Middle East Crisis: Situation Updates
Access timely insights and customer‑relevant updates on the evolving Middle East crisis
5 Key Updates
Last Updated: March 31, 2026, 14:00CET
Air Capacity Stable but Highly Dependent on Regional Security:
Airlines continue operating at 40–60% of pre-crisis capacity, but any new airspace incidents—especially around Riyadh—could quickly impact schedules.
Ocean Congestion Worsening Across All Major Gateways:
Ports such as Khorfakkan, Sohar, and Fujairah remain heavily congested with 10–12 day delays, restricted berthing, and increased cut‑and‑run situations.
Fuel Shortages Increasing Costs Across All Modes:
Jet fuel, bunker fuel, and even petrol supply are tightening, driving significant rate increases for air, ocean, and road logistics.
Dedicated Pharma Charter Strengthens GCC Supply Chain:
DHL launched a new 3‑times‑weekly Liège → Jeddah life‑science charter with temperature‑controlled capacity and GCC‑wide distribution support.
Road Freight Functional but Rates Rising Sharply:
Borders are open and flows are smooth, but trucking demand has surged, with UAE diesel prices doubling and transport rates increasing 100%+ in some lanes
Customer Advisory
Customers downloading the advisory will get a clear snapshot of how the current situation in Israel is impacting air, ocean, and road operations, along with expected delays and capacity constraints.
Ocean Freight Operational Impact
- Situation across the Middle East remains highly dynamic, driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, multiple vessel attacks, and widespread carrier suspensions.
- All major carriers have now halted/alternated bookings to/from or via Arabian Gulf ports, and surcharges continue to escalate.
- Port operations are technically open in most locations but are functionally constrained due to the lack of vessel calls, congestion, and yard‑space limitations, congestions building up.
- DGF Ops, Trade, and Crisis Calls remain activated with full vessel and shipment visibility, exception handling, and daily cross‑functional alignment.
- UAE – All ports operational
- Khor Fakkan Port not accepting any containers for Exports neither empties nor laden to manage the terminal capacity
- Reports of congestion building up and waiting times possibly going up to 7-10 days
- Gulftainer applies an Emergency Operational Recovery Surcharge of $100/Container, effective 15th March 13
- This surcharge applies to container handling services performed at Khor Fakkan Commercial Terminal (KCT)
- For containers arriving via Khor Fakkan POD, the same can be booked until Sajaa or Mileeha ICDs thereby helping to avoid truck congestion at the port
- Fujairah Port only container Terminal operational
- Kuwait
- Shuwaikh – Partially Operational
- Shuaiba - Partially operational
- Saudi Ports – Operational
- Umm Qasr – Operational
- Hamad – Operational
- Bahrain – Partially Operational
- Oman
- Sohar – Operational
- Laden containers can only be gated in 5 days prior to vessel ETA
- IMDG, OOG and BBK cargo is subject to prior approval for both import and export
- No pre-cooling and container washing services available
- Max. number of container moves per vessels limited to 3,000 TEUs
- Salalah – Partially operational since today
- Duqm – Operational, but DG shipments not allowed
- Sohar – Operational
- Beirut – Operational
- Aqaba – Operational
Across all major liners:
- Full suspension of bookings to/from Arabian Gulf ports; all carriers have now officially stopped accepting any services via Hormuz.
- Service omissions, early voyage terminations, diversions, and Cape of Good Hope rerouting widely in effect.
- Reefer, DG, and Special Cargo restrictions are now industry‑wide.
Examples:
- Maersk accepting only bookings up to Sohar & Khor Fakkan
- Maersk still only accepting Empty Return at Salalah, Jeddah and Sohar
- MSC: EoV declared for all Gulf‑bound shipments (3 March). Diversion & mandatory USD 800/container surcharge applied. Numerous emergency surcharges active.
- Evergreen, YML: Broad suspensions to Upper Gulf.
- CMA CGM: Broad booking halt; Clause 10 activated on multiple vessels; Suez routings suspended.
