Uzbekistan brings back over 9,000 citizens from Middle East

Between March 1 and 5, Uzbekistan conducted a large-scale evacuation program to bring its citizens home from countries in the Middle East.

Official figures as of the morning of March 5 show that 9,361 citizens were safely returned, Caliber.Az reports, citing Uzbek media, 

The majority of evacuees came from Saudi Arabia, with 8,114 people repatriated via regular and additional charter flights. Evacuations were also carried out in the United Arab Emirates, from where 1,192 citizens were brought back. Special flights ensured the safe return of groups from Bahrain, Iran, and Oman.

Authorities said current evacuation efforts are focused on countries whose airspace remains fully open to civil aviation. Once restrictions are lifted in other regional states, the government will quickly organize additional flights to bring home the remaining citizens.

Officials urged Uzbek citizens abroad to remain calm, avoid panic, and act with caution. They stressed the importance of strictly following the regulations of the host country and relying only on verified information from official government and diplomatic sources.

By Vafa Guliyeva