United Airlines suspends all flights to top urban destination

The world’s largest airline is delaying its return to this popular travel destination until next year.

With persisting conflict in the Middle East, United Airlines, among others, suspended flights to Dubai International Airport back in February. United has now revealed it will not resume direct flights to the popular destination until at least March 2027.

In March 2026, United Airlines Flight 164 from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) was headed to Dubai, but was forced to turn back after Israel attacked Iran and prompted the closure of Iranian airspace.

Since then, United Airlines has issued a travel warning for flights in the Middle East, considering the U.S. Department of State currently has both the United Arab Emirates and Israel under “Reconsider Travel” advisories.

Dubai airport had restricted foreign airlines to just one daily flight to its airport until May 31 due to the Iran crisis but lifted this policy on May 31. Still, airlines are wary of the immediate reinstatement of their flights.

United also suspended its route from San Francisco to Tel Aviv in late February 2026 in light of the Middle Eastern conflict, but announced it is resuming flights between EWR and Tel Aviv on Sep. 8.

The airline won’t restart its Newark route to Dubai, despite its popularity among American visitors. Last year, over 1.4 million Americans visited Dubai, constituting 7% of the city’s overnight visitors.

PYOK suggests that since Dubai is much closer to Iran, it is at more risk of kamikaze drones and missile attacks, despite local officials reporting very few attacks in territorial waters rather than the city itself.

Flight cancellations and complications have been consistent this year globally. Back in January, major airlines cancelled flights across the Middle East due to anxieties that the US was preparing to strike Iran. Flights to Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia were all suspended by various European airlines, with continued suspension to Israel in mid-March.

When service was still running, United operated a daily flight from EWR to Dubai: Flight UA164 departed from Terminal C every evening to Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport.

While United Airlines announced the intended return of the Dubai flight, it remains to be seen if the date will be pushed back. Customers affected by the cancellation of flights originally scheduled between October 24, 2026 and March 27, 2027 will be offered full refunds.

In the meantime, travelers can fly Emirates, which continues to offer nonstop flights between Dubai and six US-based travel hubs, including Chicago, San Francisco and Houston.

United Airlines isn’t alone in delaying the return of its direct Dubai flight. Air Canada aims to return in January 2027, and British-based Virgin Atlantic won’t have the flight return until the 2027 winter season.