Iranian airlines are no longer allowed to operate flights to or from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since September 24, 2026. The UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi, attributes this decision to intensified U.S. sanctions that have been in place since September 8, 2026. While some media outlets have suggested that the UAE may have imposed a reciprocal no-fly zone for Emirati aircraft, this has not been officially confirmed by authorities. The flight suspension applies to all UAE airports, not just Dubai International. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced the measure as a temporary response to U.S. restrictions that limit Iranian carriers' access to international airports. The GCAA clarified that the move does not represent a full closure of air links between the UAE and Iran or a shutdown of Emirati airspace. Travelers immediately felt the impact, with flights canceled as early as the night of September 23. The GCAA has not provided a specific date for resuming flights, advising passengers to follow official updates for the latest information. The U.S. sanctions focus on critical services that Iranian airlines rely on outside their own country, such as refueling, ground support, freight handling, and commercial operations. On September 8, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on 36 entities tied to Iran’s aviation sector, including 27 airport and aviation-related organizations that had not previously been targeted. The U.S. government claims that Iran's commercial aviation industry is being used to transport weapons, personnel, and illegal goods, as well as to acquire Western-made aircraft and technology through shell companies. The U.S. warns that foreign businesses and financial institutions that work with these sanctioned entities could face penalties depending on their involvement. Specifically, the U.S. accuses Mahan Air, an Iranian airline, of supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The impact of these sanctions extends beyond the UAE. According to Reuters, Iranian airlines were also prevented from operating flights to Oman on September 24. Meanwhile, the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported disruptions to flights to Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iraq. Losing these layover points means Iranian carriers lose access to essential services that enable them to conduct international flights. Despite the U.S. sanctions, a Mahan Air flight, IRM093, operated by an Airbus A340-313 with registration EP-MMD, arrived in Guangzhou, China, from Tehran on September 23, 2026, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar24. China has expressed opposition to the U.S. measures, with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating that it opposes unilateral sanctions, which it views as unlawful and not authorized by the United Nations Security Council. However, Chinese officials have not confirmed whether they will continue to provide services to Iranian aircraft.