Since the early hours of Saturday, 28 February 2026, the United Arab Emirates has been subject to Iranian attacks. Dubai’s airspace was temporarily and partially closed as a precautionary measure. All flights at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport were suspended until further notice.
The UAE is prioritising the safety of the travellers and its residents. Within a quick timeframe, they have streamlined the refund process, rebooking, food, shelter, and more. The UAE visa system is operating normally since it is largely digital. However, many who are near visa expiry are wondering if they can go for a visa change Dubai or an in-country extension at a time like this.
This is an unprecedented disruption to one of the world’s busiest travel hubs. But it is not the end of Dubai’s visa and immigration system. Here is everything travellers and residents currently in the UAE need to know about visa change UAE services updates.
Is It Safe to Stay in Dubai Right Now?
NCEMA confirmed that the UAE’s crisis response system is operating within a structured national framework supported by advanced operational capabilities. Relevant entities are monitoring developments around the clock in full coordination with partners. According to Expat Media, authorities have commented:
“We reassure everyone that the situation is currently under control.”
NCEMA has urged the public to stay indoors in safe locations, follow official instructions, and rely only on verified sources for updates.
What you should do right now
- Monitor NCEMA UAE at ncema.gov.ae, and their official X (Twitter) account @NCEMAUAE
- Register with your country’s embassy
- Do not circulate unverified social media reports. The Dubai government warned against circulating unverified reports after old clips and images of previous fires in Dubai were shared online. They have urged the public to source information solely from official channels.
Are Visa Change Applications Still Processing?
This is the question most residents and long-term visitors on tourist or visit visas are asking. Especially those who are nearing their visa expiry. The answer to visa run Dubai as of 2 March, 2026, is nuanced.
UAE immigration services, such as ICP and GDRFA, have not announced a suspension of visa processing. Government digital infrastructure, including the ICP Smart Services portal and the GDRFA Dubai platform, remains operational. It is safe to say that the visa renewal Dubai applications would not be outright rejected.
However, the execution of visa changes that depend on physical exit and re-entry is currently difficult because:
- The conflict has led to the closure of key airport hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
- Airspace or airports in Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates were closed, according to flight tracking sites and government agencies.
- Currently, more than 2,000 flights to and from seven key airports in the Gulf area have been cancelled.
In practical terms
- In-country status change applications: These are purely digital, remain in the queue and should not be further delayed by the crisis. Check your ICP or GDRFA application status online.
- B2B Visa Change: Oman is being seen as a country that escaped the wrath of Iran. Oman does not host a major permanent US combat base directly involved in offensive operations against Iran. However, even though the borders remain open at the time of writing the article, accessing them via a long journey can prove to be difficult in this climate.
What Happens If My Visa Expires During the Crisis?
Under normal circumstances, the fine is AED 50 per day from the moment your visa expires, with no buffer. However, since this is an exceptional turn of events, we are optimistic about concessions. Especially since the UAE has been helpful to all the travellers stranded in such a difficult period.
During COVID-19 (2020), the UAE immigration suspended automatic overstay fines for all travellers stranded by the pandemic’s border closures. It was one of the best government-issued UAE overstay fine waiver during that period.
While no formal overstay waiver has been announced at the time of publication, the circumstances for one are present. Authorities may be working with immigration departments to ensure no penalties are imposed for overstays caused by flight cancellations.
The UAE government has already taken extraordinary financial steps to support stranded visitors. The General Civil Aviation Authority announced that the state is bearing all hosting and accommodation costs for affected and stranded passengers. According to the latest updates, about 20,200 passengers have been assisted with temporary lodging, refreshments, and rebooking.
However, just to be on the safe side, if there are no updates regarding the UAE visa renewal in the next 5 days and you are nearing the expiry, it would be wise to go for an in-country extension or an Immediate Oman visa change by bus.
What To Do If Your Visa Is Expiring or Has Expired?
- Document everything. Screenshot your cancelled or suspended flights. Keep all airline correspondence. This forms your paper trail for a fine waiver application.
- Do Not Go To The Airport: Do not attempt to travel to the airport unless you have a confirmed, operating flight and official guidance from UAE authorities that airspace has reopened.
- Check ICP and GDRFA portals (icp.gov.ae, gdrfa.gov.ae) and the official UAE government portal (u.ae): For any UAE emergency visa extension announcement.
- Contact A Licensed Travel Agency: During this time of crisis, you need expert help to navigate the situation safely and extend your stay in the UAE. Call us +971 56 505 7176 for a free consultation regarding any of your queries.
- Settle any pre-existing fines: Settle every pre-existing overstay/traffic fine. It can block your entry or delay the visa change UAE process even more.
Service Status Update: A2A, B2B Visa Change, In-Country Extension
A2A (Airport-to-Airport) Visa Change
Status: Suspended. Airports are physically closed.
The A2A visa change 2026 process requires both Dubai International Airport (or Sharjah Airport for Air Arabia) to be operational and the destination country’s airspace to be open. Emirates and FlyDubai confirmed that all flights were suspended until 2 March at 15:00 UAE time at a minimum. Low-cost carrier Wizz Air suspended all flights to and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman up to and including 7 March.
How to do visa extension during flight suspension UAE? Based on the trajectory of current ceasefire discussions and the precedent of short-term regional disruptions, A2A services could resume within days of airports reopening. However, it depends on airport safety.
B2B (Border-to-Border/Oman Bus) Visa Change
Status: Operational
Oman was one of the unaffected areas in this situation. Their borders remain open and operational at the time of writing. You need licensed travel agencies with extensive experience in the Oman visa change by bus 2026 to safely perform exit and entry.
In-Country Extension / Status Change (Without Exit)
Status: Operational
The inside-country visa extension does not depend on airports or airspace. These are administrative applications processed digitally. If you already submitted an in-country application, it remains in the queue. ICP and GDRFA digital portals are operational. Choose a licensed visa agency to handle the situation since a small mistake can delay your application.
The Bigger Picture
Visa change services will resume. The question is not whether, but when. The airspace situation is the critical variable, and that depends on the speed of diplomatic resolution to the broader US-Iran-Israel conflict.
In the meantime, stay safe, stay informed through official sources, document everything related to your travel disruption, and work with a licensed visa change UAE agency to understand your options. The administrative infrastructure of UAE immigration is intact. Your visa situation is manageable. The priority right now is physical safety first.
For urgent visa help Dubai, call RenewVisa at +971 56 505 7176 for a free consultation.
FAQs
Q1. Can I still do a visa change in the UAE during the Iran crisis?
A1. Yes. In-country visa changes and extensions remain available because they are processed digitally. However, airport-to-airport (A2A) visa runs may be temporarily affected by flight suspensions.
Q2. Is the Dubai airport visa change currently suspended?
A2. Due to regional airspace closures and airline suspensions, many A2A visa runs are temporarily disrupted.
Q3. What is the safest visa change option right now in the UAE?
A3. The safest option during the crisis is an in-country visa extension or status change.
Q4. Will the UAE waive overstay fines during the Iran–Israel conflict?
A4. As of now, no blanket waiver has been officially announced.
Q5. How urgently should I renew my UAE visit visa right now?
A5. If your visa expires within the next 7 days, act immediately. Processing times may fluctuate due to the regional situation.
