Kenyans in Dubai now have a chance to return home and escape escalating tensions between the US, Israel and Iran following the ongoing conflict that has claimed civilian lives.

This comes after national carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) announced on Wednesday afternoon that it will operate special repatriation flights between Nairobi and Dubai on March 4 and March 5, 2026, after receiving slot approval from Dubai Airport authorities.

In a customer update issued on March 4, the airline said the flights follow guidance from United Arab Emirates authorities allowing limited operations to resume at Dubai International Airport beginning March 2. Only a small number of flights have been cleared to operate under the arrangement.

KQ emphasized that the flights are strictly for repatriation and not part of its regular schedule.

“These are not regular scheduled flights, but repatriation services for customers who are citizens or residents of the UAE to travel out of Nairobi and vice versa,” the airline said in part.

The carrier urged passengers in Dubai not to proceed to the airport until they receive confirmed departure details.

Travellers were also advised to check their flight status on the airline’s official website and update their contact information via the “Manage Booking” option to facilitate direct communication.

Kenya Airways apologised for the disruption, assuring customers that the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority.

The airline reiterated that normal scheduled flights to Dubai have not yet resumed and pledged to issue further updates once additional approvals are granted by UAE authorities.

The temporary measures follow KQ’s suspension of all Dubai flights on February 28, 2026, after the closure of UAE airspace amid escalating regional tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.