Some Emirates flights, particularly between Dubai and Kuwait, have been cancelled amid renewed US-Iran attacks in the Gulf.
Emirates has not announced a network-wide suspension. Check the messages attached to your booking before travelling to the airport.
For a wider view of regional disruption, see our Emirates operations guide.
How to check if your Emirates flight is cancelled
Use the information attached to your booking rather than relying on a general schedule alone:
- Email and SMS: Emirates sends changes to the contact details in your booking. Update them through Manage Your Booking.
- Manage Your Booking: Review your itinerary and any available change or rebooking options.
- Emirates app: Retrieve your booking and make sure notifications are enabled.
- Travel updates: Check for broader operational notices and policy changes.
Emirates cancelled eight Dubai-Kuwait services on 19 July. Flights EK857 and EK858 were also listed as cancelled on 20 July. Gulf News reported further Dubai-Kuwait cancellations for 21 July.
If your itinerary includes Kuwait, use the contact details in your booking before leaving. See our Middle East flight cancellations guide and Kuwait travel advisory for more context.
How to get a full refund from Emirates
If Emirates cancels your flight, its conditions offer a choice of rebooking, travel by an agreed alternative, or a refund for the unused journey. The exact option depends on your itinerary and the rules that apply to it.
If your flight still operates and you decide not to travel, your fare conditions normally apply. Do not assume a conflict-related waiver covers your booking unless Emirates or your travel agent confirms it in writing.
If you booked directly with Emirates
- Open the Emirates Refund Request Form.
- Enter the booking and passenger details requested.
- Review the fare conditions and refund terms before submitting.
- Submit the form and keep the confirmation email.
Submitting the form cancels the whole booking and cannot be reversed. Paid extras are not refunded automatically, so request each eligible service separately. Emirates says ticket refunds take about 15 business days, although bank processing times vary.
If you booked through a travel agent or third-party site
Contact the travel agent or booking platform that issued the ticket. Emirates directs agent-issued ticket refunds back to that agent.
If you bought an extra service directly from Emirates, such as a seat or baggage allowance, you can submit a separate Emirates refund request for that service. Keep the ticket and service receipt numbers ready.
How to rebook your Emirates flight
If Emirates disrupts your flight, it says it will first try to place you on the next available Emirates connection. If no Emirates flight is available, contact the airline to discuss other options.
- Affected bookings: Rebooking depends on seat availability, cabin and the remaining flights in your itinerary.
- Kuwait journeys: Contact Emirates or the agent that issued your ticket if a Dubai-Kuwait sector has been cancelled.
- Bookings made from 2 April 2026: Emirates states that one complimentary date change is available across cabins, within ticket validity. A fare difference may still apply.
- Online changes: Use Manage Your Booking or the Emirates app to view available options.
- When to contact Emirates: Ask for help if part of the itinerary is cancelled, no confirmed flight remains, or online changes are unavailable.
Do not submit a refund request until you have decided against rebooking. The refund form warns that submitting it cancels the entire booking.
If online changes are unavailable, contact Emirates Help or the agent that issued the ticket. Ask how the proposed change affects every flight on the same booking before accepting it.
For more route context, read our guide to Emirates services to and from Dubai.
Emirates contact information
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone (US) | +1 800 777 3999 |
| TTY (Text Type number) | +1 888 320 1576 |
| Online help | Emirates Help and Contact |
| Refund request | Emirates Refund Request Form |
| Manage booking | Manage Your Booking |
| Travel updates | Emirates Travel Updates |
| Local numbers | Find a local Emirates contact |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Emirates still flying from Dubai?
Yes. Emirates is operating flights from Dubai, but individual services can be cancelled. Dubai-Kuwait flights were among those affected on 19 and 20 July.
Check the email or SMS linked to your booking before travelling. See our Emirates operations guide for wider context.
Are Emirates flights to Kuwait operating?
