DUBAI – The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates has issued a critical NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) concerning the use of the country's airspace, in line with security dynamics in the region.

The decision, taken in the wake of the missile attack that occurred in recent hours, is intended to keep civil aviation safety at the highest possible level.

A “Corridor” Era for Flight Routes

According to the newly published notice, air traffic will be subject to specific restrictions:

  • Validity period: The measures will be in effect from 4 May to 11 May.

  • Implementation: While the airspace will not be fully closed, aircraft will only be permitted to fly through designated safe corridors.

  • Scope: The measure, which may affect major hubs such as Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH), covers all civil and commercial flights.

Normalisation Steps Suspended

The development marks an unexpected turning point for the aviation sector. Only a few days ago, the UAE Civil Aviation Authority had announced that all restrictions on the airspace had been lifted and that flight traffic had returned to normal. The latest attack, however, has prompted security protocols to be raised to the highest level once again.

What is a NOTAM? It is a notice issued to inform aviation personnel in a timely manner of the existence, status or change of any facility, service, procedure or hazard.

Notice to passengers: Travellers flying between 4 and 11 May are strongly advised to contact their airlines to check the status of their flights.