Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 and FlightAware reveals a sharp increase in flight cancellations to Dubai International Airport (DXB), affecting routes far beyond the immediate Middle East conflict zone. The surge follows widespread airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel due to the Iran–Israel crisis that began on June 13, causing significant ripple effects across global aviation networks.

On routes from Pakistan and India, cancellation rates have jumped fourfold from a pre-crisis average of 5% to about 20%. Flights from Karachi, Lahore, and Multan have been particularly affected, with many services scrubbed around June 7 as the crisis escalated. European connections, while less severely impacted, are also under strain.

 Routes from Istanbul and other major hubs now face cancellation rates of 5–10%, up from the usual 1–3%, indicating a broadening disruption across international air traffic networks.

The closure of critical air corridors has left airlines with difficult operational choices: reroute flights via much longer paths, adding hours to travel time, or cancel services entirely to prevent cascading disruptions to aircraft rotations and crew schedules. These detours not only increase fuel costs and logistical complexity but also reduce overall fleet flexibility, leading to more cancellations even on routes not directly affected by the closed airspaces.

The operational impact has been substantial. As of June 16, more than 700 flights across the region had been cancelled, including services from Dubai International (DXB), Dubai World Central (DWC), Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International, and Sharjah International Airport. On June 16 alone, 6% of flights from DXB were cancelled and 34% delayed. Low-cost carriers like Flydubai and Air Arabia have seen cancellation rates as high as 13% and 12%, respectively, with delays affecting up to 38% of flights on some days.

Major UAE airlines Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai, Wizz Air, and Air Arabia have all extended suspensions and cancellations to destinations including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan, with some routes suspended until June 30. Emirates has also confirmed that passengers with connecting flights to these destinations will not be accepted for travel until further notice. Flydubai and Air Arabia have similarly adjusted their timelines, with ongoing suspensions and gradual resumptions for certain routes.

The UAE authorities have responded by launching an emergency airport response plan to ensure passenger safety and manage the increased disruption. Travelers are being advised to check flight status regularly, allow extra time for airport procedures, and be flexible with travel plans. Dubai Airports has issued advisories about ongoing delays and cancellations, emphasizing efforts to minimize inconvenience.

Beyond the Middle East, secondary routes to destinations such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan have also been affected, with flights either cancelled or delayed due to rerouting around closed airspaces. The situation remains fluid, and airlines continue to prioritize long-haul and high-demand routes, leaving some secondary services more vulnerable to disruption.

Passengers are urged to stay updated through official airline channels and to expect continued delays and cancellations as the crisis evolves.

Thailand’s tourism sector is facing significant challenges as the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict disrupts travel from key Middle Eastern markets. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) warns that arrivals from five countries Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria could drop by as much as 50%, with early signs of decline already evident in popular destinations like Phuket due to airspace closures.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, governor of the TAT, explained that several major airlines flying to Thailand including Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Flydubai, Air Arabia, Oman Air, and SalamAir have rerouted flights to avoid conflict zones. Tehran-based Mahan Air has temporarily suspended its Bangkok and Phuket routes, causing the Iranian market to effectively vanish during this period.

These five countries represent about 7% of Middle Eastern visitors to Thailand, with the region (excluding Israel) accounting for 100,781 travelers in June 2024. The timing of the conflict coincides with the Eid al-Adha festival, a peak travel period that last year brought 7,165 tourists from these markets. This year, arrivals are expected to fall sharply to between 3,500 and 5,000 as tourists and airlines postpone trips amid uncertainty.

The TAT is also monitoring potential longer-term impacts on larger Middle Eastern markets such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, which together contribute 80% of Thailand’s Middle East tourism. Concerns over air travel safety could further dampen demand, affecting hotels in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, which are popular with Middle Eastern visitors.

If the conflict is resolved soon, arrivals may begin to recover in July. Some airlines, including Royal Jordanian Airlines, plan to launch new routes, such as the Amman-Bangkok service starting in August. However, a full recovery depends on how long and severe the conflict’s effects prove to be.

