Chaos at Doha and Dubai Airports – Thousands of Travelers Trapped

Flight schedules at two of the world’s busiest airports in Doha and Dubai are experiencing massive disruptions today (24/06/2025). Thousands of travelers are waiting for hours in lines at the airports in Doha and Dubai, facing significant delays and flight cancellations following the temporary closure of airspace on Monday. Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait closed their airspace late last night after Iran struck an American military base in Doha, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute hundreds of flights, leaving stranded passengers in multi-hour waits. The Dubai airports briefly suspended services. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was implemented, urging both sides not to violate it, raising hopes for an end to the 12-day war, though hostilities continued with reports of attacks in both countries. “I haven’t slept in 19 hours. And I’ve been waiting in this line for over 9 hours,” said Lily Rogers, 21, who waited in a queue about 200 meters long at Doha’s Hamad International Airport. The psychology student traveling for holidays in Southeast Asia said those in line were only offered water during the wait. Virgin Australia estimates over 25,000 passengers are stranded in Doha. Queues were so large that scuffles broke out as some passengers attempted to take others’ places, Reuters reported. About 250 flights were canceled at Hamad Airport, while another 238 were delayed, according to FlightRadar24. Large queues also formed at Dubai International, the world’s busiest airport, where approximately 145 flights were canceled and over 450 experienced delays, per FlightRadar24 data. Qatar Airways announced it is “making progress in restoring its schedule” with potential issues expected until June 26. Neither the Dubai airports nor the Dubai government press office have responded to requests for comment. Middle Eastern airports are among the world’s busiest, covering an area from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean and serving as a hub connecting Europe and Asia. The region has taken on greater importance since the Russia-Ukraine war began, forcing airlines to avoid airspace over both countries. Last month’s Israeli strikes against Iran already prompted airlines like British Airways and Lufthansa to halt flights to certain Middle Eastern destinations due to airspace closures and safety concerns. Restrictions and airspace closures caused ripple effects beyond the region, as much passenger traffic passes through Hamad Airport to other destinations, explained independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie based in Asia. Only 22% of passengers traveling via the airport had Qatar as their final destination in 2024, according to airport data.