UK Opens Booking Portal for Government Charter Flights
The Foreign Office has launched a booking portal for British nationals in Dubai who wish to access government charter flights to leave the Middle East region.
Thousands of Britons have been stranded across the region, including Dubai, following the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which caused widespread airspace closures and flight cancellations.
The Foreign Office stated that the most vulnerable individuals will be prioritised for booking on charter flights and that it has contacted those who have registered their presence in the region.
The UK government began operating flights out of the region earlier this week from Muscat, Oman. Two flights have returned to the UK so far, and a flight from Dubai is scheduled for early next week.
Ongoing Impact of Conflict in UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to be affected by the conflict. On Saturday, a Dubai resident was killed after shrapnel from an "aerial interception" fell on a vehicle in the Al Barsha area, according to the Dubai Media Office.
More than 160,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the region with the Foreign Office.
On Saturday, the government announced it will operate a commercial charter flight from Dubai, available for a charge. British nationals, their spouse or partner, and children under 18 years of age are eligible to register.
Commercial Flights and Airport Conditions
Earlier, Emirates airline reported it had carried approximately 30,000 passengers out of Dubai on Thursday and operated 35 flights to the UK since resuming services.
The BBC's Nick Beake, present at Dubai Airport on Friday morning, described the atmosphere as calm and quiet, with a steady flow of passengers arriving. He noted there was no visible gathering of expatriates attempting to leave.
Personal Accounts from British Nationals
British nationals stranded in Dubai have shared their experiences with the BBC, including Victoria Cameron from Larkhall, Scotland.
On 28 February, Cameron recounted her experience to the BBC while queuing to enter her Dubai hotel when the first Iranian missiles struck the city.
"Our phones were going off, saying 'emergency, emergency'. We were crying, we were shaking,"
she said.
Cameron arrived back in Edinburgh on Wednesday on an Emirates flight.
