UAE Bars Iranian Airlines Amid US Sanctions on Iran’s Aviation Industry

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1313 EAT on Friday 25 September 2026

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has suspended flights operated by Iranian airlines, joining several other countries in enforcing United States sanctions aimed at putting pressure on Iran’s aviation sector.

In a statement carried by the Emirati WAM news agency on Thursday, the Geineral Civil Aviation Authority announced the suspension of all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the UAE.

The authority said the decision was “based on the US sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines, preventing them from using airports around the world”.

The UAE has joined Oman, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan in restricting or suspending access to Iranian airlines amid the latest US sanctions.

Dubai, the UAE’s commercial hub, is a major destination for Iranian carriers, with multiple daily flights, a large Iranian community and close business ties between the two countries.

An Iran Airtour flight from Tehran to Dubai was cancelled shortly before its scheduled departure on Thursday morning, despite tickets having already been issued, according to the AFP news agency.

The UAE, which was repeatedly targeted by Iranian missiles and drones during the US-Israel war on Iran, suspended trade and financial exchanges with Tehran last month.

On Wednesday, the UAE’s central bank blocked transactions involving Iran’s Bank Melli, accusing the financial institution of violating regulations on money laundering, terrorism financing and arms proliferation.

Earlier this month, the US Treasury announced sweeping sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector, including 27 airlines and dozens of companies supporting them.

The measures are aimed at cutting off Iran’s air links, with Washington warning that any airport or company continuing to service Iranian carriers risks losing access to the US dollar-based financial system.

Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization spokesman Majid Akhavan said diplomatic and aviation talks were under way to lift the restrictions and restore flights to the UAE.
Akhavan also said Turkmenistan had turned back a flight from Tehran to Dushanbe on Thursday.

“Turkmenistan’s refusal to allow the Iranian aircraft to pass through its airspace meant the flight could not continue on its route and had to return,” Akhavan told Iran’s IRNA news agency.

Several smaller Iranian airlines continue to operate flights to China and Armenia, which have resisted US pressure, while some carriers also continue to operate routes to Türkiye.

-Aljazeera

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