Kenya Airways has confirmed it will operate a small number of special repatriation flights between Nairobi (JKIA) and Dubai International Airport (DXB) on March 4 and 5, 2026, following slot approvals granted by Dubai Airports authorities after the partial reopening of DXB on March 2.
The airline emphasised that these flights are strictly for repatriation purposes and do not form part of KQ’s normal scheduled passenger service. Regular commercial operations on the Nairobi–Dubai route remain fully suspended until further notice, with no resumption timeline announced.
The repatriation flights are intended primarily to bring home Kenyan citizens, residents and other eligible passengers stranded in the UAE following the temporary closure and restricted operations at Dubai International Airport. KQ said priority will be given to Kenyan nationals, holders of valid UAE residence visas who wish to return home, and certain categories of foreign nationals approved under UAE repatriation protocols.
KQ Group Managing Director & CEO Allan Kilavuka addressed the arrangement in a statement released late March 3, 2026. “We are grateful to Dubai Airports and the UAE authorities for allocating these limited slots,” Kilavuka said. “These flights are purely humanitarian and repatriation-focused. They are not revenue-generating scheduled services. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as soon as regular commercial operations can safely resume.”
The airline urged eligible passengers to contact KQ’s customer service channels, the Kenyan Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the UAE’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) for verification and booking procedures. Only passengers with confirmed repatriation clearance from UAE immigration will be accepted on board. Normal ticket sales, online bookings and travel agency reservations are not available for these flights.
The partial reopening of DXB on March 2 followed several days of complete closure and severe operational restrictions attributed to heightened regional tensions and security considerations. Only a handful of specially approved repatriation, cargo and emergency flights have been permitted since then, with passenger movements tightly controlled.
KQ has been coordinating closely with the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Directorate of Immigration Services to facilitate the return of stranded citizens. The airline has also advised all passengers with existing bookings on the Nairobi–Dubai route to defer travel plans and monitor official updates rather than attempting to transit through alternative airports at this stage.
Several Kenyans stranded in Dubai and other Emirates have welcomed the news. A group of Kenyan workers in Sharjah posted on social media: “Finally some light at the end of the tunnel. We have been stuck since the closure. Thank you to KQ and the government for arranging these flights. We just want to get home to our families.”
KQ has warned against fraudulent bookings and fake travel agents claiming to offer seats on the repatriation flights. “All arrangements are being handled directly by KQ and official government channels only,” Kilavuka reiterated. “Do not pay any money to third parties. There is no charge for repatriation seats beyond any applicable airport taxes or fees that may be required by UAE authorities.”
The airline has suspended all marketing and promotional activity on the Dubai route and advised corporate clients, tour operators and travel agents to cancel or rebook affected itineraries. Passengers holding onward connections through DXB are being re-accommodated where possible on alternative routings or offered refunds.
As the limited repatriation window opens on March 4, KQ expects high demand and has appealed for patience. The airline will publish final flight numbers, timings and eligibility criteria on its official website and social media channels by the evening of March 3.
The development underscores the continued volatility affecting international aviation in the Middle East, with JKIA–DXB one of Kenya’s busiest and most commercially important routes. KQ has not indicated when full scheduled services might resume, citing ongoing security assessments and airspace restrictions.
Kenyan authorities have advised citizens in the UAE to register with the Embassy in Abu Dhabi or Consulate in Dubai and to monitor official communications for further repatriation updates.
