Operational Alert: Middle East Tensions & Impacts on the Global Logistics Industry

Air freight impacts

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Regionwide airspace closures are impacting operations at or through airports across much of the Middle East, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, and Syria, leading to flight cancellations and partial or full shutdowns.

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• Iran: Airspace closed; all flights cancelled.
• Iraq: Airspace closed; all flights cancelled or rerouted.
• Israel: Airspace and operations shut down amid conflict escalation.
• Qatar: Airport effectively closed.
• Bahrain: Airspace closed; operations halted.
• Syria: Airspace closed; significant restrictions.
• Kuwait: Operations halted until further notice.

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Several other countries are operating with significant restrictions, including:

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• United Arab Emirates (UAE): Major airports, including Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum (DWC), have heavily restricted services but said it was closing its skies “partially and temporarily.”
• Saudi Arabia: Operational but under airspace pressure as rerouted traffic from UAE, Qatar, Iraq, and Israel is increasing congestion.
• Jordan: Open, but airspace dependent as it sits between multiple restricted airspaces in Israel, Iraq, and Syria.

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Ocean freight impacts

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Critical maritime chokepoints and transit routes have been affected, including:

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• Strait of Hormuz: Functionally closed; shipping traffic has been drastically reduced or halted due to security threats with may vessels anchoring outside the strait.
• Bab el-Mandeb/Suez Canal: Major carriers have suspended Suez Canal transits and are rerouting through the Cape of Good Hope, effectively reducing commercial traffic through the Red Sea.

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As of this morning, other major ports are either partially or fully operational.

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• UAE: All ports are operating normally and at full capacity.
• Kuwait: No alerts or notifications of stoppage from Kuwait Port authorities.
• Oman: Port operations are partially restricted. Asyad Dry Dock, Duqm and General Cargo Terminal (GCT) at Port of Salalah suspended operations until further notice. Ports at Muscat, Mina Al Fahal, Sohar, Port of Duqm and Salalah (CT terminal), Qalhat LNG Terminal, Sur & OMIFCO Terminal, Sur remain open and operational.
• Saudi Arabia: There are presently no alerts or warnings issued by the local port authorities. All operational activities are functioning at full capacity.
• Bahrain: All port movements are temporarily suspended, including pilotage services.
• Qatar: All ports operating normally.
• Egypt: The Suez Canal and all Egyptian ports remain fully operational.
• Jordan: Operations remain stable, but authorities continue to issue general public-awareness guidelines purely as precautionary measures.
• Pakistan: All ports remain fully operational.
• Iraq: No damage at Umm Qasr. No port restrictions or emergency measures in place.
• Lebanon: Beirut and Tripoli ports are open and operating as usual.

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What You Need to Know

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This is a developing situation that is very fluid and subject to change. We are continuing to monitor these impacts in real time. Any clients who are directly affected by these ongoing tensions in the Middle East will be directly contacted by their ICAT representative and/or account manager.

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