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How UAE residents are using land corridors, 'departure assistance' to find way home
When airspace is restricted, relocation strategies often shift away from flights toward coordinated ground movements
- PUBLISHED: Sat 7 Mar 2026, 5:00 AM UPDATED: Sat 7 Mar 2026, 9:48 AM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid Israeli, US strikes on Iran for the latest regional developments.]
When regional tensions disrupt air travel, the process of getting stranded residents home becomes a complex operation involving ground convoys, contingency planning, and multi-country coordination. Some UAE residents caught abroad during the recent escalation of regional tension had to quickly change their plans and explore alternate routes to make their way home.
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Among those affected is Iman El Khatib, a Greek-Lebanese resident of Dubai who travelled to Beirut on what was meant to be a brief family visit. Deciding to take a last-minute, spontaneous trip to surprise her three-year-old nephew for his birthday, she booked the flight the night before, expecting to stay only four days.
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Her return flight to Dubai was scheduled for February 28, the same day the conflict escalated, and the 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 wider pattern emerging since the regional escalation began.
Gillan McNay, Security Director for Assistance in the Middle East at International SOS, said most early enquiries from companies and residents are not immediate evacuation requests but rather efforts to verify information and understand 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, client requests typically move toward contingency planning, identifying safe-haven locations, confirming travel documentation, and preparing relocation plans if evacuation becomes necessary.
When airspace is restricted, relocation strategies often shift away from flights toward coordinated ground movements.
According to McNay, 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 are key transit routes.
Land corridors
With many air routes limited, land corridors have become a primary method of movement across the Gulf. Rafal Hyps, chief executive of Sicuro Group, said requests for what the company calls “departure assistance” have risen sharply since the escalation began.
Evacuation and relocation flows have increasingly been 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 who were caught in the region during the disruption, as well as corporate personnel who were on assignment or in transit,” he said.
He added that ground travel has become the main alternative when flights are unavailable, with the route from Dubai to Muscat via the Hatta border crossing among the most commonly used corridors. From Oman, travellers can then access onward commercial flights.
Experts say relocation operations are often complex, particularly when families are involved.
Planning typically includes arranging ground transport, coordinating border crossings, securing accommodation at transit hubs, and organising onward flights once travellers reach operational airports.
Communication also plays a key role, with organisations providing travellers with clear instructions, updates on changing conditions, and practical guidance throughout the journey.
For those who cannot relocate immediately, security advisers often recommend remaining safely in place while monitoring the situation 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 airlines 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.”
Azza Al Ali is a reporter from Ras Al Khaimah, dedicated to sharing stories that bring the community’s voices to life. She’s passionate about connecting with people and highlighting what truly matters to them.