Qatar Airways has temporarily halted flight operations after Qatari authorities closed the country’s airspace amid escalating military tensions across the Gulf region.
The airline announced the suspension in a statement on X, stating that services will resume once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority declares the airspace safe for reopening. It said a further update will be issued on March 3 by 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC). Passengers have been advised to check the latest flight status on the airline’s official website or mobile application.
The disruption follows a series of Iranian strikes targeting key Gulf cities, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Doha in Qatar, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The attacks came hours after joint United States–Israeli military operations against Iran, intensifying hostilities in the region.
Reports indicated that fresh explosions were heard in the United Arab Emirates’ most populous city after an earlier round of blasts on the same day. Qatari authorities confirmed that air defence systems intercepted projectiles aimed at its territory.
In a statement issued on X, Qatar’s Ministry of Interior said initial field assessments recorded no casualties or material damage in residential areas. Authorities also cautioned residents against approaching or handling unidentified objects or debris.
Amid the deteriorating security situation, the US Department of State elevated its travel advisory for Qatar and Bahrain to Level 3. On March 1, the advisory for Qatar was raised from Level 1 to Level 3, authorising the departure of non-emergency US personnel and their family members due to heightened security risks.
The revised advisory urged travellers to reconsider travel to Qatar because of the threat of armed conflict. It stated that since hostilities between the United States and Iran began on February 28, the risk of drone and missile attacks from Iran has persisted, alongside significant disruption to commercial aviation.
The unfolding developments signal mounting instability in the Gulf, with aviation services, civilian movement and diplomatic engagements increasingly affected by the expanding conflict.
