Air travel between the Maldives and key destinations in the Middle East has been temporarily suspended as escalating regional tensions prompt widespread airspace closures across the Gulf.

The disruption follows recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iran’s capital, Tehran, and subsequent retaliatory actions by Iran targeting U.S. installations. In response to the deteriorating security situation, several countries in the Middle East have closed their airspace, leading to the suspension of commercial flight operations across the region.

As a result, all flights scheduled to arrive in the Maldives from Middle Eastern hubs, as well as departures from the Maldives to those destinations, have been cancelled for the day.

The operator of Velana International Airport confirmed the cancellations. Managing Director of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, stated that travel to major Middle Eastern sectors has effectively come to a standstill.

He added that MACL is working closely with airlines and resort operators to mitigate the impact of the disruptions and assist affected passengers.

The suspension is expected to have wider implications for the Maldives’ tourism industry.

A considerable number of international carriers transporting visitors to the Maldives rely on transit hubs in the Gulf.

Major airlines operating on these routes include Qatar Airways and Emirates, both of which connect Europe and other regions to the Maldives via Middle Eastern airports.

In addition, carriers such as Lufthansa, SriLankan Airlines, and Turkish Airlines also facilitate tourist arrivals through transit points in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Airline agents have cautioned that prolonged instability and continued airspace restrictions across Gulf countries could result in a decline in tourist arrivals to the Maldives in the coming days, particularly from European and Middle Eastern markets.