- Maersk: Wide‑scale suspension of Gulf & ISC lanes; reefer/DG stops; FM1/ME11 suspended; acceptance only for essential cargo.
- Hapag-Lloyd: No Gulf bookings except Jeddah.
- SeaLead: Continues via Bab al Mandab (isolated case).
- No information or declarations from Carriers
- Surcharges & Cost Implications: As the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve, carriers may introduce additional charges to compensate for increased operational and security‑related risks. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- War Risk Surcharge: Given the heightened regional security environment, carriers and insurers may introduce or adjust war‑risk premiums. These may apply to cargo already in transit as well as to new and future bookings.
- Emergency Surcharge (ES): At least one major carrier has announced an Emergency Conflict Surcharge, and additional carriers may implement similar measures depending on how operational conditions develop.
- Bunker Adjustment Charge (BUC): With the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and suspended transits through the Bab Al Mandab Strait, many vessels are now rerouting via significantly longer alternatives, including the Cape of Good Hope. Rising oil prices driven by these disruptions are expected to push global bunker costs upward, and carriers are likely to pass on these additional fuel‑related expenses.
- MSC has temporarily suspended all exports bookings from Sohar and Salalah until further notice
- MSC arranging vessel connections to Gulf for containers discharged in India and Sri Lanka
- Dwell times increasing across impacted ports (up to 10 days); Ops teams monitoring in real time.
- Carriers issuing early voyage terminations, port omissions, return voyages and forced diversions.
- Extended or special F/T do not apply any longer on any of the diverted shipments, and will be changed to either standard or zero days
- F/T removal though applies to all diverted shipments, but we see that for shipments diverted to Khor Fakkan this needs to be strictly followed as the Terminal is taking these steps to avoid the buildup of any congestion
- Spot rates increasing sharply, with multiple GRIs in effect.
- Rising oil prices expected to elevate bunker levels.
- Port & transshipment congestion likely in Gulf and Asian hubs as re-routings intensify.
- Equipment imbalance emerging due to suspended flows and empty‑return bottlenecks.
- Freight tariffs (M‑level) centrally expired for MEA & Israel due to market volatility.
Air Freight Operational Impact
| Country | Airports | Air Space Open/Closed | Affected airports | Carriers suspended flights | Latest Update |
| Bahrain | BAH | Closed | BAH | All , TK ( 9th april), | 31-Mar-26 |
| Oman | MCT | Open | EK/EY/ 6E/G9/IX/BG/FZ/GF / LH ( 24th October) . EK Air-road inbound via DXB to MCT | 31-Mar-26 | |
| Kuwait | KWI | Closed | KWI | All, TK ( 9th April) . EK Air-road inbound & outbound via DXB | 31-Mar-26 |
| Qatar | DOH | Restricted | DOH | All except QR, TK ( 9th April) | 31-Mar-26 |
| Saudi arabia | RUH | Open | CX, AF, CV, LH ( 24th October), ITA Airways ( 24th Oct ) | 31-Mar-26 | |
| Saudi arabia | JED | Open | CX, AF,CV, SQ/TR ( Scoot - 17th April) | 31-Mar-26 | |
| Saudi arabia | DMM | restricted / limited | CX, LH (24th October) ,AF,CV, TK | 31-Mar-26 | |
| UAE | AUH, DXB, DWC, RAK, SHJ | Restricted | All | All except the ones in Column E | 31-Mar-26 |
| UAE | FJR | Open | 31-Mar-26 | ||
| Lebanon | BEY | Partially ( Aispace is open but airport is restricted) | BEY | All except Middle East Airine MEA & RJ, , LH ( 24th October) , TK ( 9th April) | 31-Mar-26 |
| Iraq | EBL,BGW,BSR | Closed | All | All , LH (24th October) , TK ( 9th April) | 31-Mar-26 |
- Due to foreseeable impact on jet fuel price, carriers started to introduce FSC increases
- Indirect impact: Routing changes on EU-AP and AP-EU lanes lead to increased operating cost
- Alternative routings of GCC bound shipments will attract additional lead times and rate adjustments
- Rates adjustments: Airfreight rates to Middle East region have been suspended, rate levels to other regions will be updated on regular basis including temporary adders
