STRAIT OF HORMUZ TENSIONS RESHAPE REGIONAL TRAVEL AS TRUMP ESCALATES IRAN PRESSURE
Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs has raised operational readiness across airport platforms and checkpoints, a direct institutional response to the escalating US-Iran standoff centered on the Strait of Hormuz. The move comes as the summer holiday period winds down and passenger volumes climb, with authorities advising travelers to allow extra time for check-in, security, immigration and road traffic.
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President Donald Trump has intensified the pressure campaign against Tehran, declaring what he described as the “most crushing economic operation” targeting oil-smuggling networks, financial transfers, exchange houses, ship registries and front companies. Trump has also asserted that he views the Strait of Hormuz as “American territory” and claimed the US maintains “total control” over the waterway. Countries and businesses that continue dealing with Iran, he warned, could face “tremendous economic consequences.”
Iran’s government has rejected those measures in full. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei characterized the sanctions as a “declaration of war” on all nations. Tehran has set conditions for reopening the Strait: lifting the blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and easing oil sanctions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the conflict would need to end “at some point,” but insisted diplomacy must proceed from a position of strength. Hardliners within Iran continue to oppose concessions to Washington, even as the country faces mounting shortages and high inflation.
China has pushed back against the US campaign, arguing that sanctions and pressure tactics risk escalating tensions further. Meanwhile, Oman has positioned itself as a diplomatic intermediary. The foreign ministers of Oman and Iran held talks on returning to negotiations over passage arrangements through the Strait. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met Oman’s top diplomat amid questions about Muscat’s engagement with Tehran. Iranian state media reported that a trade agreement with Oman has been finalized and sent to parliament for approval, a signal of Oman’s continued role as a back-channel in US-Iran diplomacy.
NATO allies are exploring possible contributions to support freedom of navigation in the region, though NATO has stressed this would not constitute a formal NATO mission. Traffic through the Strait remains well below pre-war levels despite a recent uptick in vessel movements.
The operational consequences for regional aviation are significant. Major international carriers have suspended or reduced Middle East services, while regional airlines report selective cancellations on routes to Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Flight status updates as of the latest reporting show mixed operations. Etihad Airways maintains Abu Dhabi-Bahrain services with EY647 and EY648 arrived, and additional flights EY641, EY643, EY645, EY642, EY644 and EY646 scheduled. Abu Dhabi-Kuwait service EY653 and Kuwait-Abu Dhabi EY654 are scheduled. Emirates has cancelled some Dubai-Bahrain flights, while EK839 and EK840 are scheduled; Dubai-Kuwait services EK857 and EK858 are operating. flydubai continues services to Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, though some other flights have been cancelled. Air Arabia has cancelled, delayed or not yet departed several services between the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain, with some Sharjah-Kuwait and Kuwait-Sharjah flights also cancelled.
International carriers have moved more decisively. Air Canada has suspended Dubai services until mid-January 2027. British Airways has suspended Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman services until October 25. Singapore Airlines has suspended Dubai services until October 24. KLM has suspended Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam services until September 6. Philippine Airlines has suspended Dubai services until October 2. Lufthansa and Swiss have suspended Dubai services until September 13. Turkish Airlines has resumed services to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, though Iran flights remain suspended.
On the energy side, Iranian crude loadings have fallen sharply from pre-war levels as the US blockade restricts Tehran’s ability to export oil. A large volume of Iranian crude is reportedly stranded aboard tankers in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Trump has predicted oil prices will fall once the conflict ends, though continued disruption around Hormuz could sustain pressure on global energy markets.
Passengers should verify specific flight numbers before traveling, as schedules can change at short notice. Checking airline websites and apps for the latest status is essential. Further details on the broader situation are available at gulfnews.com/uae/uae-residents-update-latest-on-trumps-iran-deal-push-hormuz-tensions-and-flights-status-1.500648612.
The central question now is whether Oman’s diplomatic track can produce a framework that satisfies Washington’s sanctions conditions while giving Tehran enough to justify reopening the Strait, and how quickly any such agreement could translate into restored shipping volumes and normalized flight schedules across the region.