How does the Qatar airspace closure affect Saudi Arabia?
Several GCC countries have also temporarily closed their airspaces…
Travellers from the Kingdom and the GCC have reported several flight cancellations amid tensions in the region. Qatar, which acts as a major transit location for many Saudi Arabian flights, has recently joined the growing list of countries that have shut down their airspace. This is how the Qatar airspace closure affects Saudi Arabia.
In a move “to ensure the safety of residents and visitors,” per the Qatari Foreign Ministry on X (formerly Twitter), airspace closures have taken place throughout the region, including in Bahrain and Kuwait. While in UAE, travellers are being urged to check with their airlines before heading to the airport, following regional airspace closures and widespread flight suspensions.
#Statement | The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its condemnation and denunciation, in the strongest terms possible, the aggression launched by Iran against the brotherly State of Qatar, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of good… pic.twitter.com/XHueCFXRcc
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) June 23, 2025
Following the escalation, several airlines have suspended operations in the GCC. These include EGYPTAIR, which announced the cancellation of its flights to and from the Arab Gulf cities until the resumption of stable air traffic in the region via Instagram. Air India said on Monday it had stopped all operations to the Middle East on X as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice.
Air France has also cancelled flights to/from Dubai and Riyadh until June 24, according to AlArabiya. PIA Airlines (the Pakistan national carrier) has also announced its suspension of flights in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE on X.
Recently, Saudi Arabian airports also issued travel alerts and warnings, since several countries in the Middle East closed their airspace, resulting in travel disruptions, including flight cancellations. As such, airports in the Kingdom have issued a warning to passengers to avoid delays or flight changes.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for more updates.
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