Connect with us

News

UAE travel alert: What passengers need to know about flights to India and Pakistan

Published

on

Spread the love


Flights between the UAE and South Asia have been significantly disrupted after Pakistan closed its airspace amid rising tensions with India. This closure has left thousands of passengers stranded, leading to a wave of flight cancellations and diversions. Travellers are encouraged to check their flight status with their airlines as the situation develops.

UAE flights affected

Several Gulf carriers, including Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai, and Qatar Airways, have cancelled or rerouted flights:

  • Emirates cancelled services between Dubai and Sialkot, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar.
  • Etihad Airways suspended Abu Dhabi flights to Karachi (EY297), Lahore (EY285) and Islamabad (EY303).
  • Flydubai suspended flights to Multan, Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot, and Faisalabad.
    Some services, including Karachi, have now resumed.
  • Etihad confirmed that three Pakistan-bound flights were forced to return mid-air to Abu Dhabi on May 6.
  • Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended all flights to Pakistan.

Global airlines reroute to avoid Pakistani airspace

International carriers are also adjusting flight paths:

  • EVA Air (Taiwan) and Korean Air have rerouted their Europe-bound flights.
  • Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, and others are flying longer detours over the Arabian Sea and Central Asia.

Airport closures across India and Pakistan

Several airports in northern India and Pakistan are closed until further notice, including: Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Dharamshala in India. Srinagar Airport has also suspended all civilian flights.

Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air have cancelled or delayed flights to and from these cities.

Air India:

Suspended services to Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot until 12 noon on May 7.
Two international flights to Amritsar have been diverted to Delhi.

SpiceJet:

Confirmed the closure of airports including Dharamshala, Leh, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar, warning passengers of disruptions to departures, arrivals, and connections.

IndiGo:

Flights to and from Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, and Bikaner have been impacted by changing airspace conditions.

Akasa Air:

Akasa Air said flights to and from Srinagar have been cancelled. Passengers have been told to check their flight status before commencing their travel to the airport.

Pakistan declares emergency at airports

Pakistan has declared an air emergency at major airports, including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Skardu, and Peshawar, following heightened military tensions with India. The move has triggered strict security measures and caused disruptions to flight operations across the country. In response to the escalating situation, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended all flights for 12 hours as a precaution.

What should travellers do?

All airlines are advising passengers to:

  • Check the airline’s website or app for real-time flight updates
  • Avoid travelling to the airport unless your flight is confirmed
  • Make a fresh booking or request a refund if your flight is cancelled

Airlines have apologised for the inconvenience and said they are monitoring the situation closely. Passenger safety remains the top priority.

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

Crime

UAE Central Bank fines local bank Dh3 million over anti-money laundering failures

Published

on

Spread the love

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has imposed a financial penalty of Dh3 million on a local bank for failing to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

The fine was issued under Article 14 of Federal Decree Law No. (20) of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism and Illegal Organisations, as well as Article 137 of the Decretal Federal Law No. (14) of 2018 concerning the Central Bank and regulation of financial institutions.

The CBUAE said the penalty followed an investigation which found that the bank had not met regulatory requirements outlined in UAE legislation to combat financial crime.

In a statement, the Central Bank reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the transparency and integrity of the country’s financial system. “We continue to supervise and regulate all licensed financial institutions to ensure full compliance with UAE laws, regulations, and standards,” the authority said.

The name of the bank was not disclosed.

Continue Reading

News

Dubai’s RTA steps up inspections of buses to ensure safety

Published

on

Spread the love

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has urged transport operators to strictly follow regulations covering all modes of passenger transport, including chartered buses, tourist services, and international bus trips.

This comes after RTA completed over 15,500 inspections targeting operators in these sectors, as part of ongoing efforts to raise service standards and ensure safety.

“The inspections weren’t just about issuing violations,” said Saeed Al Balooshi, Director of Passenger Transport Activities Monitoring at RTA. “They’re designed to improve service quality and ensure operators meet the rules that keep Dubai’s transport sector running smoothly.”

Checks included verifying safety measures onboard and ensuring all required licences were in place. The RTA also teamed up with other authorities, including Dubai Police and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs at Hatta Border Post, to tackle misuse and irregularities in cross-border transport services.

Al Balooshi added that the authority is using new technologies to make inspections more effective by analysing violations and measuring the impact of enforcement campaigns. “Our goal is to ensure a reliable and high-quality experience for residents, visitors, and tourists, and to protect the reputation of Dubai’s public transport sector,” he said.

Continue Reading

News

New paid parking zones announced in Abu Dhabi

Published

on

Spread the love

Residents and motorists in Abu Dhabi should take note: new Mawaqif paid parking zones have been activated in several areas across the city, Q Mobility announced on Thursday, July 10.

The newly introduced paid zones include:

  • Eastern Mangroves
  • Dolphin Park
  • Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street sectors – specifically at Al Khaleej Al Arabi Park 1, 2, 4, and 5
  • Al Qurm Plaza

The rollout of the Mawaqif system in these areas is now officially in effect, aligning with Abu Dhabi’s parking regulations.

  • Standard Parking – black and blue curbs:
    • Dh2 an hour
    • Dh15 for 24-hour parking
  • Premium Parking Abu Dhabi – white and blue curbs: AED 3 an hour

According to Q Mobility, this move is part of ongoing efforts to better regulate vehicle movement, ease congestion, and improve the overall efficiency of public parking across the emirate. The changes follow the completion of infrastructure upgrades such as curb painting, installation of directional and awareness signage, and public notifications.

The company has also encouraged drivers to make use of the Darb app for digital payment and to carefully follow posted instructions to avoid fines.

The expansion of Mawaqif is part of a broader strategy aimed at improving traffic flow and providing smarter, more streamlined parking solutions within Abu Dhabi Island and beyond.

Continue Reading

Popular

© Copyright 2025 HEADLINE. All rights reserved

https://headline.ae/