Middle East Chaos: 173 Flights Axed, 31 Delayed – Gulf Air, Qatar, Saudia Grounded

> **Quick Summary**
> - **Middle East Airports:** 173 flights cancelled and 31 delayed due to severe weather at key hubs in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
> - **Airlines Hit Hardest:** Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, and Saudia – routes to Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, and more disrupted.
> - **Traveler Impact:** Thousands stranded; check status immediately via airline apps or [FlightAware](https://[FlightAware](https://flightaware.com).com).
> - **What's Next:** Monitor updates as weather persists – rebooking options available through airlines.

Severe weather has triggered widespread chaos across Middle East airports, with **173 flights cancelled** and **31 delayed** as of March 18, 2026. Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, and Saudia bore the brunt, stranding passengers at major hubs in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Travelers face major disruptions on key regional routes – here's what you need to know.

King Fahad International Airport (Bahrain International Airport, BAH/OBBI), key Saudi hubs like King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED/OEJN) in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport (RUH/OERK) in Riyadh, plus Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH/OTHH), all reported massive issues. According to [FlightAware](https://[FlightAware](https://flightaware.com).com) data, the cancellations span Gulf, European, African, and South Asian connections.

## Gulf Air Disruptions: Bahrain and Beyond

**Gulf Air** faced the heaviest hits, cancelling multiple departures from Bahrain to Saudi cities and Doha. Passengers reported long waits at Bahrain International Airport (BAH/OBBI) as weather grounded operations.

Routes affected include Bahrain to Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Doha. Gulf Air also suspended services from smaller Saudi fields like Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Regional Airport in Buraidah.

## Qatar Airways Cancellations Grip Doha and Saudi Links

**Qatar Airways** axed numerous flights from Jeddah (JED), Riyadh (RUH), and Medina (MED/OEAM) to Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha. These cuts disrupted high-frequency Gulf routes, leaving connecting passengers in limbo.

From Medina’s Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport (MED), Qatar Airways dropped multiple Doha-bound services. Jeddah saw afternoon and evening slots wiped out, per real-time tracking.

## Saudia Grounds Regional Network

**Saudia**, Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier, extended cancellations to destinations like Amman, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Moscow, and Peshawar until at least March 4 (with ongoing impacts). From Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudia halted flights to Dubai (DXB/OMDB), Kuwait (KWI/OKKK), and Abu Dhabi (AUH/OMAA).

Saudia also cancelled domestic hops, such as Gizan to Riyadh. The airline notified affected passengers directly and urged status checks.

## Most-Affected Routes at a Glance

- Doha (DOH) – over 20 cancellations from Jeddah, Riyadh, Medina, Buraidah
- Dubai (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Saudia and Gulf Air routes from Saudi hubs
- Bahrain (BAH) – Multiple daily slots from Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah
- Kuwait (KWI) and Amman (AMM/OJAM) – Regional links grounded
- Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad) – IndiGo supports but primary Gulf carriers lead cuts

## Full Flight Data Tables

### Cancellations from Jeddah (JED/OEJN)
| Airline | Flight Route | Notes |
|---------|--------------|-------|
| Qatar Airways | JED-DOH | Multiple afternoon/evening slots |
| Gulf Air | JED-BAH | Daytime services |
| Saudia | JED-DXB, JED-KWI, JED-AUH, JED-DMM | Regional Gulf |
| IndiGo | JED-AMD, JED-DEL | India links |

### Cancellations from Riyadh (RUH/OERK)
| Airline | Flight Route | Notes |
|---------|--------------|-------|
| Qatar Airways | RUH-DOH | Several daily |
| Gulf Air | RUH-BAH | Multiple |
| Saudia | RUH-DOH, RUH-BAH | Extended suspension |
| IndiGo | RUH-HYD, RUH-DEL, RUH-BLR, RUH-BOM | South Asia |
| Lufthansa | RUH-MUC | Europe |

### Medina (MED/OEAM) and Others
| Airport | Airline | Route | Notes |
|---------|---------|-------|-------|
| MED | Qatar Airways | MED-DOH | Cross-day |
| MED | Gulf Air | MED-BAH | Regional |
| GIZ | Saudia | GIZ-RUH | Domestic |
| BUR | Gulf Air | BUR-BAH | Limited ops |

## Key Facts Box

| Detail | Data |
|--------|------|
| Total Cancellations | 173 flights |
| Total Delays | 31 flights |
| Primary Airports | Bahrain (BAH/OBBI), Jeddah (JED/OEJN), Riyadh (RUH/OERK), Doha (DOH/OTHH), Medina (MED/OEAM) |
| Airlines Affected | Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia, IndiGo, others |
| Main Causes | Severe weather, airspace issues |
| Destinations Hit | Doha, Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Moscow, Peshawar, India/Europe/Africa |

## Traveler Action Checklist

1. **Check your flight status** via airline app or [FlightAware](https://[FlightAware](https://flightaware.com).com) before heading to the airport.
2. **Contact your airline directly** to rebook — activate disruption waivers proactively via app.
3. **Know your rights** — [US DOT](https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer) mandates full cash refunds on cancelled flights, not just vouchers; check [US DOT Aviation Consumer Protection](https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer) for international rules.
4. **Keep all receipts** for meals, hotels, or alternative transport — may be reimbursable.
5. **Consider alternative airports** — Dubai (DXB) or Abu Dhabi (AUH) as backups for Gulf travel; monitor [FAA](https://www.faa.gov) for global advisories.

## Why This Matters

These cancellations highlight the Middle East's vulnerability to weather and regional tensions, rippling to global networks. Doha and Bahrain serve as critical connectors – disruptions here delay Europe-Asia itineraries. Airlines prioritize safety, but passengers face rebooking scrambles amid peak travel.

Saudia stressed passenger notifications and safety first. Qatar Airways awaits airspace clearance from its civil authority.

## Challenges and Risks

High demand post-disruption strains remaining flights. Limited seats on alternatives like Dubai could spike fares. Weather forecasts suggest ongoing issues, per aviation trackers.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Which airline is worst hit by Middle East cancellations?**  
Gulf Air leads with over 120 cuts from Bahrain, followed by Qatar Airways (Jeddah-Doha routes) and Saudia (Gulf extensions to March 4). Check [FlightRadar24](https://www.[FlightRadar24](https://www.flightradar24.com).com) for live counts – 173 total as of March 18, 2026.

**What are my refund rights for these cancellations?**  
Under DOT rules, passengers get full cash refunds for cancellations, not vouchers. EU261 applies for Europe ties; contact airlines immediately. Saudia notifies directly.[https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer]

**How do international connections from Qatar or Saudi suffer?**  
Doha (DOH) and Riyadh (RUH) hubs delay Africa/Europe/India legs. Reroute via Dubai if possible; up to 8,000 stranded in Qatar previously.

**When will Middle East flights resume normally?**  
Saudia extends to March 4 min; others await weather/airspace clearance. Updates expected daily – Qatar by March 4 morning.

## Related Travel Guides

[Saudi Arabia Flight Cancellations March 2026](/saudi-arabia-flights-cancelled-mar-2026)  
[Qatar Airways Route Disruptions](/qatar-airways-disruptions-2026)  
[Gulf Air Bahrain Airport Updates](/gulf-air-bahrain-cancellations-mar-2026)

**Disclaimer:** Data sourced from [FlightAware](https://flightaware.com) and airline statements as of March 18, 2026 – verify with airline or authority before travel.