shut down and flights have been rerouted or canceled as the region is hit by missile strikes. The chaos prompted two flights departing from California to reroute, with one flight from SFO landing in Munich and one from LAX landing in Rome. Several other flights to and from California airports were also canceled.

Why it matters

The closure of Dubai's airports, a major global transit hub, will have significant ripple effects on air travel and commerce throughout the region. The broader conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran also raises concerns about regional stability and the potential for further escalation.

The details

After reports of Iranian strikes in Dubai, including a missile hitting the Fairmont Palm Hotel, Dubai International Airport and other regional airports were shut down. All flight operations were suspended, stranding travelers. Several flights from California airports, including Emirates flights from SFO and LAX, were rerouted or canceled due to the closures.

  • On Friday, Emirates Flight 226 from SFO and Emirates Flight 216 from LAX were rerouted in the air to land in Munich and Rome, respectively.
  • On Sunday, an Emirates flight scheduled to land at SFO before 1 p.m. never departed, and a 3:40 p.m. departure to Dubai was canceled. At LAX, a 3:35 p.m. Emirates flight to Dubai was canceled, and a flight scheduled to land in Los Angeles at 12:45 p.m. was also canceled.

The players

Dubai International Airport

One of the busiest airports in the world, a major global transit hub that has been shut down due to the missile strikes.

Emirates

A major airline that had several flights from California airports rerouted or canceled due to the airport closures in the Middle East.

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What’s next

The situation remains fluid, with the region continuing to experience air strikes and missile attacks. It is unclear when normal flight operations will resume at the affected airports.

The takeaway

The shutdown of Dubai's airports, a critical global transit hub, highlights the significant disruption that regional conflicts can have on international air travel and commerce. The broader tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran also raise concerns about the potential for further escalation and instability in the Middle East.