- Airfreight rate originating from Europe, Asia and Americas will be subject to temporary adders on lane level
- Fuel surcharges subject to increase
Road Freight Operational Impact
Customs Operational Impact
- UAE customs is operational and all is working as of now
- Customs Operational in all ports
- Kuwait customs is operational and all ports are functioning - But airspace is closed
- Hamad International Airport: Customs operational in all ports
- Hamad Port: Customs operational in all ports
- Abu Samra Border: Customs operational in all ports
- Bahrain Airport Services: no operation at airport and sea port today
- Khalifa Bin Salman Port: no operation at airport and sea port today
- King Fahad Causeway: no operation at airport and sea port today
- Airport:
- customs operational in all ports
- Seaport:
- Apart from Salalah port, Customs operational
- KKIA - RUH
- Dry port - RUH
- KFIA DMM
- DMM Sea port
- Jubail Port
- Batha border
- King Fahad Causeway
- KAIA JED \ JED Islamic Port
- BGW, EBL and BSR Airpots / UQ
- IKB border with Turkey
- BGW, EBL and BSR Airpots / UQ: Iraq customs is operational, but all flights still suspended
- IKB border with Turkey: Iraq customs is operational, but all flights still suspended
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Frequently Asked Questions
What charges are carriers applying to Upper Gulf destinations?
Carriers apply war risk, emergency bunker, equipment surcharges and others depending on routing and congestion.
Are shipments to Karachi affected by the current crisis?
Shipments that do not transit Middle East hubs are not impacted by regional diversions or war‑risk surcharges.
Are there sea solutions from Europe to India without transiting Salalah?
Yes; some carriers operate direct Europe–India services, though schedules may change due to diversions.
Can cargo held in Jebel Ali be moved to Khorfakkan/Sohar and then exported globally?
Yes; DHL can reposition containers to alternative ports and move them onward.
What about tractors in containers from India to Jebel Ali?
If within container dimensions, tractors can ship; oversize cargo requires special approval and may face limits at Middle East ports.
Are carriers waiving storage or detention charges?
No confirmed waivers; ports are adding handling restrictions and storage may accrue.
Is Kuwait Airport operational?
No; Kuwait Airport remains closed due to repeated drone incidents and damaged infrastructure.
Are LCL solutions available?
Yes; DHL consolidates LCL via Khorfakkan or Fujairah with bonded movement into Jebel Ali for clearance.
Is there a DHL Aviation cargo embargo?
No; DHL has no embargo. Earlier backlogs were cleared and flights operate normally across regions.
Are delays into South Africa related to the crisis?
Yes; Gulf carriers reduced frequencies, removing large capacity and causing rate increases and delays.
Is Kuwait open for airfreight?
No; Kuwait remains closed with no reopening timeline announced.
Will a US express strike affect Middle East shipments?
No current operational impact to Middle East/Europe flows from potential US labor actions.
How have lead times changed to Bahrain by air?
Air shipments require road on‑forwarding due to closed Bahrain airspace, adding up to a week to transit times.
What is the road situation from Sohar to UAE?
Road flows are stable via the green corridor; customs performs seal checks only, though rates have increased
Are there multimodal solutions via Egypt?
Yes; Alexandria offers uncongested entry with cross‑loading and trucking via Safaga/Duba to GCC.
Do you move RORO alternatives via trucks?
Yes; finished cars and equipment can move on car carriers or containerized depending on volume and dimensions.
How have ocean lead times to Bahrain changed?
Delays increased 10–15 days due to diversions to Khorfakkan/Sohar and required landbridge routing.
Access our latest Middle East Logistics Briefing Webinar Recordings
Get a clear overview of the regional disruptions and how they may impact your supply chain. In this recording, our experts break down the current situation, expected implications, and the actions DHL is taking to keep your cargo moving.
