Planning an award trip through Doha or Dubai? As of October 19, 2026, the disruption affecting both airlines is mostly about Saudi Arabia, not the Doha and Dubai hubs themselves. Qatar Airways has suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam through October 24 and cut its Jeddah service. Emirates has cancelled and changed some of its Dubai flights to Saudi cities this week.
If your itinerary touches Saudi Arabia, check it today. If it doesn't, you still want a short routine before you book or fly. Here's where things stand and what to check.
Where Things Stand on October 19, 2026
Qatar Airways has extended the suspension of flights to and from Riyadh and Dammam until and including October 24, 2026. As reported, its Jeddah service has dropped from seven daily flights to four. The airline has told passengers with existing bookings to contact it within 48 hours of their scheduled departure, because schedules remain subject to change. Outside those cities, Qatar Airways is reported to be flying its network from Doha.
Emirates has cancelled and changed some Dubai flights to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, with services due to resume in stages from October 20 and 21, as reported. Emirates' own travel updates page, last updated October 5, 2026, lists the suspension of its codeshare flights with flydubai to and from Tel Aviv until further notice.
What to Check Before You Book
- Your exact flight number and date. Cancellations are listed flight by flight, and Emirates' Saudi changes are named by flight number.
- Whether a Saudi city is on your itinerary. That includes a connection or a codeshare, not only your final stop.
- The airline's own status page. Use Qatar Airways' and Emirates' flight status tools and travel update pages, not a booking site's summary.
- Your contact details in the booking. Emirates asks customers to keep their contact details correct in Manage Your Booking so they receive updates.
If the details are not published for your route, confirm on Qatar Airways or Emirates before you book.
If Your Flight Is Cancelled or Changed
Don't go to the airport on a cancelled flight. Use Manage Your Booking on the airline's site or app, or call the airline, and ask for the options on your ticket: a rebooking to a later date or a refund of the unused ticket. The terms depend on your fare and how you bought the ticket, so read them on the airline's own page before you accept anything.
A ticket bought through a travel agent is changed through that agent. A ticket bought with a credit card is also worth a look at that card's own trip protections, and keep every message and receipt.
Points Awards on Qatar Airways and Emirates
If the airline cancels an award flight, the fix runs through the program that issued the ticket. If you booked with Qatar Airways Privilege Club or Emirates Skywards, open your booking in that account and on the airline's own page for your flight. If you booked through a partner program, contact that program.
Before you transfer points for a new award, search the flight on the airline's own site for your date and confirm the seats show. Don't move points on a hunch that space will appear.
Your Next Step
Look up your flight number on the airline's own status page today and again the day before you fly. If a Saudi city is on your trip, check it now, because Qatar Airways has said its Riyadh and Dammam suspension runs through October 24 and schedules remain subject to change. Book directly through Qatar Airways or Emirates if you want one airline to answer for your whole itinerary.
Updated October 19, 2026: flight status.
