After months of disruption caused by the regional conflict, the UAE has officially reopened its airspace in full. The General Civil Aviation Authority said all temporary precautionary measures have now been lifted following a review of operational and security conditions, with air traffic across the country returning to what officials describe as “normal status”.

Which is very good news for anyone who has spent the past few months refreshing airline alerts with the intensity of a day trader. With Dubai and Abu Dhabi among the region’s biggest aviation hubs, the reopening marks a long-awaited step back towards smoother journeys, fewer cancellations and slightly less emotional turmoil at the gate.

The return is already under way, with UAE carriers leading the charge:

International airlines are also rejoining the schedule in phases:

So yes, flights are returning. Not in one glorious sweep with swelling music, admittedly, but they are returning.

Some carriers are still not ready to jump back in just yet:

So while Dubai’s skies are officially open again, the return to normal is still unfolding in that familiar aviation style: carefully, slightly chaotically and with a suspicious number of caveats.