Repatriation of Cypriot citizens from Dubai

On March 4, 2026, a repatriation flight carrying 182 Cypriot citizens landed at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus. The operation was launched to assist nationals stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to regional tensions and conflicts in the Middle East. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis reported that initially 756 individuals were registered on the government's online platform, with about 656 remaining in the region to be repatriated in subsequent waves. Additional flights are scheduled for the following days to complete the evacuation process, with reports of two to three flights expected on March 5. Government officials stated that they are also managing requests from citizens who were not pre-registered on the platform. While the government emphasized the priority of safe transit, security conditions in the airspace continue to be monitored. Travelers described experiences of anxiety and uncertainty while waiting for their return. Discrepancies exist in total figures, as some reports mention a total of 213 passengers served through various commercial and chartered arrivals.