IRAN/MIDDLE EAST ESCALATION

Priority Worldwide would like to alert all of our partners and stakeholders regarding Saturday’s escalation in the Middle East. Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues, their families and our partners in the region for their safety.

The continued cessation of flights and closure of airspace widely across Israel, GCC nations and the wider Middle East region will already have caused significant disruption to the global air cargo industry, due to the prevalence of airline transit operations through the region. Any prolongation of the conflict and continued closure of regional airspace will cause unimaginable disruption to airline, cargo warehouse and global air cargo connectivity.

As of 0900UTC 01 March, there remains widespread airspace closure in many GCC nations as well as over Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Iran. Omani airspace remains open however there are reports of incidents there too. There are no flights landing in mega air hubs such as Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. Airports remain shut and airlines grounded with aircraft also stuck in countries around the world without ability to return to home bases.

Air cargo shipments face the possibility of being cancelled, re-routed, delayed, partially shipped or held at origin or destination warehouses without any notification. Airline schedules will continue to be disrupted until further notice. Air cargo warehouses both in the Middle East and globally will report backlog and likely refuse to accept new tender of air shipments. Security concerns in the region may also create additional insurance premiums, reduced capacity and a hike in rates.

There are also REUTERS reports of possible closure of Straits of Hormuz. If this situation transpires, there may also be significant impact on global container/regional container shipping, and global port hubs such as Jebel Ali will also face disruption, blanked sailings and re-routed port calls, longer transit times etc. The ocean industry may also introduce emergency security surcharges. The Red Sea impact and re-commencement of attacks on commercial shipping can also be expected

UAE Update 01 MAR 2026

Our company’s Dubai office is accounted for and will be taking necessary & appropriate caution to be able to trade in the coming days. All commercial flights remain grounded, all airports in the UAE remain closed due to closure of the UAE airspace. As of 01 March, there are reports of drone attacks in the Jebel Ali area as well as at the DXB airport area.

We expect significant disruption to shipments originating/terminating or transiting via UAE airports, or any shipments booked with UAE or GCC based airlines. Dubai Airports Authority has advised that DWC and DXB airports remain closed UFN. DNATA has confirmed that cargo terminal operations at both airports have been suspended, and that storage waiver fees are implemented as of 1300hr on 28 Feb.

Our UAE team and corresponding global sales, operations and Customer Service teams will do our upmost to inform clients of impacts in the coming days, and to look at possible solutions or re-routings. This is a fast-changing & dynamic situation & details can change quickly.