Emirates has cancelled multiple flights between Dubai and Kuwait, with all scheduled services on Sunday 19 July 2026 shown as cancelled after air traffic at Kuwait International Airport was temporarily suspended. Flights EK857 and EK858 on Saturday were among those pulled, and Etihad and Air Arabia services are also disrupted. |
LAST REVIEWED: 19 JULY 2026
KEY FACTS
- All scheduled Emirates Dubai to Kuwait services on Sunday 19 July are shown as cancelled
- Saturday services EK857 and EK858 between Dubai and Kuwait were cancelled
- Air traffic at Kuwait International Airport was temporarily suspended amid regional tensions
- Etihad flight EY653 and its return EY654 were listed as awaiting update; Air Arabia has cancelled several UAE to Kuwait flights
- Emirates advises affected passengers to contact their booking office and not travel to the airport after a cancellation email
Emirates has cancelled multiple flights between Dubai and Kuwait after air traffic at Kuwait International Airport was temporarily suspended amid the ongoing regional tensions. According to the airline's flight status updates, flight EK857 from Dubai to Kuwait, scheduled to depart at 2.55pm on Saturday 18 July, was cancelled along with its return service EK858 at 5.15pm. All scheduled Emirates services between Dubai and Kuwait on Sunday 19 July are also shown as cancelled on the airline's website.
The disruption extends beyond Emirates. Etihad Airways listed its Abu Dhabi to Kuwait flight EY653 and the return EY654 as awaiting update, while Air Arabia has cancelled several flights between the UAE and Kuwait according to its flight status pages. The wider region has seen sustained disruption through July, with airlines adjusting schedules around affected airspace and several European carriers suspending Dubai routes for extended periods.
Emirates has attributed the cancellations to operational reasons and advised affected passengers to contact their booking office for assistance with reservations. The airline has also told customers who receive a cancellation notification by email not to travel to the airport, even if the flight still appears as planned on the website or app, and to check flight status before setting out. Where flights are disrupted, Emirates says it will aim to rebook passengers on the next available service, including for journeys connecting beyond Dubai.
For UK travellers, the rights position depends on the route and ticket. UK261 rules, which require rerouting or refund plus care such as meals and accommodation, apply to flights departing the UK on any airline and to flights arriving into the UK on UK carriers. A Dubai to Kuwait sector on Emirates falls outside that framework, so passengers rely on the airline's own conditions of carriage, which for a cancellation generally offer rebooking or a refund of the unused sector. Passengers who booked the Kuwait sector as part of a through ticket from the UK should be rebooked by Emirates across the whole journey rather than treated as stranded mid-route.
Travel insurance is the other route to recovery for consequential costs such as missed hotel nights or onward connections booked separately, though most policies exclude claims where the disruption arises from a risk that was public knowledge at the time of booking. Anyone due to travel to Kuwait in the coming days should also check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice pages, as insurance validity is typically tied to FCDO guidance for the destination.
Passengers holding bookings on the affected routes should check flight status directly with the airline before travelling, keep receipts for any expenses incurred, and pursue rebooking through the original booking channel, whether that is the airline or a travel agent, since agent bookings must usually be changed by the agent.
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Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and reflects sources available at the time of the last review date shown above. It is not financial, legal or travel advice. Details can change quickly during live incidents; always confirm the current position with the official body concerned before acting.
Which Emirates flights to Kuwait are cancelled?
Saturday services EK857 and EK858 between Dubai and Kuwait were cancelled, and all scheduled Emirates Dubai to Kuwait services on Sunday 19 July are shown as cancelled on the airline's website.
Why are flights to Kuwait being cancelled?
Air traffic at Kuwait International Airport was temporarily suspended amid the regional tensions, prompting Emirates, Etihad and Air Arabia to cancel or hold services between the UAE and Kuwait.
Do UK261 compensation rules apply to these cancellations?
Generally not. UK261 covers flights departing the UK and flights into the UK on UK carriers. A Dubai to Kuwait sector on Emirates sits outside that framework, so the airline's own conditions of carriage apply, typically offering rebooking or a refund.
What should passengers with a cancelled Emirates flight do?
Contact the original booking channel for rebooking, whether Emirates directly or a travel agent. Emirates advises passengers who receive a cancellation email not to travel to the airport and to check flight status before departure.
Will travel insurance cover costs from the disruption?
Policies may cover consequential losses such as missed accommodation, but many exclude claims arising from risks that were public knowledge when the trip was booked. Cover is also usually conditional on FCDO travel advice for the destination.
