Airline Emirates says Iranian nationals barred from entering or transiting UAE

Emirates and Flydubai have restricted entry and transit for Iranian nationals in the UAE, with exceptions for holders of the UAE Golden Visa, amid rising regional tensions.

Jamie Freed/Reuters

1 April 2026 at 05:10:01

Airline Emirates says Iranian nationals barred from entering or transiting UAE

An Emirates aircraft is seen through the window of a Middle East Airlines airplane at Cairo International Airport, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Cairo, Egypt, March 31, 2026.

Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Dubai-based airline Emirates' website said on Wednesday that Iranian nationals were not allowed to enter or transit the United Arab Emirates.

The website of another carrier, Flydubai, said Iranian nationals holding a UAE "Golden Visa" were exempt and permitted to enter and transit the country.

The restrictions come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Gulf states.

-Jamie Freed/Reuters