Israeli Airlines to Operate Evacuation Flights from Dubai Amidst Transit Resumption

Israeli airlines are stepping in to operate flights to and from Dubai following the suspension of services by Arab carriers. This comes after an incident involving a Flydubai aircraft, which prompted an investigation and led to the halt of flights by Emirati companies to Israel. The situation had stranded thousands of Israelis in the UAE who were there for the Sukkot holiday.

To address this, Israeli airlines will begin "organized evacuations" of citizens from the Emirates. El Al will operate two special flights on Friday at a fixed price of $249 for a "Lite" fare. The first flight departs Tel Aviv in the morning and returns from Dubai at 11:00 AM, with a second flight leaving Dubai at 1:00 PM. Passengers are limited to hand luggage only, with checked baggage to be transported separately due to inspection difficulties.

Arkia airline has also announced the sale of tickets for these flights. The decision to allow Israeli flights was made by Israeli security services, who had previously been unable to establish their own security perimeter at Dubai Airport, leading to a ban on Israeli airlines flying to the UAE since early 2026.

Meanwhile, Emirates has announced the resumption of transit flights to Israel via Dubai. The airline had previously suspended these services to prevent passengers from becoming stranded in the UAE due to the lack of air traffic with Israel. With Israeli airlines now operating flights, Emirates will reinstate connecting flights to Israel from other countries.