The daa has said that 37 flights from Ireland to the Middle East have been cancelled since Saturday.
The US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran on Saturday, during which Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.
Iran has retaliated with a number of missile attacks across the Gulf region.
Head of Media Relations with daa Graeme McQueen said that over the weekend, 23 flights in total cancelled.
That was followed today by all 12 flights to destinations in the Middle East and back.
Mr McQueen said that confirmation has been received from Emirates that their first two flights in and out tomorrow have also been cancelled.
He said between 10,000 and 12,000 passengers are impacted by the cancellations - with no confirmation in sight yet as to when this is going to end.
"We are waiting for certainty as to what's going to happen in the Middle East in terms of the airspace there until it opens up again," Mr McQueen said on RTÉ's Drivetime.
"We don't know what's going to happen. It's a very nervous time, very anxious time for a lot of passengers, a very frustrating time."
Mr McQueen said that there was "potential" for further cancellations tomorrow.
"I'd say there's the potential for no flights again tomorrow, I think the airlines are playing it on a day by day basis," he said.
"It's a very fluid situation. I understand some flights have got in and out of some of the airports in that part of the world today. That hasn't affected any flights to Dublin, so we'll just need to wait and see.
Mr McQueen encouraged impacted passengers to keep in regular contact with their airlines.
"Stay in touch with your airline. They're the ones who are going to be able to tell you when your flights are going to run," he said.
Government advise Irish citizens to shelter in place
The Government's advice to Irish people in the affected countries in the Middle East remains to shelter in place, the Taoiseach has said.
Speaking in Dublin this morning, Micheál Martin said there is a consular crisis centre established in the Department of Foreign Affairs and staff are in contact with airlines and all of the Irish embassies in the Gulf and are maintaining contact with citizens.
There are an estimated 20,000 Irish citizens in the Gulf states.
He added they are encouraging everyone in the region to register with the department, which has set up a consular line that is being manned 24/7.
The Taoiseach convened a meeting on the crisis in Iran and the Middle East this afternoon.
The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Foreign Affairs were briefed by the Defence Forces Chief of Staff and officials on: The consular response in relation to Irish citizens throughout the region. The situation with the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. All members of the Irish Defence Forces are reported as safely accounted for. And contingency planning on the next steps as the situation evolves.
The Government warning to shelter in place came before the the US Department of State called on Americans to immediately depart more than a dozen countries in the Middle East amid US-Israeli strikes against Iran.
Americans were urged to depart using commercial means from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, according to Mora Namdar, the State Department's assistant secretary for consular affairs.
Watch: Taoiseach advises Irish citizens to shelter in place
Government ready to charter flights for Irish citizens 'if it arises' - McEntee
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has said the Government is ready to charter flights if necessary for Irish citizens affected by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
She said there are potentially up to 22,000 Irish people in the wider Gulf region. She asked that people register so that Government can gauge just how many Irish people are living or transiting through the area.
She said the airlines are working closely with those transiting through and are putting people up and that the Irish Government is working closely with the UAE and Qatari government.
Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, Ms McEntee said: "At the moment we have limited space to be able to do that (bring people home who are transiting through).
"It is only today that the airport in Abu Dhabi opened up briefly for a small number of flights."
Minister McEntee described it as a "fast evolving situation".
"If it arises that we can charter a flight, we are ready to go and we will do that and we have done that in previous instances.
"But the quickest way for people to get out is if air space opens, that the airlines, and there are three of them that fly directly to Ireland and of course, many to other parts in Europe, that we have Irish citizens on those flights," she added.
The Minister said the flights that took off today were focused on people that were in transit and who do not have a base in the area to stay.
"But, it is important for people to know that unless you are contacted by your airlines, I would ask people not to travel to airports because they are only taking people on those flights that they have contacted directly," she said.
She said the Government is focusing on if this is going to happen tomorrow and if there will be a possibility of more air space opening up.
Watch: Conflict must be brought under control says McEntee
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Minister McEntee said the feedback is that the Abu Dhabi air space is open while Dubai is not due to Dubai Airport's location and proximity to some of the other military bases "where there may be a greater potential for a strike" or for "something to happen".
"The airport has said it is not opening up today. But again we will update people," she said.
Minister McEntee said a limited number of commercial flights are scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi Zayed Airport, UAE later today.
"We understand that passengers stranded in transit are being prioritised, and that airlines are in direct contact with those eligible to travel.
"Unless you have been advised by your airline that they have booked you on a flight, Irish citizens should continue to shelter in place," she said in a post on X.
The Minister added that all of the Irish troops in the region, including 340 in southern Lebanon, are safe.
"All of our troops are safe, they are accounted for," she said. She added that they have been directed to go to ground by UNIFIL.
Asked about whether the US-Israeli actions taken against Iran over the weekend were justified, the Taoiseach said that the situation had to be looked at in a balanced way, adding that Iran has had a terrible regime.
Watch: Taoiseach says US-Israeli actions against Iran must be looked at in a 'balanced way'
"Not so long ago we all had to observe thousands of Iranians being killed and executed because they were protesting against the government and there was nothing anybody could do about it."
He said a small country like Ireland, however, favours a rule-based international order and depends on it.
Mr Martin said the attack on Iran does not have a United Nations mandate, adding that the UN in need of urgent reform and does not have the capacity to deal with regimes like Iran, "which has been part of the malign influence in terms of the Middle East".
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Mr Martin also said that Lebanon was an area of "high tension" but that he had confidence in the leadership of UNIFIL to keep soldiers safe.
The Israeli military began striking Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah across Lebanon earlier today.
Explosions were heard in the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital, Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold.
Irish personnel serving with UNIFIL in Lebanon are safe and accounted for, Minister McEntee said, adding that she was in regular contact with the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
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Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne has also urged all Irish citizens to sign up to the Department of Foreign Affairs' citizens registration platform to receive the most up-to-date information and advice.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said the Government cannot recommend land routes as a means to leave the region, "because of the sheer number of Irish people that are there".
"You may get to another country, but the question would be, would you be able to fly out of that country? So that's not something that we can recommend, and that's why the advice very clearly has to be to shelter in place," he added.
Minister Byrne said those there should follow the social media platforms of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the embassy in UAE.
He said Ireland's embassies in the region, including Iran and Israel, will "be posting information as it becomes available, and we'll be working with our European colleagues to get the best possible information and to have people as safe as possible".
Minister Byrne said the situation is being closely monitored and the Government's primary concern remains for those affected Irish citizens.
Asked why the Government has been cautious in its response to the weekend US-Israel attack on Iran, Minister Byrne said the situation was "highly complex and evolving" and at present, it was up to those involved to justify their actions.
He added that there would be time for condemnation "subsequently", saying his first concern was for Irish citizens caught up in the situation.
— Irish Embassy UAE (@IrelandEmbUAE) March 2, 2026
Follow live: Trump says Iran operations could last weeks
Additional reporting: Mícheál Lehane
