Air travel between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has resumed following the reopening of Pakistan’s airspace on May 10, 2025, after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Pakistan and India.
Flights operate from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah to multiple Pakistani cities. However, over 150 cancellations and logistical challenges, including the closure of the Rahim Yar Khan air route, continue to disrupt operations.
UAE aviation authorities confirmed that major airports have restarted Pakistan-bound flights. Dubai Airport is servicing Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot, Peshawar, and Islamabad, with the first Islamabad flight departing May 12 and Peshawar services starting May 13. Abu Dhabi has resumed flights to Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, though some are rescheduled, with normal operations expected by May 12. Sharjah Airport’s national airline has also restored routine services to Pakistan.
Despite airspace reopening, Pakistan’s aviation sector faces significant disruptions. On May 11, 45 flights from Karachi (39 international), 38 from Lahore (32 international), 40 from Islamabad (36 international), and others from Peshawar, Multan, and Sialkot were cancelled. Major carriers axed 125 inbound and outbound flights, rerouting many via Quetta due to the Rahim Yar Khan corridor’s closure until 5 a.m. on May 18, caused by an Indian airstrike’s partial damage to an airport on May 9.
Airlines prioritise Hajj flight continuity despite challenges, ensuring pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia. The Pakistan Airports Authority announced the airspace reopening after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire, following Pakistan’s Operation Bunyaan al Marsoos and India’s strikes on Pakistani airbases. The ceasefire, mediated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, halted hostilities, but flight schedules remain unstable as airlines address logistical hurdles.
