Indians stranded in Gulf seek govt help as West Asia war disrupts travel

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 stranded Indians are in constant touch with Indian missions in the region, with most requests coming from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where large portions of the airspace remain closed and commercial flight operations have largely been suspended amid continuing Iranian attacks.

Sources indicated that many of those seeking help include tourists, transit passengers and students who had travelled to the UAE for short stays. Some educational institutions in the region have temporarily shut down or moved to online classes due to the escalating conflict, prompting students to seek an early return to India.

According to sources, around 22,000 Indian nationals had initially contacted Indian missions within two days of the conflict beginning. Of these, nearly 10,000 have already managed to return to India over the past three days through limited non-scheduled flights operating from the region.

In Qatar, where airspace has been completely closed, about 850 Indian nationals sought assistance to return. Many of them travelled by land to Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport before boarding flights back to India.

With major aviation hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha largely shut for scheduled flights, some departures have been arranged from Fujairah in the UAE, offering limited relief to stranded travelers.

Officials monitoring the situation described the UAE as the biggest concern, given the large Indian population and the ongoing security situation. The country hosts more than 3 million Indian citizens, the largest Indian diaspora in the Gulf.

Several Indian nationals have also attempted to exit the UAE through the Oman land border, hoping to board flights from Muscat airport. However, large queues and delays have been reported at immigration checkpoints. In response, the Indian Embassy in Muscat issued an advisory reminding travellers 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 currently live and work, making the region one of the largest hubs of the Indian diaspora.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on March 3 said the safety and well-being of Indians in the Gulf remain a top priority for New Delhi. “We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them,” the ministry said in a statement.

As tensions escalate in West Asia, the MEA has also set up a dedicated control room to assist affected Indian nationals. Over the past few days, special non-scheduled flights have landed in Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bengaluru bringing back stranded citizens.

Indian missions across the region continue to stay in touch 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.