Kenya Airways to Resume Dubai Flights After Months of Suspension

National carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced the resumption of flights to and from Dubai, marking the return of services after months of disruption caused by regional conflict and airspace closures.

In a statement, the airline said flights between Nairobi and Dubai will resume on May 14, 2026, with daily operations set to begin immediately.

“We will operate daily frequencies between Nairobi and Dubai, with additional frequencies to be introduced progressively in line with demand and operational requirements,” KQ said.

The airline assured passengers and crew that safety remains its top priority as operations resume.

The restoration of flights follows months of disruption linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East, which repeatedly affected operations in the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai airspace and major airports experienced several shutdowns amid the escalating conflict involving Iran. The most severe disruption occurred on February 28, 2026, following major United States and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, prompting the UAE to temporarily close its airspace.

The suspension left several Kenyan travellers stranded in Dubai, prompting Kenya Airways to intervene through evacuation efforts.

On March 4, 2026, the airline dispatched a special outbound flight from Nairobi to Dubai to facilitate the return of affected passengers. The evacuation flight, KQ305, later transported stranded Kenyans back to the country, arriving safely at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on March 5, 2026.