Doha Chaos Strands Thousands as Dubai Sees Long Queues

Air travel across the Middle East faced massive disruptions on Tuesday as thousands of passengers were stranded at major hubs in Doha and Dubai following the temporary closure of airspace. The closures were triggered late Monday after Iran launched a strike on a U.S. military base in Doha, prompting Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait to shut their skies.

Hamad International Airport in Doha and Dubai International Airport, two of the world’s busiest, were hit hard by flight cancellations and delays. Over 250 flights were canceled and another 238 delayed at Doha, while Dubai saw around 145 cancellations and more than 450 delays, according to FlightRadar24.

Passengers described chaotic scenes, with lines stretching hundreds of meters. One traveler, Lily Rogers, said she waited over nine hours without food and only received water. Virgin Australia estimated over 25,000 travelers were stuck in Doha alone.

The disruption follows escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, though a ceasefire has been announced. Airlines including British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air India have suspended or rerouted flights due to safety concerns.

Airports in the region serve as key transit points between Europe and Asia. Hamad International typically serves connecting passengers, with only 22% staying in Qatar, adding to the ripple effect of delays worldwide.

Dubai Airports and government officials have yet to comment. Qatar Airways said it is working to restore its schedule, but disruptions may continue through June 26.

Aviation analysts say rerouting remains challenging, especially for Indian carriers blocked from Pakistani airspace since April.

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