Travellers stranded by a widening Middle East war began departing the United Arab Emirates on a small number of evacuation flights Monday, even as most commercial air traffic across the region remained suspended.
The limited departures from Dubai and Abu Dhabi came as the U.S. State Department urged Americans in 13 countries — including the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon and Oman — to “depart now via commercial means due to serious safety risks.” Sweeping airspace closures and widespread cancellations, however, left few options for heeding that guidance.
Since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks on Israel and Gulf states began Saturday, commercial flights have been halted or heavily restricted, leaving tourists, business travellers, migrant workers and pilgrims stranded in hotels, airports and aboard cruise ships. Airspace remained closed over Iran, Iraq and Israel on Monday; Jordan instituted a temporary closure beginning Monday afternoon. Other Gulf states, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, reported partial or temporary closures that could be extended, according to Flightradar24. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said about 13,000 of roughly 32,000 scheduled flights into and out of the Middle East since Saturday had been cancelled.
Evacuation flights, likely operating with government backing and partial financial risk assumed by carriers’ home countries, began on a limited basis. Henry Harteveldt, president of Atmosphere Research Group, said airlines will not resume normal operations until they are confident the risk of attack is near zero.
Long-haul carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively, and budget carrier FlyDubai announced limited flights from the UAE, where air-defence systems had been deployed to intercept Iranian missiles and drones. Flightradar24 showed at least 16 Etihad departures from Abu Dhabi during a three-hour window Monday, bound for destinations including Islamabad, Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Moscow and London, though Etihad’s website said regularly scheduled commercial service remained suspended until Wednesday afternoon. Emirates said customers with earlier bookings would get priority on its limited flights beginning Monday evening. FlyDubai planned four outbound and five inbound flights. Dubai Airports warned passengers to travel to terminals only if their airline had confirmed operations.
Disruptions have been far-reaching because Gulf hubs connect Europe, Africa and Asia. Dubai International Airport handled a record 95.2 million passengers last year, making it the world’s busiest airport for international travel.
Individual travellers described rushed departures and concerns. Leela Rao, a 29-year-old Georgetown law student, reached an Etihad flight to Delhi after shelter-in-place alerts and hearing explosions in Abu Dhabi; she said passengers applauded on landing. The ATP said former U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev was among a small number of players and staff it was assisting to leave Dubai. Scotland resident Faizan Khalid, his wife and 6-month-old daughter were left in Lahore when a Dubai-connecting flight was cancelled; they worry as baby formula supplies run low. Writer Hen Mazzig, stranded in Tel Aviv, described rearranging plans and counting his blessings.
Governments scrambled to organise aid, evacuations and repatriation flights. Israel’s El Al said it is preparing a large “recovery operation” to bring stranded passengers home once Ben Gurion Airport reopens, with initial flights expected from cities including New York, London, Paris, Rome and Los Angeles; El Al and subsidiary Sundor customers will not be charged for seats on these flights. The U.S. said Americans needing help arranging commercial travel should contact the State Department. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned the situation “may remain challenging for some time” while the UK considers options to support citizens.
Several countries adjusted advisories and repatriation plans. The Philippines upgraded its travel advisory for the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, triggering an automatic deployment ban for newly hired Filipino workers. Indonesia reported more than 58,000 citizens stranded in Saudi Arabia after visiting holy sites during Ramzan and said thousands were also stuck on Bali due to cancellations. Germany said about 30,000 German tourists were stranded across the Middle East and plans to send aircraft to Oman and Saudi Arabia to evacuate ill travellers, children and pregnant people, while coordinating with airlines for others. The Czech Republic said it was dispatching planes to Egypt, Jordan and Oman to repatriate citizens, and Britain said it was preparing various options, including possible evacuations, after more than 102,000 people registered their presence in the region.
