Gulf Business Aviation Traffic Paralyzed by Iran Conflict | Aviation International News

Gulf Business Aviation Traffic Paralyzed by Iran Conflict

Aircraft, crew, and passengers remain trapped by airspace and airport closures

Dubai Air Show business jets — Multiple business jets remain grounded at Gulf airports including Dubai’s Al Maktoum International, which in November hosted the 2025 Dubai Air Show. © AIN/David McIntosh

By Charles Alcock • Managing Editor

March 2, 2026

Business aircraft operations across the Gulf region remained paralyzed on Monday as airspace and airports remained closed due to the ongoing military conflict between Iran and U.S. and Israeli forces. While the impact on airline services continues to be far greater, the business aviation sector appeared to have few options for exercising its usual flexibility to evacuate aircraft, crew, and passengers.

Charter flight brokers have been scrambling to support stranded clients, but these efforts have been thwarted by the continuing closure of airspace over Iran, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, and Syria. Major airports—including Dubai International, Dubai Al Maktoum International, Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, and Doha Hamad International—remain closed, with some casualties and damage sustained from Iranian ballistic missile and drone strikes.

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