Government working to resolve tourist travel disruptions amid Middle East tensions

The government has said it is working to address travel disruptions faced by tourists after several Middle Eastern countries temporarily closed their airspace following Iran’s missile strikes on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq.

Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait shut their airspace on Monday night in response to the attacks. The closures caused multiple flight delays and diversions, as the region is a major transit hub for global air travel, including routes to Maldives.

Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said in a post on X that the government is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with relevant authorities to minimize the impact on inbound and outbound travel.

Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen also posted on X, stating that that while there were delays to flight operations in Maldives last night, services have now resumed.

Meanwhile, Qatar, housing Al-Udeid air base, the largest US military facility in the region, has reopened its airspace. However, the temporary disruptions continue to affect international travel schedules.

US President Donald Trump has since announced that Iran and Israel have agreed to a permanent peace deal, signaling an end to hostilities.

Minister Ameen added that Western countries are also monitoring the situation closely, particularly in relation to tourists transiting through the Middle East en route to Maldives.