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More than 76,000 Brits stranded in the UAE and other Gulf hotspots have already signed up with the government for help, with numbers expected to soar into the hundreds of thousands. Most are holidaymakers or passing through, and with airspace still shut, officials are telling people to stay put for now.
However, plans are being drawn up for a huge evacuation through Saudi Arabia if flights remain grounded. The Foreign Office is reportedly in talks with all major airlines as it faces its biggest-ever operation to track and assist British nationals abroad – and the crisis is only just getting started.
This comes as a major humanitarian and logistical crisis is unfolding in the Middle East after US and Israeli military strikes against Iran on Saturday (February 28) triggered a rapid escalation of conflict across the region.
In retaliation, Iran has launched a barrage of missile attacks targeting US military bases and cities throughout the Gulf, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. “At the moment people are being told to stay put but the government is working on plans to evacuate people through Saudi Arabia if the airspace remains closed for a prolonged period,” The Times’ Steven Swinford shared today (March 1) on X (formerly Twitter).
The political editor added: “The government is also in contact with all the main airlines in the region. The scale of the FCDO operation is unprecedented – never before has it registered so many people in so many countries.
“And it’s only just beginning.” An estimated 250,000 UK citizens are believed to be living in or visiting the region.
The crisis has led to the indefinite suspension of flights at major aviation hubs such as Dubai International and Doha, with airlines including Emirates and Etihad cancelling all operations until at least Monday (March 2). The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued an urgent “shelter in place” order for Britons in the affected countries, urging them to remain indoors and away from windows due to the ongoing risk of missile fire and falling debris.
With airspace across the Gulf now deemed “high-risk” and largely closed, the UK government is urgently developing plans for a large-scale land evacuation through Saudi Arabia. This unprecedented operation is being described as the Foreign Office’s biggest-ever effort to track and assist British citizens abroad, involving round-the-clock consular support and coordination with major airlines for future rescue flights.
For now, officials are advising all UK nationals in the region to stay put, as it remains too dangerous to travel to airports or move between cities amid continuing missile interceptions. The crisis erupted after a joint US-Israeli military operation, codenamed Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Iran’s swift retaliation has seen dozens of missiles fired at Gulf states seen as allies or hosts of US forces. Early reports suggest that falling shrapnel and drone debris have already caused injuries and significant damage at prominent sites, including Dubai’s Burj Al Arab and hotels in Manama.
The situation remains highly volatile, with British authorities closely monitoring developments and preparing for further escalation.
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