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UAE airlines update entry, transit rules for Iranian nationals
Golden Visa holders were exempted from these restrictions, the airlines said on their official websites
- PUBLISHED: Wed 1 Apr 2026, 4:00 PM UPDATED: Thu 2 Apr 2026, 1:24 AM
[Editor's Note: This article was based on information available on Emirates' official website at the time of publication. The website has since updated, and some details in this story may no longer reflect the latest information. Read the latest travel guidance here.]
Some UAE airlines, including Emirates, Flydubai and Etihad, have updated the entry and transit rules for Iranian nationals on their official websites. Their websites state that Iranian passport holders are not allowed to enter and transit into the country at the moment.
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No reason was listed on the websites. However, the airlines did note that Golden Visa holders were exempted from these restrictions.
In its travel update, Emirates listed some more exemptions to the categories of Iranian nationals who can enter and transit. These are:
Spouses of a national of the UAE
Children of a female national of the UAE
Athletes, bank executives, doctors, families, engineers, investors, senior professionals or traders
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Khaleej Times has reached out to authorities to confirm any changes in entry, exit rules for Iranian nationals.
These updates were made amid the US-Israel-Iran war that began on February 28. Gulf countries, including the UAE, have been under Iranian attacks for over a month now, leading to loss of lives and damage to energy facilities.
On Wednesday, UAE recorded 12 deaths, 190 injuries since the beginning of the war. The country continues to deal with incoming missile and drones from Iran.
Air travel to and from the UAE have been restricted for the past month, while full-service and budget carriers continue to expand their flight networks gradually.
Despite operating on reduced schedules due to the regional war and airspace restrictions, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia continue to serve popular and key destinations across more than 250 cities.
