UAE residents turn to land corridors for ‘departure assistance’ to find their way home, as war between Iran, US and Israel disrupts air travel
The escalating conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel is increasingly reshaping daily life across the Middle East, with thousands of travelers and expatriates in the Gulf facing unprecedented travel disruptions.
With airspace closures and flight cancellations spreading across the region, many UAE residents are now relying on land corridors and emergency “departure assistance” services to leave the country or reach international flights elsewhere.The crisis began after coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February 2026, which led to retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region. Since then, several Gulf countries have temporarily closed or restricted their airspace over security concerns, causing widespread disruption to global aviation and leaving travelers stranded.
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Land roads have become a lifeline in the UAE amid the war between Iran, the United States and Israel
With flights suspended or severely restricted, many UAE residents are now traveling overland to neighboring countries such as Oman or Saudi Arabia to catch available international flights. Travel agencies and transport companies have begun offering “departure assistance” offers, helping residents arrange visas, ground transportation and flights from alternative hubs.
Flights cancelled, borders crowded: UAE residents flee via land corridors amid war between Iran, US and Israel
These land corridors have become a critical solution as airlines struggle to maintain normal operations.
The Gulf region, home to major aviation hubs such as Dubai and Doha, typically handles hundreds of thousands of transit passengers daily, making disruptions particularly severe for global travel networks.Some airlines have begun limited relief operations to ease the backlog of stranded passengers. For example, some airlines have launched return flights to major European cities, although the number of seats is still limited and schedules are uncertain.
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The war also increased anxiety among expatriates and tourists. Missile warnings and security warnings in parts of the Gulf have prompted some governments to advise their citizens to leave the region or postpone travel plans. Meanwhile, families and travelers who had planned vacations or business trips now face costly delays and uncertainty about when normal travel will resume.
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For many UAE residents, especially expatriates who rely on regular travel to visit family or maintain their jobs abroad, the situation has forced them to make difficult decisions.
Some are choosing to wait until flights resume, while others are making long road trips to secure safe routes out of the region.The travel chaos highlights the extent to which global mobility depends on Middle Eastern flight corridors. Analysts warn that if the conflict continues, airlines may be forced to permanently reroute major intercontinental flights, which could lead to increased travel times, fuel costs and ticket prices around the world.For now, land routes, temporary flight corridors and emergency travel services remain essential lifelines for residents navigating a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. As diplomatic efforts continue and security conditions evolve, the coming weeks will determine whether the Gulf’s vital travel networks can return to normal – or whether the region faces a prolonged period of turmoil.