From Abu Dhabi Scam Alerts To Oman Air’s Additional Flights, 5 GCC Updates

There are a number of changes in the Gulf that are influencing travel, security and holiday plans this week. Airline delays that hit thousands of passengers and official announcements of Eid Al Fitr holidays, governments and businesses worldwide in the region are making swift decisions to ensure that services are running well. The following are 5 GCC updates.

5 GCC Updates For You

1. Philippine Airlines And Cebu Pacific Middle East Flights Cancelled

The Filipino-Gulf air travel has reached turbulence. Cebu Pacific, as well as Philippine Airlines, have cancelled some of their destinations between Manila and key hubs in the Middle East.
The aviation routes between Manila and other cities like Dubai, Doha and Riyadh, among others, have been cancelled following the regional tensions.

The Philippine government has started chartering and commercial flights to take stranded overseas Filipinos home to serve the needs of the affected travellers. The initiative will help employees and families who have fallen into turbulence.

2. Oman Sets The Dates Of Eid Al Fitr Holidays

People in Oman are now able to check their calendars. Dubai shows authorities attested both public and private sector workers to the Eid Al Fitr holiday between March 19 and March 23. Work will resume on March 24. The long vacation gives families in the Sultanate the time to unite, meet loved ones, and end Ramadan with prayers, feasting and charity.

3. Abu Dhabi Customs Issues Warning On The Use Of Fraudulent SMS Messages

#AbuDhabiCustoms warns of fraudulent text messages impersonating the authority that ask recipients to access links or enter personal information. These phishing messages may claim the existence of a fake shipment or request delivery information updates.
The authority urges the… pic.twitter.com/Gxs2ci0Fza

— Abu Dhabi Customs جمارك أبوظبي (@AbuDhabiCustoms) March 10, 2026

The authorities in the UAE are encouraging citizens to be vigilant online. Abu Dhabi Customs has cautioned people against spam messages being forwarded in SMS and iMessage. The messages usually claim to be from customs officials or shipping companies and request the recipients to open suspicious links. The officials report that the messages are intended to steal personal data. People are not supposed to open such links and report these suspicious messages through the prescribed official mechanisms.

4. Oman Air Increases Additional International Flights

The passengers who fly out of Muscat now have a wider choice. The extra international flights will increase to March 15, to serve the demand of the passengers (Oman Air). The extra flights include a number of major cities in the world such as London, Istanbul, Cairo, Bangkok and Amsterdam. Customers have been advised to book via the official airline contact and make frequent checks.

Also Read: From Kuwait’s Food Export Ban To Bahrain’s Mall Reopening, 5 GCC Updates

5. Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Rumours Come To An End

Recent speculation indicated that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix could be cancelled because of the local events. Nevertheless, the race seems to be progressing as scheduled. The official event page still includes regular updates, which means that the preparations for the Formula 1 race in Jeddah are still progressing.

Cover Image Courtesy: Oman Air/Website