The TAT aims to attract 1.06 million visitors from the Middle East in 2025, an 11% increase over last year, and generate approximately 86 billion baht in revenue. As the situation evolves, Thailand’s tourism industry remains cautiously optimistic but vigilant about the challenges ahead.

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has reiterated that fees paid for exit and re-entry visas are strictly non-refundable, even if the visa is canceled—a policy that has been reconfirmed as thousands of expatriates plan their summer travel. This clarification was issued following a public inquiry from a resident, to which Jawazat responded unequivocally: “If the exit and re-entry visa is cancelled, the fees are non-refundable”.

Under current regulations, a single exit and re-entry visa costs 200 Saudi riyals and is valid for up to two months, with an additional 100 riyals for each extra month, provided the resident’s permit (iqama) remains valid. For multiple exit and re-entry visas, the fee is 500 riyals for up to three months, and 200 riyals for each additional month.

Notably, for residents who are already outside the Kingdom and need to extend their visas, the extension fees are doubled—200 riyals per month for a single visa and 400 riyals per month for a multiple visa.

The process for issuing, canceling, or extending these visas is managed digitally through the Absher platform. To cancel a visa, users must log in, access “Services for Sponsors,” select the relevant individual, and confirm the cancellation; however, the fee remains non-refundable regardless of the reason for cancellation.

Recent regulatory updates have also introduced higher fees for expatriates outside Saudi Arabia, including doubled extension charges and increased costs for renewing residency permits (Iqama) abroad. Penalties for not using or canceling a visa within the allowed time can be steep, starting at 1,000 riyals for the first offense and rising to 3,000 riyals for repeated violations. Overstaying outside Saudi Arabia after a visa expires incurs a fine of 100 USD per month.

These rules apply to all visa holders, including professionals, domestic workers, and dependents, and are part of broader changes to residency and travel regulations aimed at streamlining processes and ensuring compliance. Authorities urge residents to carefully plan their travel and visa applications, as changes or cancellations will not result in a refund of paid fees.

Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is showing promising signs of recovery, with a 33% year-on-year (YoY) increase in tourist arrivals during the first 10 days of June 2025. The island welcomed 43,962 visitors compared to 33,017 in the same period last year.

The daily average number of tourists also rose significantly, reaching 4,396 visitors per day, up from 3,302 during the first 10 days of June 2024. This uptick is encouraging, especially given that June is traditionally an off-season month for travel to Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) projects 177,257 arrivals for the entire month of June. However, industry stakeholders remain cautious due to a shortfall in arrivals during the first five months of 2025. From January to May, tourist arrivals missed projections by a cumulative 279,452 visitors, underscoring ongoing challenges in converting interest into actual visits despite improving macroeconomic conditions.

Between January 1 and June 10, 2025, Sri Lanka welcomed over 1.07 million tourists, marking a 16% increase compared to 927,196 visitors during the same period in 2024. Notably, arrivals in January, February, and May 2025 exceeded pre-pandemic levels seen in 2018, highlighting Sri Lanka’s renewed appeal as a travel destination.

Despite these positive trends, consistent growth remains elusive. A key hurdle has been the delay in launching a global tourism campaign, which has not been updated in 16 years. The much-anticipated ‘Nation Branding’ campaign, set to launch on June 26, is expected to boost Sri Lanka’s visibility in key markets and drive higher arrivals during the lucrative winter season.

In June 2025, India, the UK, and Bangladesh emerged as the top source markets, contributing 12,362, 3,740, and 2,717 tourists respectively. Year-to-date, India leads with 216,422 arrivals, followed by Russia (111,285) and the UK (100,014). These markets remain central to Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery strategy.

Sri Lanka aims to attract 3 million tourists and generate $5 billion in tourism revenue by the end of 2025. To meet this target, the industry needs to draw approximately 1.93 million visitors 64.2% of the annual goal during the remaining months of the year. So far, the sector has generated over $1.54 billion in revenue in the first five months, with $3.46 billion still needed to reach the target.

