DUBLIN/OMAN — The Irish Government has officially sanctioned the chartering of emergency aircraft to repatriate citizens stranded in the Middle East, as regional hostilities continue to paralyze commercial aviation. Speaking on Tuesday evening, March 3, 2026, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee confirmed that the first government-contracted jet is expected to depart from Oman in the coming days, signaling the start of a broader evacuation effort.
The mission aims to provide a lifeline for approximately 2,000 Irish holidaymakers and transit passengers currently unable to secure commercial flights home following the widespread closure of Gulf airspace.
Prioritizing the Vulnerable
With an estimated 24,000 Irish citizens in the region—including 12,000 residents in the UAE alone—the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is focusing its initial efforts on those in the most precarious positions.
- Targeted Evacuation: The first chartered flight, which has a capacity for 280 passengers, will prioritize the “most in need,” including the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with urgent medical conditions.
- The Oman Corridor: Because many major hubs remain under “shelter in place” advisories or under threat of missile fire, the government is coordinating a land-to-air bridge. Citizens will be transferred via secured bus convoys to Oman, where the charter flight will be waiting.
- Registration Drive: Minister McEntee urged all citizens in the region to register on the DFA’s Travel Tracker, confirming that officials will begin contacting those eligible for the first flight starting Wednesday morning.
A “Significant” Consular Challenge
While the government prefers commercial airlines to resume operations as the primary route home, the persistence of “Operation Epic Fury” has made a state-led intervention necessary.
“This is the first flight of many, I hope,” McEntee told RTÉ’s Six One News. “Our focus now is making sure that by tomorrow, we’ll be reaching out to citizens to ensure that first chartered flight is full.”
The Minister emphasized that the mission remains subject to “airspace being open and it being safe to fly,” as the security situation fluctuates hourly. This marks the most significant Irish evacuation operation since the 2021 withdrawal from Kabul and the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guidance for Residents
For the thousands of Irish long-term residents in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, the advice remains to shelter in place. The government has clarified that the charter flights are specifically designed for those without permanent accommodation or those whose transit status has left them stranded in airport terminals.
As European and UK counterparts also begin coordinating “mercy flights” out of the region, the DFA is maintaining close contact with EU partners to maximize capacity on any available aircraft departing the Gulf.
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