The European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued an immediate prohibition on all flights over Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in any altitude following renewed Iranian rocket and drone attacks on 16 July 2026. This directive, CZIB-202-07, responds to the third wave of US airstrikes on Iranian military sites and Iran’s retaliatory strikes targeting US bases in the Gulf region. Operators must reroute all Europe-Asia traffic away from the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, disrupting critical flight corridors and forcing significant increases in fuel burn and flight time. Major hubs including Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Manama are effectively closed to European carriers. The ban remains valid until 29 July 2026 unless lifted earlier due to de-escalation, creating immediate operational and financial strain across the sector.