In 2024, Sri Lanka’s tourism revenue reached $3.16 billion, a substantial 53.2% increase from $2.07 billion in 2023, reflecting the sector’s strong recovery momentum.

Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming Nation Branding campaign and further developments in Sri Lanka’s tourism industry.

Starting July 1, 2025, residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) holding valid residency permits will be able to enter Armenia without a visa, marking a significant expansion of Armenia’s visa-free travel policy. Previously, only UAE nationals enjoyed visa-free access, while expatriate residents had to obtain visas on arrival.

The new policy applies to residents with residency permits valid for at least six months and allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period for tourism, leisure, or business purposes.

This change is part of a broader Armenian government initiative to enhance tourism, investment, and economic ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. The policy also aligns with Armenia’s visa-free arrangements for residents of the European Union, the Schengen Area, and the United States.

The Armenian cabinet approved this reform in May 2025 to facilitate easier travel for expatriates living in these economically significant regions and to boost Armenia’s attractiveness as a destination for short-term visitors and business travelers.

Armenia’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, combined with its rich cultural heritage—including UNESCO World Heritage monasteries like Geghard and Khor Virap—and natural attractions such as Lake Sevan and Dilijan National Park, makes it an appealing destination for UAE residents, particularly expatriates.

The country is accessible via direct flights from Dubai and other UAE cities through airlines such as flydubai, Air Arabia, and Wizz Air. Armenian tourism officials expect the visa-free entry for UAE residents to increase tourist arrivals, strengthen economic relations, and promote business engagements between Armenia and the GCC.

Lusine Gevorgyan, Chairperson of Armenia’s Tourism Committee, emphasized that this milestone reflects Armenia’s commitment to making the country more accessible to regional travelers seeking meaningful cultural and leisure experiences. The visa waiver is also expected to encourage more frequent travel and investment flows, with officials optimistic about a rise in direct flights and business cooperation.

In summary, from July 1, 2025, UAE residents with valid residency permits will benefit from visa-free entry to Armenia for up to 90 days, a move designed to enhance tourism, business, and bilateral relations between Armenia and the GCC region.

Vietnam’s tourism industry is making headlines in 2025, as the country rolled out the welcome mat for a staggering 9.2 million international visitors in just the first five months of the year. This impressive milestone marks a dramatic leap—up nearly 24% compared to the same period last year—and signals a vibrant comeback for Vietnam as a global travel hotspot.

The surge is powered by a wave of travelers from key Asian markets. China tops the list, sending over 1.58 million tourists between January and March—a jump of more than 78% year-on-year, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). South Korea follows closely, with 1.3 million arrivals, while India, Japan, and Taiwan are also showing robust growth.

Notably, neighboring countries like Cambodia and the Philippines have doubled their visitor numbers, reflecting a broader regional enthusiasm for Vietnam’s unique blend of culture, cuisine, and natural beauty.

European tourists are returning in droves, too, especially from visa-exempt countries like the UK, France, and Germany. Russia stands out with a remarkable 110% increase in arrivals. Meanwhile, long-haul travelers from the United States and Australia continue to flock to Vietnam’s vibrant cities and scenic landscapes.

This tourism boom is no accident. The Vietnamese government has actively relaxed visa policies, launched savvy promotional campaigns, and invested in infrastructure to make travel smoother and more appealing. The Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday in early 2025 provided an extra boost, with tourism revenues in some provinces surpassing VND 1 trillion (about US$39.5 billion) and foreign arrivals spiking by 30% during the festive season (VNAT, 2025).

With these record-breaking numbers, Vietnam’s tourism sector is not just bouncing back from the pandemic—it’s setting new benchmarks and fueling economic growth through job creation, increased spending, and stronger global connections. If this momentum continues, Vietnam is well on its way to becoming one of Asia’s most sought-after destinations (VNAT, VietnamPlus, 2025).