The Spanish government has begun the evacuation of citizens from the endangered regions of the Middle East to ensure the safe return of more than 30,000 affected Spaniards. The first evacuation flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is already en route to Madrid. The flight, operated by Etihad Airways, is expected to arrive in Spain around 7 p.m. Additional flights are planned for the coming days.
Spain Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
First Evacuations from the Emirates: A Challenge for Spain
The flight from Abu Dhabi to Madrid is just the beginning of a comprehensive evacuation plan aimed at bringing Spanish citizens back to Spain from various crisis regions in the Middle East. The Spanish government is doing everything possible to evacuate the largest number of returnees as quickly as possible. José Manuel Albares, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, stressed that operations in the region are already in full swing, although he refrained from providing further details on the ongoing measures for security reasons.
“We are working tirelessly to evacuate as many Spaniards as possible,” Albares stated in a press conference. Istanbul will be used as a stopover to coordinate several flights that will assist Spanish citizens in reaching their home country.
The greatest challenges: Iran and the UAE
The complexity of the evacuation is intensified by the varying political and security conditions in the affected countries. Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pose the greatest challenges.
In Iran, there are only around 150 Spaniards, whose repatriation is particularly delicate due to the high political tensions between the USA, Israel, and Iran itself. The situation is different in the UAE, where approximately 13,000 Spaniards currently reside, including many tourists and business travelers. The logistical effort required for their evacuation is enormous.
Among the Spanish citizens in the Emirates is also the former king, who has lived in Abu Dhabi since 2020. Minister Albares made it clear that he has no information regarding the king’s return flight.
Reinforcement of diplomatic resources for the evacuation
The Spanish government has reinforced its diplomatic resources in the region to carry out the evacuation operations more efficiently. Embassies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman will be equipped with additional personnel and materials. Additionally, a presence will be established in Bahrain to assist Spanish citizens on the ground there.
Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, will serve as the central hub for coordinating the evacuation and supporting Spaniards in the region. Albares also spoke about the tireless work of the ambassadors and the diplomatic team on the ground, assuring that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ crisis team would remain available 24/7 to facilitate the return of all Spanish citizens wishing to be evacuated from the region.
Looking ahead: Further evacuations planned
With the ongoing evacuation flights, the Spanish government plans to continue the repatriation of its citizens in the coming days and weeks. Additional flights will be organized to meet the high demand for returnees. Minister Albares emphasized that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure that Spaniards can return as quickly and safely as possible.
