Flight Doha Iran

Due to Iran conflict: planes to Doha have to turn around with grooms in the air

Other Equestrian Sports 28.02.2026

from Jan Tönjes

The US air base is located just 40 kilometers from the Al Shaqab equestrian stadium in Doha.

International politics cast a long shadow over international equestrian sport. After Israel and the USA launched air strikes on Iran, flights around Qatar had to be diverted. Planes in which grooms were supposed to be on their way to Doha were also affected.

Al Shaqab, the venue for the equestrian tournaments in Doha, is indirectly affected. The stadium is located 38 kilometers from the Al-Udeid Air Base. The US military base southwest of Doha was hit by Iranian retaliatory measures, according to many media reports.

According to the British BBC, explosions were heard in Doha.

Many international airlines have canceled or rerouted flights to the Gulf region due to the attacks. Flights from all major European hubs are affected.

This also affects the transportation of sport horses to the region. Horses that should have flown from Germany to Qatar today are affected. However, none of the transport flights had yet taken off. The situation is different for the grooms who were to receive the horses in Doha. Their plane had already taken off when the flight had to turn around due to Iran’s air attacks on the emirate. David Will confirmed this to EQUI PAGES.

The Federal Foreign Office is currently warning against flights to the region.