Over 1,000 flights scrapped; UAE pledges hotel bills for stranded tourists

With Gulf airspace closed, more than 1,000 Middle-East flights were cancelled on 1 March 2026. The UAE aviation regulator has stepped in to pay hotel and meal costs for over 20,000 stranded travellers, an expensive but reputation-saving measure. Corporates with staff stuck in transit should check carrier liability and keep receipts for eventual insurance claims.