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UAE

Flying from India to UAE this week? Give yourself more time at the airport

By · August 14, 2026 · Updated August 14, 2026 · 3 min read
Flying from India to UAE this week? Give yourself more time at the airport

Travellers flying from India to the UAE this week may need more time than usual to clear airport formalities, with several airports and airlines warning of tighter security checks around India’s Independence Day celebrations.

Delhi, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram airports have all issued passenger advisories, while Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo have warned that extra checks could slow journeys through terminals.

The most useful advice is simple: don’t plan your airport arrival around normal processing times this week.

Mumbai’s tighter checks run until August 20

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport said heightened security measures and mandatory checks are in place from August 10 to August 20, 2026.

That window matters for UAE-bound passengers travelling after Independence Day itself. India marks its 80th Independence Day on Saturday, August 15, but the extra airport procedures in Mumbai are expected to continue for several days afterwards.

Delhi Airport has also warned that screening may take longer because of strengthened security measures.

In Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport said additional mandatory checks would be carried out across the airport and asked passengers to keep travel documents easy to reach.

IndiGo warns about delays before passengers even reach security

IndiGo’s advisory goes beyond the security queue.

The airline asked passengers to allow extra time for traffic, parking, check-in queues and secondary ladder point checks, according to the report. It also advised travellers to have their ID, boarding pass and other documents ready before reaching security.

Air India and SpiceJet issued similar warnings earlier in the week.

For someone flying to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or another UAE destination, that means the delay may not come from one single checkpoint. A few extra minutes at the airport entrance, another queue at check-in and slower screening can add up quickly.

What passengers should do before leaving for the airport

There isn’t one new arrival-time rule covering every Indian airport, so passengers should check the guidance from their departure airport and airline rather than relying on their usual routine.

For flights this week, it makes sense to:

  • leave extra time for road traffic and airport parking;
  • arrive earlier than you normally would;
  • keep your passport, boarding pass, ID and other required documents within easy reach;
  • follow your airline’s baggage rules to avoid extra screening; and
  • check your flight status before leaving for the airport.

The key dates are easy to miss. Independence Day is August 15, but at least some heightened airport measures extend beyond the weekend, including Mumbai’s checks through August 20.

So even if you’re flying from India to the UAE after Saturday, don’t assume airport processing has already returned to normal.

Source: Reporting and airport/airline advisories