Hundreds of thousands of travelers have been stranded across the Middle East as the conflict continues to escalate. According to aviation tracking data from Flightradar24, more than 11,000 flights across 10 countries have been canceled since February 28, creating widespread disruption to regional and international travel.
Major airports across the Gulf have experienced severe operational shutdowns as airlines reroute aircraft to avoid potential conflict zones. The situation has caused cascading delays across global aviation networks, particularly on routes linking Europe, Asia, and Africa through the Gulf’s major transit hubs.
The mounting cost of the U.S. campaign
The financial toll of the military campaign is already substantial. Analysts estimate that the first 100 hours of the United States’ military operations against Iran cost roughly $3.7 billion, or more than $890 million per day.
The estimate comes from research by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, which noted that less than $200 million of the total represents operational costs already included in the Pentagon’s existing budget.
The figures highlight the extraordinary pace at which modern military operations accumulate costs, particularly when advanced weapons systems, intelligence operations, and large-scale deployments are involved.
Oil markets brace for potential shock
Energy markets are closely watching the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime oil corridors.
If the passage remains closed for more than three weeks, energy analysts warn that global oil prices could climb to $90–$100 per barrel, a scenario reminiscent of the supply shocks triggered during the 1973 Oil Embargo.
For the moment, one apparent beneficiary is Russia, which has reportedly increased energy exports to China and India at higher prices while Gulf supply routes face disruption.
UAE: Global Hub Under Siege
Among Gulf states, the United Arab Emirates has suffered some of the most visible economic damage because of its role as a global logistics and financial hub.
Iranian drones struck key energy infrastructure including the Mussafah Fuel Terminal in Abu Dhabi and the Fujairah Oil Terminal.
The Port of Jebel Ali, one of the world’s ten busiest container ports located in Dubai, was also hit during the early days of the conflict.
Air travel has been severely affected. More than 70 percent of flights to the UAE remain canceled, effectively grounding activity at Dubai International Airport, which handled more than 95 million passengers in 2025.
Qatar halts LNG production
The energy sector in Qatar has also been severely disrupted.
On March 2, QatarEnergy announced a complete suspension of liquefied natural gas production after drones targeted major facilities in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed.
The shutdown has temporarily removed 81 million metric tonnes of annual LNG exports from global supply, sending European natural gas prices sharply higher and nearly doubling them in early trading.
Saudi oil industry faces renewed strain
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is experiencing its most significant pressure on energy infrastructure since the 2019 Abqaiq–Khurais attack.
The Ras Tanura refinery, one of the kingdom’s key oil processing facilities operated by Saudi Aramco, halted operations on March 2 after drone debris triggered a fire.
Although the scale of Saudi Aramco provides some resilience, investor concern has been evident: the Tadawul All Share Index dropped nearly 5 percent during the first week of the conflict.
