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British citizens who returned to the UK on the government’s initial flight from the Middle East since the outbreak of recent conflict have recounted their urgent efforts to cross borders and secure a spot on the evacuation plane. The chartered flight was intended to depart from Muscat, Oman’s capital, on Wednesday evening but was postponed by almost a full day due to technical problems.
Over 140,000 British nationals registered with the UK Foreign Office in the region, following escalating tensions triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Iran’s subsequent retaliatory strikes across various locations. Among those recounting their experiences was Fazal Chowdhury, a Dubai resident, who described the situation as “a little bit surreal to be honest.” He and his wife decided to drive straight to Muscat once the initial news of strikes emerged. Dubai had been hit several times since Saturday, with significant damage reported at Dubai International Airport and to several luxury hotels.
Oman, positioned across the Gulf of Oman from southern Iran, lies about 1,200 miles (1,900 km) from Tehran, making it further from the Iranian capital than most Middle Eastern countries. Despite this distance, Muscat is accessible via a 280-mile drive from Dubai, where many British tourists and expatriates reside. Chowdhury and his wife promptly registered with the Foreign Office once the government flight was announced and considered themselves fortunate to secure seats. Although he described the delay in departure as somewhat chaotic, he praised the overall management and the quality of communication from the UK government.
Other passengers also shared their challenging experiences. Amelia Reid and Samuel Sharp, who arrived in Dubai for a weekend visit, found themselves sheltering in a hotel car park on Saturday night after air raid alerts. Sharp shared that they were “on edge for four days” following a loud explosion near their hotel. Reid, who travels in a wheelchair, said they left Dubai around midday on Thursday and journeyed from the Oman border to Muscat airport by coach, hoping to board the government flight. The Foreign Office had cautioned people against proceeding directly to Muscat International Airport without official instructions but allowed registration once Britons reached Oman. Some, like an anonymous man, fled Dubai with his family, enduring a 36-hour wait at the airport before departure.
Due to missile strikes in the region, airspace restrictions remain severe, with flights grounded fully or partially over Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE, and Israel. Besides the government-arranged flight that landed on Friday, the UK government reported over 4,000 Britons had arrived on commercial flights from the UAE, prioritizing vulnerable individuals. The Foreign Office stipulated that only British nationals, their spouses or partners, and children under 18 would be eligible for government seats. The Prime Minister announced that British Airways will operate daily flights from Oman, and further chartered flights will be scheduled to increase evacuation capacity. Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer described the operation as “a consular challenge on a scale not seen since Covid,” emphasizing that while additional government flights are planned, commercial routes are “by far the most likely and the most rapid routes back to the UK.” Eligible passengers on the government flights are required to pay for their seats
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