More than 100,000 British nationals are stranded in the Gulf region after airspace closures due to Iranian missile and drone strikes, with UK officials considering all evacuation options including charter and military flights, as well as overland routes via Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
Downing Street said the safety of British citizens is the government's top priority, with Keir Starmer's spokesperson describing the situation as a crisis that puts British lives at risk. The Foreign Office has set up 24/7 consular support and deployed extra staff to assist those affected.
Commercial flights remain the quickest route home, but only a few passenger planes have been cleared to depart from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The UAE government is currently covering hotel costs for stranded travellers, but it is unclear if this will continue long-term.
The UK has experience with mass repatriation, including during the Covid-19 pandemic and the collapses of Monarch and Thomas Cook. However, experts warn that evacuating all British nationals from the Gulf would be extraordinarily complex, given the region's reliance on Gulf airlines like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways.
