Iranian attacks on Dubai and the closure of its airport have set off a rush among affluent residents to exit the emirate by alternative routes on private aircraft.
The city, usually a magnet for billionaires, influencers and millions of tourists, has been on high alert since drones and missiles launched in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran damaged the airport and hit several prominent hotels and landmarks.
The UAE defence ministry said it continued to intercept incoming missiles and drones on Monday, as the government announced the closure of its embassy in Tehran amid the expanding regional conflict.
Some residents have travelled to Oman, a four‑and‑a‑half‑hour drive away, where Muscat airport remains open, though with delays.
Most commercial flights from Muscat to Europe are fully booked through the end of the week, according to booking platforms.
Alexandra Vavilova, a Russian tourist staying in Dubai, said she secured one of the last tickets out on Monday night: a flight from Muscat to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
At the same time, prices for private jets departing Muscat have risen sharply as demand outstrips the limited supply of aircraft in the volatile area.
JetVip, a Muscat‑based private‑jet broker, told CuriosityNews that a flight to Istanbul on a Nextant – one of the smallest jets available – now costs about €85,000 (£74,000), roughly three times the normal price. Seats on private charters to Moscow are being offered at about €20,000 per passenger.
Several charter operators said they cannot currently deploy aircraft because positioning fleets in the Middle East has become difficult.
A spokesperson for the Austria‑based AlbaJet charter firm said its “availability was extremely thin”, with flights to Europe quoted at around €90,000. “Many operators decline the flight due to insurance constraints and owners’ decisions. So demand is high, supply is low,” the representative added.
Others seeking to leave the UAE have chosen the 10‑hour drive to Riyadh, whose airport remains operational.
Reports indicate that private‑security firms have arranged fleets of SUVs to transport clients to the Saudi capital before securing onward private flights.
Ameerh Naran, chief executive of the private‑jet brokerage Vimana Private Jets, said flights from Riyadh to Europe are now priced up to $350,000.
The disruption sparked a political controversy in Italy after defence minister Guido Crosetto returned home on Monday aboard an Italian government aircraft, drawing criticism while hundreds of other Italians were left stranded in Dubai.
Crosetto had been on holiday in Dubai with his family when the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran began.
The incident has prompted broader debate in Rome about whether the government received adequate briefing on the emerging crisis, with opposition parties demanding the minister’s resignation.
Read next
Three evacuees leave hantavirus-hit cruise ship as Spain confirms docking in Canary Islands despite protests
Three individuals suspected of having hantavirus, among them a British doctor, have been evacuated from the cruise ship associated with the outbreak. The evacuation permits the vessel, carrying roughly 150 passengers, to resume its three‑day voyage to the Canary Islands after Spanish officials granted permission to dock. Since the
Pussy Riot demonstration shuts down Russian pavilion at Venice Biennale
The Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale was forced to close its doors temporarily on the second day of the preview after the activist collective Pussy Riot staged a disorderly demonstration opposing Russia’s participation in the art festival.
Dressed in pink balaclavas, the protesters rushed to the pavilion, gathered
Giorgia Meloni urges public to think before sharing after AI-generated lingerie photo of her spreads online.
Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, has spoken out against the spread of AI‑generated deepfake images of her, one of which shows her in lingerie, after the pictures were shared widely online.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Meloni wrote: “Over the past few days several fabricated pictures of