Around 12,000 Indian nationals stranded across Gulf countries have approached the Indian government seeking assistance to return home as the US–Israel–Iran conflict enters its sixth day, severely disrupting air travel across the region.
Officials said the affected Indians are in constant contact with Indian missions, with most requests coming from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where large portions of the airspace remain closed and commercial flights have largely been suspended amid continuing Iranian attacks.
Sources indicated that many of those seeking assistance include tourists, transit passengers and students who had travelled to the UAE for short stays. Several educational institutions in the region have temporarily shut down campuses or shifted to online classes due to the escalating conflict, prompting many students to seek an early return to India.
According to officials, nearly 22,000 Indian nationals initially contacted Indian missions within the first two days after hostilities began. Of them, around 10,000 have already returned to India over the past three days, using limited non-scheduled flights operating from the region.
In Qatar, where the airspace has been completely shut, about 850 Indians sought help to return home. Many were forced to travel by land to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport, from where they managed to board flights back to India.
With major aviation hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha largely closed to scheduled flights, authorities have arranged limited departures from Fujairah in the UAE, offering partial relief to stranded travelers.
Officials monitoring the situation described the UAE as the biggest concern, given the country’s large Indian population and the evolving security situation. The UAE hosts over three million Indian citizens, making it the largest Indian diaspora hub in the Gulf.
Several Indian nationals have also attempted to leave the UAE through the Oman land border in the hope of catching flights from Muscat airport. However, travelers have reported long queues and delays at immigration checkpoints. In response, the Indian Embassy in Muscat issued an advisory reminding passengers that a valid tourist or visit visa is required before entering Oman.
Across the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait — nearly 10 million Indians live and work, making the region one of the largest concentrations of the Indian diaspora worldwide.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on March 3 said the safety and well-being of Indian citizens in the Gulf remain a top priority for the government.
“We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them,” the ministry said in a statement.
As tensions continue to escalate in West Asia, the MEA has also established a dedicated control room to assist affected citizens. Over the past few days, special non-scheduled flights have landed in Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, bringing back stranded Indians.
Indian missions across the region are continuing to remain in contact with citizens, issuing safety advisories and guidance as the situation evolves. On March 5, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi urged Indian nationals in the UAE to remain vigilant and follow local safety guidelines.
However, the government has not yet announced any large-scale evacuation plan for Indian citizens in the Gulf region despite the growing disruption to travel.
“We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them,” the ministry said in a statement.
As tensions continue to escalate in West Asia, the MEA has also established a dedicated control room to assist affected citizens. Over the past few days, special non-scheduled flights have landed in Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, bringing back stranded Indians.
Indian missions across the region are continuing to remain in contact with citizens, issuing safety advisories and guidance as the situation evolves. On March 5, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi urged Indian nationals in the UAE to remain vigilant and follow local safety guidelines.
However, the government has not yet announced any large-scale evacuation plan for Indian citizens in the Gulf region despite the growing disruption to travel.
