DOHA - The European Union Aviation Safety Agency on July 14 advised covered operators not to use specified Gulf airspace until July 29.
The active Conflict Zone Information Bulletin covers all altitudes and flight levels in the Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and Emirates flight information regions. It also covers airspace over Gulf of Oman waters within the Muscat region west of longitude 58 degrees east. EASA said it may review the bulletin before its July 29 expiry.
The recommendation applies to operators governed by Commission Regulation (EU) 965/2012 that plan to fly in the affected airspace. It also applies to third-country operators authorised by EASA when flying under that authorisation to, from or within the European Union. The agency advised both groups not to enter the listed airspace.
EASA cited unpredictable military activity involving missiles, drones, combat aircraft and activated air-defence systems. It identified risks from misidentification, unintended engagement, interception activity and falling debris, with military action potentially occurring with little or no warning. The agency said the covered states “may be directly exposed to Iranian missile and drone attacks.”
Reuters reported on July 14 that EASA had reinstated and tightened its warning after fighting resumed. EASA withdrew its previous, geographically wider bulletin on July 8 following a brief easing of regional tensions.
That earlier notice told operators not to use Iranian, Iraqi and Lebanese airspace and to exercise caution over Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The warning reaches a region containing major international aviation hubs. Dubai Airports said in a February 11 release that Dubai International handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025. The airport ended the year connected to 291 destinations across 110 countries through 108 international airlines.
India was Dubai International’s largest country market in 2025 with 11.9 million passengers. Mumbai and New Delhi were also among the airport’s five busiest city markets, recording 2.4 million and 2.2 million passengers respectively. Meanwhile, traffic linked to China reached 2.5 million.
