flydubai is considering resuming flights to Syria, but not yet

A picture take on September 14, 2017 shows a FlyDubai Boing 737-800 landing at the tarmac at Dubai's International Airport. (File/AFP)
Updated 16 January 2019
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flydubai is considering resuming flights to Syria, but not yet

  • Airline spokesman says there are no plans to resume the service yet
  • Two countries have recently denied similar claims over their embassies in Syria

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirate’s budget airline, flydubai, is considering resuming flights to the Syrian capital, Damascus, but not yet.

None of the Emirati airlines currently serves Syria. 

But there has been speculation that this could soon change.

“flydubai follows the regulations of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA),” the statement read.

“flydubai is considering the option to re-enter the market and will announce any operational updates once the decision is made by the relevant authorities to reinstate the UAE national carriers’ operations to Syria.”

This is the latest in a line of denials over such claims. In the past two weeks both the UK and Russia have denied reports that they were planning to reopen their embassies in the wartorn country.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,167  

Updated 11 February 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,167  

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Wednesday, losing 46.43 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 11,167.54. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR4.88 billion ($1.30 billion), as 66 of the listed stocks advanced, while 192 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index decreased, down 5.52 points, or 0.37 percent, to close at 1,506.55. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu lost 153.40 points, or 0.65 percent, to close at 23,486.52. This comes as 32 of the listed stocks advanced, while 31 retreated. 

The best-performing stock was Tourism Enterprise Co., with its share price surging 9.95 percent to SR14.36. 

Other top performers included Mobile Telecommunication Co., Saudi Arabia, which saw its share price rise by 5.32 percent to SR11.48, and Al Masar Al Shamil Education Co., which saw a 4.86 percent increase to SR22.89. 

On the downside, Almoosa Health Co. was the day’s weakest performer, with its share price falling 4.81 percent to SR150.40. 

Dallah Healthcare Co. fell 3.81 percent to SR113.50, while Saudi Research and Media Group dropped 3.44 percent to SR100.90. 

On the corporate front, Arabian Plastic Industrial Co. has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with K. K. Nag to explore the establishment of a specialized manufacturing facility for expanded polypropylene products. 

According to a Tadawul statement, the agreement sets out initial mutual obligations and rights between the two parties as part of APICO’s broader expansion strategy to increase production capacity and meet rising industrial demand. 

The company’s share price rose 1.21 percent to SR43.52 on the parallel market.