Some services have been cancelled. Emirates cancelled all eight Dubai-Kuwait and Kuwait-Dubai flights on 19 July. EK857 and EK858 were also listed as cancelled on 20 July.
Further Dubai-Kuwait cancellations were reported for 21 July. Use your booking messages and contact Emirates or your agent for your itinerary. See our Kuwait travel advisory.
Can I get a refund if Emirates cancelled my flight?
Emirates’ conditions provide a choice of rebooking, agreed alternative transport, or a refund when it cancels a flight. Confirm which option applies to the whole itinerary before submitting a request.
If you booked directly, use the refund form. For an agent-issued ticket, contact the agent.
Can I rebook to a completely different destination?
Possibly. Emirates says it first tries the next available Emirates flight and may consider other options when none is available. A different destination is not automatically fee-free.
Ask Emirates or your agent to confirm the route, cabin, fare difference and effect on the rest of your itinerary before accepting a change.
My flight shows as “scheduled”. Should I still go to the airport?
If Emirates has sent a cancellation notice, do not go to the airport even if another schedule still shows the flight as planned. Contact Emirates or your agent if the messages conflict.
I booked through Wego or another third-party site. Who do I contact?
Contact the platform or travel agent that issued the ticket. Emirates directs refund and rebooking requests for agent-issued tickets back to that agent.
If you purchased an extra service directly from Emirates, you can request that service’s refund separately from Emirates.
Will Emirates pay for my hotel if I am stranded?
Hotel support is not automatic for every disruption. Emirates says Dubai Connect may be available for eligible Dubai connections lasting 10 to 24 hours.
For an eligible cancellation departing the EU or UK, care can include accommodation and airport transport when rebooking requires an overnight stay. Ask Emirates before paying, and keep reasonable receipts if assistance is unavailable.
Am I entitled to compensation under EC 261?
EC 261 can apply to an Emirates flight departing an EU airport. It does not generally cover an Emirates flight arriving in the EU from outside the bloc because Emirates is not an EU carrier.
Eligible cancellations include a choice of reimbursement or rerouting and care while waiting. Compensation may not be due if Emirates proves extraordinary circumstances caused the cancellation and reasonable measures could not prevent it.
Is it safe to travel to Dubai right now?
Regional conflict is escalating. The US carried out a ninth night of strikes on Iran on 20 July, and Iran responded with attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait.
The UK FCDO says the situation remains unpredictable. Follow local instructions, avoid security and military sites, and take shelter if told. The US State Department continues to rate the UAE Level 3: Reconsider Travel.
Read the latest government advice and check your travel insurance terms before making a decision. See our guide on travel safety in Dubai.
Can I get a refund even if my flight has not been cancelled?
Do not assume so. If the flight still operates and you cancel, the refund normally follows your fare conditions unless Emirates or your agent confirms a waiver for your booking.
Check the amount and any fees before submitting the refund form, because submission cancels the whole booking and cannot be reversed.
Why can flights change at short notice?
Airlines can reroute or cancel flights when airspace risk changes. EASA ended its broad Gulf conflict warning on 8 July but kept a medium-level regional risk note and separate high-risk warnings for Iran, Iraq and Lebanon.
Fighting resumed after that assessment, so airline decisions may change quickly. Use your booking notifications for your flight and review the EASA conflict-zone advisories for regional risk context.
Sources
- Emirates: changing and rebooking flights
- Emirates: disrupted travel questions
- Emirates Refund Request Form
- Emirates Help and Contact
- Emirates EU Cancellation Notice
- Emirates UK Cancellation Notice
- Your Europe: air passenger rights
- UK FCDO United Arab Emirates Travel Advice
- US State Department UAE Travel Advisory
- EASA: revised Middle East conflict-zone advisories
- AP: US and Iran exchange fresh attacks on 20 July 2026
- The National: Emirates Dubai-Kuwait cancellations
- Gulf News: UAE-Kuwait cancellations on 20 and 21 July
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
