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Over 260,000 Indians back home from Middle East; carriers add flights ahead of Eid
Indians stranded in Iran are also being brought back home via the land routes to Armenia and even Azerbaijan, according to the Ministry of External Affairs
- PUBLISHED: Thu 19 Mar 2026, 4:02 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
More than 260,000 Indians have returned home from the Middle East since the US-Israel-Iran war broke out on February 28.
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Indian carriers are hoping to operate more flights from the region to bring back people who want to be home and spend time with their families during the Eid holidays.
A spokesperson from India's Ministry of External Affairs said about 70 flights were operated daily between the UAE and India over the past two days. "We continue to assist seafarers, stranded Indian nationals and short-term visitors for visas, consular services, and logistical support wherever required,” the spokesperson told the media. “We have also made special efforts to help Indian students in the Gulf region.”
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Indians stranded in Iran are also being brought back to India via the land routes to Armenia and even Azerbaijan, he said.
About 90 Indians in Iran crossed over to Azerbaijan, while more than 500 have been shifted to Armenia. The Indian Embassy in Tehran, which is fully functional despite the raging war, has been helping Indians (including students and pilgrims) relocate from Iran to neighbouring countries.
Shashi Tharoor, a top Congress MP from Kerala, who is also the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, told the media that there are still another thousand Indians stranded in Iran. “But not all of them necessarily wish to leave,” he said.
The meeting also discussed the well-being of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf and how many ships were stuck in the region with petroleum.
Many families of Indians working in the Gulf are also awaiting their dear ones to return during the Eid holidays. Mohammed Asif managed to join his family in Lucknow after travelling home via Oman, and paying hefty airfares. “I paid about Rs150,000 (about Dh6,000) for the ticket,” he told the media after returning home.
