UAE Travel News
Airline and airport news for travellers flying to and from the UAE — new routes, schedule and fare changes, and updates at Dubai (DXB), Dubai World Central (DWC) and Abu Dhabi (AUH). Verified from primary sources.
Etihad Signs Three African Airline Partnerships — July 2026
Etihad Airways has signed partnership agreements with three African carriers — Fastjet Zimbabwe, Air Peace of Nigeria and Africa World Airlines of Ghana — during July 2026, expanding single-ticket connectivity through its Abu Dhabi (AUH) hub. The deals prepare the ground for six new African destinations the airline is adding from late 2026.
flydubai Resumes Dubai–Budapest Flights — July 2026
flydubai is resuming its direct service between Dubai International (DXB) Terminal 3 and Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) from 31 July 2026, starting with three weekly flights and scaling to a daily service from 25 October 2026. Offered as an Emirates codeshare, the route restores a link flydubai first launched in 2021.
Emirates Adds Third Daily Dubai–Cape Town Flight with the A350 — July 2026
Emirates has added a third daily flight between Dubai (DXB) and Cape Town (CPT), effective 1 July 2026, taking the route to 21 flights a week. The new service is operated by the airline’s next-generation Airbus A350, bringing its Premium Economy cabin to more Dubai–Cape Town departures.
Emirates Adds Third Daily Dubai–Nairobi Flight — July 2026
Emirates has added a third daily flight between Dubai (DXB) and Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), effective 1 July 2026, taking the route to 21 flights a week. The new early-morning rotation, EK717 and EK718, is timed to improve onward connections through Dubai to Europe and North America.
flydubai Launches Daily Dubai–Bangkok Flights — July 2026
flydubai has launched a daily service between Dubai International (DXB) Terminal 3 and Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), starting 1 July 2026. Operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 as an Emirates codeshare, the route is the Dubai-based carrier’s second destination in Thailand after Krabi.
Air India Express Launches Guwahati–Dubai and Abu Dhabi Flights — August 2026
Air India Express will begin direct flights between Guwahati (GAU) and the UAE in August 2026 — its first international services from the city and the first non-stop link between Northeast India and the Gulf. The Guwahati–Dubai service starts on 4 August 2026 (Tuesdays) and Guwahati–Abu Dhabi on 7 August 2026 (Fridays).
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi Launches Abu Dhabi–Aleppo Flights — July 2026
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi will launch non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Aleppo, Syria from 7 July 2026, operating three times a week. Aleppo becomes the low-cost carrier’s second Syrian destination from the capital, and the airline will separately raise its Abu Dhabi–Damascus service to a daily flight from 1 July 2026.
Emirates Launches Comprehensive Travel Cover With Conflict Insurance — June 2026
Emirates has launched Comprehensive Travel Cover, an optional travel-insurance product available from 17 June 2026 that adds conflict-related medical cover of up to US$25,000, a free trip extension of up to 30 days, and airline-managed hotel stays and rebooking during disruptions. The cover, provided with Travel Guard, is sold on emirates.com in 27 markets, including the UAE.
flydubai Resumes Direct Dubai–El Alamein Flights — June 2026
flydubai resumed direct flights between Dubai (DXB) and El Alamein on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast on 20 June 2026, returning the seasonal route for the summer. The service operates five times a week as flights FZ 185 and FZ 186, and flydubai plans to increase it to a daily operation during July.
Emirates Adds Four Weekly Dubai–Accra Flights — July 2026
Emirates will add four weekly flights between Dubai (DXB) and Accra from 12 July 2026, taking its service to Ghana to 11 flights a week. The additional rotations complement the airline’s existing daily operation and are flown by a Boeing 777-300ER, with the new departures running on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Etihad Launches Its Biggest-Ever Summer Programme — June 2026
Etihad has begun its largest-ever summer programme from Abu Dhabi, adding around 10% more capacity than last year. Between 11 and 14 June 2026 the airline launched four new routes — to Kraków, Palma de Mallorca, Damascus and Zanzibar — and is reinstating five seasonal destinations across the summer.
flydubai Launches Direct Dubai–Benghazi Flights — June 2026
flydubai began operating direct flights between Dubai International (DXB) and Benghazi, Libya, on 17 June 2026, becoming the first UAE carrier to serve the route. The service runs three times a week — on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — from Terminal 3, and is offered through flydubai’s codeshare partnership with Emirates.