Around 1,500 Russian tourists evacuated from Middle East, official says

Approximately 1,500 Russian tourists have already been evacuated from the Middle East, with another 2,000 expected to return on March 3 if scheduled flights proceed as planned, according to a Russian tourism official.

Artur Muradyan, vice-president of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia and chief executive of Space Travel, told the state news agency TASS that around 1,500 tourists had been evacuated, taking into account flights that had already departed. He added that about 2,000 more people could be evacuated on March 3, provided all flights operate as scheduled.

On March 2, reports indicated that around 50,000 Russian citizens were stranded in the United Arab Emirates due to flight cancellations and airspace restrictions. Many of those affected reportedly had to arrange and pay for their own accommodation, as airlines did not provide lodging assistance.

Meanwhile, Russians who had planned holidays in the UAE but had not yet departed are attempting to cancel their tours. However, some travelers say tour operators are imposing significant financial penalties for cancellations.

By Sabina Mammadli