1,500 Greeks Stranded in UAE Amid Israel–US War on Iran; Athens Prepares Evacuation Plan
Deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Loverdos said the government has prepared an evacuation plan that will be activated once regional airspace reopens. However, he clarified that the Greek state will not cover accommodation costs for citizens currently awaiting repatriation.
Evacuation Plan Ready, Pending Airspace Reopening
Speaking to state broadcaster ERT, Loverdos said limited flights are currently operating from Oman, unlike departures from Qatar and Dubai, where air traffic remains heavily restricted.
“We do not know how the war will evolve. Our primary concern is the safety of our citizens,” he stated, urging Greeks abroad to follow the guidance of local authorities.
According to the minister, 1,500 individuals have formally requested assistance to return to Greece and are currently in the UAE. This marks the first official confirmation from Greece’s Foreign Ministry regarding the number of citizens seeking repatriation from the Gulf region.
Tens of Thousands of Greeks in the Gulf
Diplomatic sources indicate that at least 15,000 Greeks are currently in Dubai alone, having registered their presence on a crisis-response platform activated by the Greek embassy following the outbreak of hostilities.
The Foreign Ministry has launched similar digital registration platforms in 10 Middle Eastern countries where Greek nationals reside, aiming to maintain direct communication between citizens and Greek diplomatic missions.
While the ministry has not released an official figure for the total number of Greeks stranded across the broader Middle East, diplomatic sources estimate that “several tens of thousands” are either permanent residents in Gulf states or were using regional hubs as transit points to Asia when the conflict escalated.
Limited Consular Capacity
Officials acknowledged that embassy and consular staff face significant operational challenges due to limited personnel resources and the volume of requests for assistance.
The rapidly evolving regional security situation has disrupted commercial air travel across multiple Gulf states, complicating coordinated evacuation efforts.
Greek authorities continue to monitor developments closely, with contingency plans in place should conditions permit organized departures.
