UAE, Qatar Offer Free Hotel and Meals for Stranded Travelers

Governments pledge full support as airspace closures disrupt regional travel in Middle East

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Travelers stuck in the Gulf region due to Iran-related airspace closures are getting free hotel rooms and meals, courtesy of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Authorities in both countries have told hotels to keep stranded guests on past their checkout dates, with governments picking up the tab until commercial flights resume.

Why it matters

The disruption to air travel in the region is widespread, with thousands of passengers affected as flights are canceled or rescheduled. The governments' actions to support stranded travelers highlight the scale of the travel disruption and the need for coordinated efforts to assist those impacted.

The details

About 20,000 passengers in the UAE alone have been affected as flights are canceled or rescheduled. The UAE halted commercial flights but is running limited "exceptional" services to move people out. The Emirates and Etihad airlines are contacting customers directly, warning some to not even bother coming to the airport. Qatar has fully paused operations at Doha's Hamad International Airport. The disruption stretches beyond those two hubs, with airspace closures and flight cancellations reported in Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

  • On Tuesday, US President Trump said he'd be arranging for free charter flights for Americans stuck in the region.
  • Qatar will give its next update on the situation on Friday.

The players

United Arab Emirates

The UAE government has pledged to cover the hotel and meal costs for stranded travelers in the country until commercial flights resume.

Qatar

The Qatari government has also committed to covering the expenses of stranded travelers in the country until flights restart.

Emirates

The UAE-based airline is contacting customers directly, warning some not to come to the airport due to the flight disruptions.

Etihad

The UAE-based airline is also contacting customers directly about the flight cancellations and rescheduling.

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What they’re saying

“We're in the hotel room, we are not leaving it ... until we know we have a flight out of here.”

— Pittsburgh native (PBS)

“There's no way to sugarcoat this. You should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.”

— Henry Harteveldt, Airline industry analyst (CNN)

What’s next

The governments of the UAE and Qatar have pledged to continue covering the hotel and meal costs for stranded travelers until commercial flights resume in the region. Travelers are advised to stay in their hotel rooms and await further updates from airlines and authorities.

The takeaway

The coordinated efforts by the UAE and Qatar governments to support stranded travelers during this regional air travel disruption highlight the scale of the challenge and the importance of governments working together to assist those impacted by such widespread travel disruptions.