Young Ghanaians who hoped to leave for the Emirates this weekend would have to put that dream on hold for a while.
For some, it took months of savings in addition to loans or support from family. That dream did not materialize for those scheduled to travel this weekend because of a conflict between the US and Iran. Their dreams are now hanging in the balance as the turmoil in the Middle East has led to the closure of the international airports of the United Arab Emirates.
A recruitment agency that helps young Ghanaians to travel to the Gulf Countries has confirmed to The High Street Journal that many young Ghanaians were scheduled to depart for Dubai this weekend and the coming weeks. These affected people, many of them traveling to seek greener pastures in the Emirates, are now recalibrating their plans.
All flights, including the popular Emirates, have all been suspended, leaving many Ghanaians stranded, frustrated, or backed into a corner of uncertainty.
The sudden shutdown of both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), some of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, came on February 28, 2026, after the Gulf nation’s civil aviation authority imposed a temporary closure of national airspace amid escalating Middle East tensions and regional military strikes.
All arrivals and departures were halted “until further notice,” with authorities urgently advising travellers not to proceed to the airports.
For many Ghanaians, this isn’t just a disruption to global travel. It’s a major hit to dreams of seeking greener pastures in Dubai or the UAE.
Holiday Plans Scattered
Dubai has, in recent years, become one of the most popular destinations for Ghanaian holiday‑makers and transit travellers. Every week, charter flights and scheduled services ferried hundreds of Ghanaians to the city.
It is mainly for leisure, shopping holidays, family visits, or as a gateway to Europe, Asia, and beyond. But those plans are now on hold.
This means that the itineraries of many Ghanaians who were scheduled to travel to Dubai this weekend or in the coming week have been thrown into disarray.
‘Greener Pastures’ Dreams Stall
For others, Dubai represents more than a holiday. It is a place of opportunities to better their lives.
For some time now, scores of young Ghanaians travel regularly to the UAE for work, taking on jobs in hospitality, retail, domestic work, construction, and other sectors in hopes of earning better wages and supporting families back home.
With international flights paused, many now feel their plans for a new start hang in the balance.
With flight operators grounded and major carriers such as Emirates and flydubai also suspending operations, hopeful workers are left waiting in limbo.
A Wider Impact Beyond Tourism
The closure has ripple effects beyond individual travellers. Emirates, one of the world’s biggest long‑haul airlines, has halted flights to and from Dubai, and flydubai has also stopped operations, severely disrupting connections that serve millions globally and particularly linking Africa to the Gulf and beyond.
At the Accra International Airport, several flights bound for Dubai were cancelled at short notice, stranding passengers and leaving airport lounges and ticket counters flooded with anxious travellers seeking answers.
For instance, Dubai-bound Emirates flight EK 788, scheduled to depart Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra at 7:15 pm GMT on Saturday, 28 February 2026, was cancelled.
The flight was due to leave from Terminal 3 and arrive at Dubai International Airport (DXB) at 6:50 am local time (+04) on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
Uncertainty and the Human Cost
Meanwhile, the government has urged Ghanaians to avoid non‑essential travel to the Middle East amid the worsening situation, underscoring a safety concern that now overshadows holiday plans and migration ambitions alike.
For now, Ghanaians with plans of travelling to Dubai are either counting losses, cancelling, calling embassies, and airlines. Workers hoping for a new start abroad are left weighing whether to wait indefinitely or reroute their futures elsewhere.
