Emirates airplanes are parked at the Dubai International Airport after its closure in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) (Image: AP)
Wealthy holidaymakers are paying up to £100,000 to escape the Middle East via private jet following the closure of major airports.
Thousands of additional flights throughout the region were grounded on Monday, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded as global air travel faced widespread disruption caused by the US and Israel‘s war on Iran.
Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes resulted in the shutdown of Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport on Saturday.
Dubai Airports confirmed on Monday that a restricted number of flights would recommence from both hubs later today.
Nevertheless, some tourists stranded in the UAE have already taken action themselves, spending upwards of £100,000 on private jets or driving approximately 10 hours to reach operational airports in Oman and Saudi Arabia, Forbes reports.
Read more: Some Brits return home in first flight from UAE since Iran strikes
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Altay Kula, a spokesperson for private jet brokerage JetVIP, told the outlet that demand for private jets has surged – even as fewer operators are willing to fly in the region.
James Leach, of Air Charter Service, said many local aircraft normally used for private flights are stuck at closed airports, forcing jets to fly in from further away and pushing up costs.
Airports in Muscat, Oman and – to a lesser degree owing to visa restrictions – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have emerged as crucial travel hubs amidst the chaos, both spokespeople confirmed.
The majority of evacuation flights are bound for Istanbul, London or Rome, according to Mr Kula.
He revealed that light jet flights from Muscat to Istanbul are commanding more than $93,000 (£70,000) – roughly twice the standard rate – whilst heavy jet charters are reaching up to $140,000 (£105,000).
Hope for trapped Brits as limited flights resume in Dubai after missile attacks (Image: X)
Private security firms have also been engaging SUVs to ferry clients to operational airports for their private flights, Semafor reported.
Over 4,000 flights daily have been scrapped across the region since Saturday, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
Whilst UAE national carrier Etihad Airways had suspended most services until 10am GMT on Wednesday, certain departures proceeded on Monday, including a flight to London Heathrow, which touched down at 7.17pm GMT, according to the flight tracker.
Additional Etihad flights departed for destinations including Moscow, Paris, Cairo, Delhi and Karachi, according to Flightradar24.
The airline said: « Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals. »
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