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Iran’s attacks caused flight disruptions in the Middle East, stranding 20,200. The UAE is providing emergency aid, including lodging and meals.
In case the flight is cancelled due to the conflict, you are likely to be offered a refund of the unused tickets or a free re-booking of the next flight. (PTI)
While situations is getting worse in the Middle East following the retaliatory attacks by Iran in neighboring countries targeting the US bases, several flight carriers have announced to reroute and cancel flights as a restriction measure. This regional sky closure has left thousands of passengers stranded in the Middle East countries, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
The UAE government, however, has come forward to support the tourists and travelers stranded due to flight cancellations. The government has activated emergency aviation support plans that cover all accommodation, meal and rebooking costs for passengers stuck in the country.
The authority said approximately 20,200 passengers have been impacted by the flight rescheduling so far. To support affected travellers, temporary accommodation has been arranged near major airport hubs, along with access to meals, beverages and other refreshment services while they await further updates.
Although domestic travel insurance is not mandatory, many international destinations require travellers to carry valid coverage. As a result, a large number of Indians travelling abroad are likely insured.
However, whether a claim is approved depends largely on two factors — the cause of the disruption and the timing of the policy purchase, as reported by Economic Times.
“In most standard travel insurance policies, coverage depends on the cause of disruption. If travellers are stranded in destinations such as Dubai, Iran, Qatar or other Middle East regions due to sudden airspace closures linked to geopolitical tensions, claims may be admissible under trip delay, trip interruption, or missed connection benefits — provided the policy was purchased before the event became a ‘known circumstance’,” Sarita Joshi, Head of Health and Life Insurance at Probus, told Economic Times.
However, if the disruption is directly attributed to an officially declared war or falls within the policy’s war exclusion clause, expenses such as extended hotel stays or rebooking costs may not be covered, she added, as reported by Economic Times. Some insurers may offer limited relief through specific add-ons or extensions, but this varies depending on the insurer and product structure. Timing of purchase and policy wording are therefore critical, she said, according to Economic Times.
Arun Ramamurthy, Co-founder of Staywell.Health, also told Economic Times that if the operational interruption is caused by a civil war, civil unrest, or armed conflict, it is generally not covered under standard travel insurance benefits.
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March 03, 2026, 12:48 IST
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