30 Indonesian nationals stranded in Abu Dhabi repatriated on a repatriation flight

ABU DHABI - A total of 30 Indonesian nationals stranded in Abu Dhabi have finally resumed their journey home on a repatriation flight. The repatriation flight was arranged by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of Indonesia in Dubai. A repatriation flight is a flight used to return citizens abroad in emergencies or when they cannot travel home on ordinary flights. The passengers were flown on a Etihad Airways aircraft to Singapore, joining other international travellers before continuing to Indonesia on a subsequent route. The Indonesian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Judha Nugraha, in Abu Dhabi, on Thursday (5 March 2026), said the repatriation was the result of intensive coordination between Indonesian representatives, the airline, and authorities in the UAE to ensure the safety and smooth travel of the Indonesian nationals. ‘Since the airspace closure on 28 February, the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai have continued to coordinate with the airline and local authorities so that affected Indonesian nationals can quickly access flights to continue their journey home,’ Judha said. He added that safety and protection of Indonesian citizens remain the government’s top priority as the situation in the region continues to develop. ‘We ensure that all affected Indonesian nationals receive the necessary assistance and facilitation. The government is present to ensure they can resume their journey safely and orderly,’ he said. The Indonesian citizens had previously been unable to continue their journey due to the temporary closure of airspace over parts of the Middle East. This situation followed rising regional geopolitical tensions since late February 2026. The closure of airspace had wide-ranging impacts on international flight operations, including at major airports such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha. Thousands of flights were cancelled, and hundreds of thousands of passengers from various countries found themselves stranded at airports or transit hubs in the region. As security coordination improved and limited flight corridors reopened, UAE carriers began operating a number of special flights, including repatriation flights to assist stranded passengers in continuing their journeys. The Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai had previously documented dozens of affected Indonesian citizens since the cancellation of flights began. To date, the air corridors opened in the UAE remain relatively limited. The available routes are used in turns and queue. Civil commercial flights have not yet operated. Only repatriation and special flights have been run to mobilise the 20,000 travellers who were stranded in the UAE. The Indonesian government, through its diplomatic missions in the UAE, continues to monitor the security situation. The government wants to ensure that no Indonesian national is left stranded without assistance during the handling of this air crisis. The Embassy in Abu Dhabi urges Indonesian nationals remaining in the UAE who require consular assistance to contact the embassy hotline or report themselves through official channels so they can be facilitated as needed.