UAE residents are using land corridors and ‘departure assistance’ to return home.
When regional tensions disrupt air travel, getting stranded residents home turns into a complex operation requiring ground convoys, contingency planning, and coordination across multiple countries. During the recent escalation, some UAE residents abroad had to rapidly adjust their plans and find alternative routes to return home.
Among those affected is Iman El Khatib, a Greek-Lebanese resident of Dubai, who had traveled to Beirut for a short family visit. Hoping to surprise her three-year-old nephew on his birthday, she booked a spontaneous, last-minute flight the night before, planning to stay just four days.
Her return flight to Dubai was scheduled for February 28, the same day the conflict escalated and UAE airspace was closed. “What was supposed to be a quick family visit suddenly turned into an unexpected and uncertain stay,” she said. While some airlines have gradually resumed operations, Beirut is not currently among the destinations with active routes to Dubai.
Most seek information first
Security and assistance organisations say cases like El Khatib’s reflect a broader pattern emerging since the regional escalation began.
Gillan McNay, Security Director for Assistance in the Middle East at International SOS, noted that most early enquiries from companies and residents are not immediate evacuation requests but efforts to verify information and assess the situation on the ground.
“People want confirmation of what is happening in specific locations, whether they should remain in place, and what options exist if conditions change,” he said.
Once organisations have a clearer picture, requests typically shift toward contingency planning: identifying safe-haven locations, confirming travel documentation, and preparing relocation plans in case evacuation becomes necessary.
When airspace is restricted, relocation strategies often move from flights to coordinated ground movements. Evacuation planning begins with compiling detailed lists of travellers, including employees and family members, followed by passport and visa checks to ensure individuals can cross into neighbouring countries if needed. Oman and Saudi Arabia have emerged as key transit routes.
Land corridors
With many air routes limited, land corridors have become a primary method of travel across the Gulf. Rafal Hyps, CEO of Sicuro Group, said requests for the company’s “departure assistance” have surged since the escalation began.
Evacuation flows are increasingly directed toward neighbouring countries such as Oman and Saudi Arabia, where travellers can access functioning international airports. Cities including Muscat, Riyadh, and Dammam have seen growing demand for flights, hotels, and transport services as relocation efforts move through these hubs.
“We are primarily assisting travellers caught in the region during the disruption, as well as corporate personnel who were on assignment or in transit,” Hyps said.
Ground travel has become the main alternative when flights are unavailable, with the Dubai-to-Muscat route via the Hatta border crossing among the most frequently used corridors. From Oman, travellers can access onward commercial flights.
Experts note that relocation operations can be complex, especially for families. Planning typically involves arranging ground transport, coordinating border crossings, securing accommodation at transit hubs, and organising onward flights once airports become operational. Communication is also crucial, with organisations providing travellers with clear instructions, updates on changing conditions, and practical guidance throughout the journey.
For those unable to relocate immediately, security advisers often recommend remaining safely in place while monitoring conditions until a viable travel window opens.
El Khatib said she is now trying to secure a seat on a possible evacuation flight with Middle East Airlines while continuing to monitor updates from other carriers in the hope that new routes reopen.
“My only focus right now is finding my way back to Dubai,” she said. “It’s in moments like these that you realise how much the UAE means to the people who live there.”
