Against the backdrop of Iranian attacks on Gulf cities, Riyadh has become the main evacuation route for the very wealthy and executives stranded in the region. With most airports closed or restricted, evacuations are also taking place by land, and the high demand for private flights has led to huge prices, with a private flight to Europe costing up to $350,000.
Authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have asked hotels to allow affected tourists to extend their stay, with Abu Dhabi even covering the additional costs to protect international visitors.
By Monday morning, 1,239 flights had already been canceled. Emirates Airlines, based in Dubai; Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi; and Qatar Airways, based in Doha, together canceled hundreds of flights, as reported by The Guardian.
Arab News reports that the airport in the capital of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) is one of the few that is operational, leading to ground evacuations, including journeys of up to 10 hours from the United Arab Emirates.
Private security companies have mobilized fleets of SUVs to transport executives and their families to Riyadh, from where they can fly on private planes or commercial flights. The high demand has led to sharp price increases, with a private flight to Europe costing up to $350,000.
The closure of the route through Oman, following Iranian attacks on the port and a tanker, has solidified Riyadh's role as the safest exit option from the region.
The change is notable for a city previously considered riskier, but which now benefits from open airspace, relaxed visa rules, and the fact that it has, so far, been spared direct attacks.
Accommodation on Arab money
On the other hand, the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai issued an official directive to hotel managers, asking them to allow affected guests to extend their stay under the same conditions as the initial reservation, as reported by Gulf News.
The institution stated that the measure aligns with government directives to provide full support and assistance to international visitors in the current situation.
According to Emarat Al Youm, hotels have been asked to fully cooperate to ensure that tourists who cannot leave are accommodated without interruptions.
Officials also emphasized that guests should not be forced to vacate the rooms if they cannot immediately pay the additional costs, reflecting a broader focus on consumer protection and visitor welfare.
Hotel operators have been instructed to promptly notify the department in such cases, providing details about the original booking duration, the extension period, and any operational difficulties encountered.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi have also issued a similar directive, going further to confirm that the Government will cover accommodation costs for stranded guests.
In a circular sent to hotels, the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi stated that accommodation establishments must extend the stay of guests until they can leave.
"Given the current circumstances and the fact that some guests have reached their check-out date but cannot travel due to reasons beyond their control, please extend their stay until they are able to leave," the document reads.
The document further states that "the cost of extended stays will be covered by DCT Abu Dhabi" and requests hotels to directly submit the bills to the department.