The UK government is planning one of the largest evacuations in its history as airspace closures across the Middle East continue to disrupt flights, leaving hundreds of thousands of travellers stranded. More than 76,000 British citizens have registered their presence in affected areas, with the majority believed to be in the UAE, according to official figures.
Countries including Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain have shut their airspace following US and Israeli attacks on Iran. The United Arab Emirates also announced a temporary and partial closure of its airspace, leading to the shutdown of airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Major airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad have cancelled thousands of flights.
Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international traffic, sustained damage from Iranian retaliatory strikes, with four people injured. Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport reported one death and seven injuries in an incident, though the post was later deleted. The three major Gulf airlines typically handle about 90,000 passengers daily through these hubs, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
More than 3,400 flights were cancelled across seven main airports in the region on Sunday alone. Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that Iranian airspace closure has been extended until at least 8.30am UK time on Tuesday. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, Israel and Palestine, and against all but essential travel to the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Aviation analysts warn that disruption could last for days or weeks. Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research Group said travellers should prepare for delays or cancellations. John Strickland, a UK-based analyst, highlighted the logistical complexity, noting that it involves not only customers but also crews and aircraft scattered across the region. Austrian Airlines has sent an evacuation flight to Muscat, Oman, to retrieve stranded staff.
The situation is further complicated by fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, squeezing airlines into narrower flight corridors. Passengers are urged to check flight status before heading to airports. Some airlines have issued waivers allowing rebooking without extra fees. At Heathrow, 24 of 56 scheduled flights to Middle Eastern destinations were cancelled on Sunday.
