Dubai International Airport has carried out its first technical flight to Tashkent after airspace closures linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, though passenger departures remain suspended.
Centrum Air confirmed that its Dubai–Tashkent flight C6358 operated without passengers, as local authorities have not yet authorized outbound passenger flights. Permission has so far been granted only for technical aircraft movements, the airline said, adding that additional evacuation flights will be organized once official clearance is received.
Temporary airspace restrictions across parts of the Middle East have led to the cancellation of multiple flights. Following the closure of airspace in the UAE and Israel, Centrum Air canceled its March 3 Tashkent–Dubai–Tashkent (C6351/C6352) service, as well as the Samarkand–Tel Aviv (C6373) and March 4 Tel Aviv–Samarkand (C6374) flights.
Amid the disruptions, Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in the UAE has assisted stranded citizens with temporary accommodation, Dunyo reports. As of March 2, 93 citizens were placed at the Hyatt Place Dubai hotel, including 61 individuals who had been asked to leave their previous accommodation and faced housing difficulties.
Another 27 citizens were relocated after leaving the Floria Hotel, while five individuals found without shelter were also moved to safe accommodation. In addition, 39 Uzbek nationals were accommodated at the Hampton by Hilton Dubai hotel.
In Abu Dhabi, four citizens facing difficult social circumstances were placed at AG Hotel Abu Dhabi, with their health and safety placed under special monitoring. According to official sources, diplomatic missions in the UAE are providing ongoing practical and organizational assistance, and each request is being handled promptly.
On March 2, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov to ensure the effective organization of repatriation efforts for Uzbek citizens currently in Gulf countries. The same day, repatriation flights on the Jeddah–Tashkent route began operating to return citizens who had traveled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
