UK Government Arranges Charter Flight from Dubai
The UK government has announced plans to charter a flight from Dubai early next week to assist British nationals wishing to leave the region, contingent upon the evolving situation on the ground.
This commercial flight departing from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be available for a fee. Eligibility to register includes British nationals, their spouses or partners, and children under 18 years of age.
Ongoing Regional Conflict and Previous Evacuations
Conflict in the region continues, with missile and drone attacks reported on Saturday by both the UAE and Qatar. To date, two government-chartered flights have repatriated British citizens from Muscat, Oman. The first flight arrived at Stansted Airport on Friday, and the second landed at Gatwick Airport on Saturday. A third flight is scheduled to depart Muscat on Sunday.
The Foreign Office has stated that the Dubai flight will supplement existing commercial routes operating out of the UAE and is planned to depart early next week.
Passenger Requirements and Prioritization
All passengers must possess a valid travel document. Non-British dependents are required to have a valid visa or permission to enter or remain in the UK granted for more than six months. The Foreign Office will contact eligible individuals directly to issue tickets and will prioritize vulnerable passengers, including those with urgent medical needs.
Currently, over 160,000 people have registered their presence in the region with the Foreign Office.
Disruptions to Air Travel and Security Incidents
Air travel through Dubai, one of the world's busiest airports, has experienced significant disruption since Iran began launching retaliatory strikes at Gulf nations in response to offensives by the US and Israel.
Last week, Emirates temporarily suspended all flights from Dubai, a popular destination among UK nationals.
On Saturday, footage verified by the BBC showed what appeared to be a drone strike within the perimeter of Dubai International Airport. The video, recorded from an industrial area just south of the airport, captured an explosion near a terminal building. The UAE government has not issued a comment regarding this incident.
Experiences of British Nationals in the Region
Throughout the week, British nationals stranded in the region have shared their experiences with the BBC.
On 28 February, Victoria Cameron from Larkhall, Scotland, was queuing to enter her Dubai hotel when the first Iranian missiles struck the city.
"Then the staff said 'run, run, leave your suitcases'. They rushed us all to the side of the hotel.
"Our phones were going off, saying 'emergency, emergency'. We were crying, we were shaking."
Cameron returned to Edinburgh on Wednesday via an Emirates flight.
Stuart Carson was staying at Fairmont The Palm Hotel in Dubai on Saturday when it was struck, causing his "whole room to completely shake."
"Once dawn broke, we started to feel a bit more comfortable with the situation and just gathered our thoughts and had breakfast in the hotel,"
He arrived back home in Northern Ireland on Tuesday after several earlier flights he had booked were cancelled by airlines.
